Guidebook for Byron Bay
Food Scene
Byron Bay Farmers' Market
Just 150m away. Excellent coffee, very popular and trendy, feels like Bondi.
258 locals recommend
The Roadhouse Byron Bay
142 Bangalow RdJust 150m away. Excellent coffee, very popular and trendy, feels like Bondi.
Best restaurant in Byron. Superb pan-SE Asian restaurant with Tippy, Chinese Lao chef who trained with Neil Perry in Sydney. Huge menu inc vegetarian, copious serves, divine red and gold decor.
32 locals recommend
Orient Express
2 Fletcher StBest restaurant in Byron. Superb pan-SE Asian restaurant with Tippy, Chinese Lao chef who trained with Neil Perry in Sydney. Huge menu inc vegetarian, copious serves, divine red and gold decor.
Right on the beach in the dunes, elevated verandahs with view of the bay, modern menu, caters for kids. Pricey.
81 locals recommend
Byron Beach
45-47 Massinger StRight on the beach in the dunes, elevated verandahs with view of the bay, modern menu, caters for kids. Pricey.
Bangalow Farmers’ Market behind Hotel Saturday morning 8-11am. Local produce of high standard. Similar but not the same as Byron Farmers' Market on Thursday mornings.
76 locals recommend
Bangalow Hotel
1 Byron StBangalow Farmers’ Market behind Hotel Saturday morning 8-11am. Local produce of high standard. Similar but not the same as Byron Farmers' Market on Thursday mornings.
BYRON Bay huge monthly market first Sunday of the month 7am to 4pm - during roadworks has moved to beachfront south of Main Beach. Huge and multifarious with hundreds of stalls, great food and buskers. Also 3rd Sunday in summer months. Now moved to seafront east of surf club.
2 Butler St
2 Butler StreetBYRON Bay huge monthly market first Sunday of the month 7am to 4pm - during roadworks has moved to beachfront south of Main Beach. Huge and multifarious with hundreds of stalls, great food and buskers. Also 3rd Sunday in summer months. Now moved to seafront east of surf club.
Paddock to plate trendy restaurant in a rural setting with rural style buildings. You can see pigs, chickens and extensive market gardens.
396 locals recommend
The Farm Byron Bay
11 Ewingsdale RdPaddock to plate trendy restaurant in a rural setting with rural style buildings. You can see pigs, chickens and extensive market gardens.
Just inside Suffolk Park at back of Clifford Street Shops carpark. Wonderful Italian-style food in a modest setting
63 locals recommend
Pizza Paradiso Restaurant & Bar
1 Clifford StJust inside Suffolk Park at back of Clifford Street Shops carpark. Wonderful Italian-style food in a modest setting
OzyMex
8 Jonson StExcellent inexpensive freshly-made Tex-mex food to take away.
Creative dishes, great location at tourist-central for the best passing-crowd-watching, nightly local musicians, medium prices, tasty, swinging, amusing decor. They take no bookings, you may have to wait if you arrive late.
29 locals recommend
Byron Fresh
7 Jonson StCreative dishes, great location at tourist-central for the best passing-crowd-watching, nightly local musicians, medium prices, tasty, swinging, amusing decor. They take no bookings, you may have to wait if you arrive late.
Nearest grocer with an eclectic mix of quality supermarket items. Good big cafe.
35 locals recommend
Bay Grocer
63 Tennyson StNearest grocer with an eclectic mix of quality supermarket items. Good big cafe.
Arts & Culture
The cultural centre of Byron for theatre, concerts, ballet performances, festivals, conferences and local information.
38 locals recommend
Byron Community Centre and Byron Theatre
69 Jonson StThe cultural centre of Byron for theatre, concerts, ballet performances, festivals, conferences and local information.
Changing exhibitions of local artists, some well-known, some budding. Free entry and in same building as the excellent library. Opening nights are on Fridays, sometimes with lovely nibbles, wines and glitterati. Sometimes excellent deals on artworks.
19 locals recommend
Lone Goat Gallery
28 Lawson StChanging exhibitions of local artists, some well-known, some budding. Free entry and in same building as the excellent library. Opening nights are on Fridays, sometimes with lovely nibbles, wines and glitterati. Sometimes excellent deals on artworks.
Medium sized gallery (say 100m by 20m) with a newish addition of the re-created house of wonderful still-life, flower, portrait and interior artist Margaret Olley. Eccentric, colourful, funny, inspiring. Plus the permanent and also changing exhibitions of high quality art. From the cafe and restaurant there are fabulous views of the Tweed Valley with Lamington and Wollumbin National Parks as a backdrop. Free entry. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
283 locals recommend
Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
2 Mistral RdMedium sized gallery (say 100m by 20m) with a newish addition of the re-created house of wonderful still-life, flower, portrait and interior artist Margaret Olley. Eccentric, colourful, funny, inspiring. Plus the permanent and also changing exhibitions of high quality art. From the cafe and restaurant there are fabulous views of the Tweed Valley with Lamington and Wollumbin National Parks as a backdrop. Free entry. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Entertainment & Activities
Byron Bay Transit Centre
80 Jonson StHeaps of local information, maps and other services
Excellent large park with many enclosures of wild Australian animals. We invariably take our family and friends there to pat the kangaroos, hold a koala, see a bird show. You can sometimes watch operations on animals as there is a large rescue centre. Once we saw a snake being sewn up.
786 locals recommend
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
28 Tomewin StExcellent large park with many enclosures of wild Australian animals. We invariably take our family and friends there to pat the kangaroos, hold a koala, see a bird show. You can sometimes watch operations on animals as there is a large rescue centre. Once we saw a snake being sewn up.
