With the start of summer only a couple of months away, now is the time to start thinking about planning your next summer holiday. When it comes to Aussie summer breaks, the first thing that comes to mind is a trip to the beach, with long hot days filled with sun, sand and surf, cooling off with icy poles on the beach, and relaxing with a barbecue at night. Imagine doing all of this in one of Australia’s best beach destinations?
Byron Bay, on the New South Wales North Coast, is one of the best beach towns in the country, popular for its warm sub-tropical temperatures, gorgeous beaches, and its idyllic laid-back beach vibe that is the heart of the town. All you need to do is find a great Byron Bay hotel for your stay, along with a great range of cafes, restaurants, bars and shops to make the trip a perfect summer getaway.
If that’s not enough, here are some things to do to in Byron Bay this summer to convince you further.
A morning walk to the lighthouse
There is nothing like an early morning walk to start off your day right. The Byron Bay Lighthouse walk is one that you shouldn’t miss while you’re in Byron Bay. Beat the summer heat by setting off early and enjoy the fresh morning air.
The walk to the Cape Byron Lighthouse starts at the end of Main Beach and makes its way via boardwalks and walking paths along the rocky headland to the lighthouse at Cape Byron – the most easterly point of the Australian mainland. You’ll enjoy amazing coastal views, hidden beaches and rainforest, with the reward of reaching the historic lighthouse at the end, which provides incredible views all around. Grab a cold drink or an ice cream from the kiosk before your trek back to town.
If you can get up early enough, the sunrise from the lighthouse is something out of this world.
Learn to surf
If you’ve always wanted to learn how to surf but have never got around to it, there is no better place to tick this one off your bucket list than Byron Bay. There are several great surf schools in Byron Bay, as well as board hire shops, so you won’t have any trouble finding gear or lessons. The waves off Main Beach are generally gentle and rolling, making it a great spot to learn how to surf. You’ll be standing up on a board in no time and joining the local surfers out in the waves at The Pass and other popular surf spots.
Visit a market
With Byron Bay’s rustic and creative vibe, it is no wonder that the town has some amazing markets happening throughout the year. The Byron Bay Artisan Night Market will be on every Saturday night throughout the summer months, with local artisans offering unique arts, crafts and jewellery, as well as food and entertainment. The larger Byron Bay Community Market is held every first Sunday of the month and is full of local stalls selling their creations, plus fresh food and more. For fresh produce, the Byron Bay Farmer’s Market is on every Thursday morning with amazing local fresh produce and food on offer. These are the places to go to find something truly unique in Byron Bay.
Go Diving or Snorkelling
If you’re into diving or snorkelling, or you’re interested in learning how to, you’re in luck in Byron Bay. Juliana Rocks is one of the best diving spots in Australia, and it is located just off the coast from Byron Bay. Hop on a boat tour out to this famous dive spot and see the amazing marine life that inhabit this ecologically rich site.
Go Sky Diving
If underwater diving isn’t your thing, why not try sky diving instead? It may sound insane to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, but sky diving is an exhilarating and rewarding experience that most people want to do again and again. Byron Bay is a great spot to go sky diving, with daily dives available for beginner tandem dives and experienced sky divers. You’ll enjoy the best view around of Byron Bay, the ocean and hinterland, while ticking another item off your bucket list.
The Falls Festival
Byron Bay is well known for its music festivals, with Splendour in the Grass and the Blues and Roots festivals being some of the best in the country. Summer isn’t without its festivals either, and as always the popular summer event, Falls Festival is hitting Byron Bay on the 31st of December for the annual New Year’s Eve celebration. It’s a huge event highlighting music and art from across the country and around the globe.
Visit a lesser known beach
Byron Bay’s Main Beach is beautiful and convenient, but it aptly gets rather crowded, particularly during holidays. Luckily, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches in Byron Bay. Get away from the crowds and visit some of the other Byron Bay Beaches.
Wategos Beach and Little Wategos Beach are beautiful spots on the Byron Bay headland, popular with locals and surfers. On the other side of the headland is the long, empty stretch of sand known as Tallows Beach, perfect for long beach walks and often devoid of other people. North of Main Beach, Belongil Beach becomes less crowded the further along you go, and dogs are permitted here if you’re travelling with your four-legged friend.
Cool off in a local swimming hole
It might be hard to peel yourself away from Byron Bay’s beaches, but the lush hinterland is well worth exploring for its stunning scenery, charming towns and secret waterfalls and swimming holes.
Killen Falls is a local favourite, located only 25 minutes from Byron Bay. This tranquil waterfall drops softly down into a beautiful cool pool that is perfect for swimming, while a cave that cuts into the rock behind the falls is interesting to explore. Further afield, the majestic Whian Whian Falls is another favourite swimming spot, with a nice waterfall and deep pool beneath, while there are several other secret swimming holes to be found both upstream and downstream from the falls.
These are just a few reasons why you should choose Byron Bay for your next summer holiday. It is the perfect spot for your classic Aussie beach getaway.