Sweet and simple pleasures of waterways meeting the beach and the bush with great hotel beer garden, riverside park, boats and paddle canoes of all sizes for hire. Kind of old-style holiday setting. Fabulous for kids. See Torakina Beach that is inside the Brunswick River.
308 locals recommend
Brunswick Heads
Sweet and simple pleasures of waterways meeting the beach and the bush with great hotel beer garden, riverside park, boats and paddle canoes of all sizes for hire. Kind of old-style holiday setting. Fabulous for kids. See Torakina Beach that is inside the Brunswick River.
A cross between a museum and an antique shop with a maritime theme. There must 100,00 items in there, collected over decades. High quality displays - some items have appeared in films such as "Pirates of the Caribbean" - along with well-priced fanciful items for sale. Pick up a bargain and view the range of shark jaws, jewellery, ancient machinery, miniature boats, bollards and shell-art set out in arty displays.
Chinderah Bay Antiques
Waugh StreetA cross between a museum and an antique shop with a maritime theme. There must 100,00 items in there, collected over decades. High quality displays - some items have appeared in films such as "Pirates of the Caribbean" - along with well-priced fanciful items for sale. Pick up a bargain and view the range of shark jaws, jewellery, ancient machinery, miniature boats, bollards and shell-art set out in arty displays.
Every evening on sunset the local lads used to come to the bottom of Jonson Street to drum (now only irregularly). Dance or just smile with the beat as the sun goes down over the sea and mountains. Especially nice at full moon when it comes up over the Cape. We like to have tailgate picnics there - just reverse your station wagon in, open the back door, sit there and munch to the sound of the bongos.
79 locals recommend
Main Beach, Byron Bay
Main BeachEvery evening on sunset the local lads used to come to the bottom of Jonson Street to drum (now only irregularly). Dance or just smile with the beat as the sun goes down over the sea and mountains. Especially nice at full moon when it comes up over the Cape. We like to have tailgate picnics there - just reverse your station wagon in, open the back door, sit there and munch to the sound of the bongos.
Sightseeing
600m to Tallow Creek mouth that is usually closed. Exquisite tea tree billabong secluded in the middle of long Tallow Beach. Much bird life.
Tallow Creek
600m to Tallow Creek mouth that is usually closed. Exquisite tea tree billabong secluded in the middle of long Tallow Beach. Much bird life.
360° views of dolphins, turtles and whales (in winter) with a backdrop of divine coastline. Have a friend drop you at the top and pick you up at Wategoes Beach after a charming walking descent.
402 locals recommend
Cape Byron Lighthouse
Cape Byron Walking Track360° views of dolphins, turtles and whales (in winter) with a backdrop of divine coastline. Have a friend drop you at the top and pick you up at Wategoes Beach after a charming walking descent.
A topographical phenomenon of a tall rocky outcrop with hiking trails over clifftops and great surf when wind is southerly. Beautiful westerly views of the bay with mountains in the background, especially enchanting just before and at sunset.
131 locals recommend
The Pass
A topographical phenomenon of a tall rocky outcrop with hiking trails over clifftops and great surf when wind is southerly. Beautiful westerly views of the bay with mountains in the background, especially enchanting just before and at sunset.
A rare north-facing short beach with millionaire hideaways behind. It is tucked below the lighthouse and has rocky capes at either end.
158 locals recommend
Wategos Beach
A rare north-facing short beach with millionaire hideaways behind. It is tucked below the lighthouse and has rocky capes at either end.
Parks & Nature
Rainforest to sea, gentle cape with a stunning 2km walk. Beach is protected from the prevailing south easterly winds and waves by headland, thus safer for swimming than the rest of Tallow Beach.
126 locals recommend
Broken Head
184 Beach RdRainforest to sea, gentle cape with a stunning 2km walk. Beach is protected from the prevailing south easterly winds and waves by headland, thus safer for swimming than the rest of Tallow Beach.
To build this resort the owners had to allow public access to the reserve behind it. Go left of main building to a 1km boardwalk through stunning wetlands and palm forest. Good coffee and food too. From cafe and restaurant - stunning view of mature ti-tree forest across pool and lawns. Air of freshness and green-ness. Somewhat chic-sophisticated (yep, dress up); pricey but worth it.
77 locals recommend
The Byron at Byron Resort & Spa
97 Broken Head RdTo build this resort the owners had to allow public access to the reserve behind it. Go left of main building to a 1km boardwalk through stunning wetlands and palm forest. Good coffee and food too. From cafe and restaurant - stunning view of mature ti-tree forest across pool and lawns. Air of freshness and green-ness. Somewhat chic-sophisticated (yep, dress up); pricey but worth it.
Take bike track south along Bangalow Road to 200m past high school and oppos. golf course. Ride down road with a bar across, over Japanese bridge and on 1km to Suffolk Park between bushland and beach.
LOT 7018 Alcorn St
Take bike track south along Bangalow Road to 200m past high school and oppos. golf course. Ride down road with a bar across, over Japanese bridge and on 1km to Suffolk Park between bushland and beach.
Good views of lighthouse, a bit away from the crush of Main Beach. Good cafes nearby.
73 locals recommend
Belongil Beach
Good views of lighthouse, a bit away from the crush of Main Beach. Good cafes nearby.
Tall and narrow waterfall over cliff. Easiest access is to the top, but you can climb down to the bottom via a staircase. Up there you can walk over stepping stones and admire the rainforest from easy wide tracks.
You can also park down the bottom and take a long trail to the bottom of the falls through dry schlerophyll forest.
362 locals recommend
Minyon Falls lookout
Minyon Platform TrackTall and narrow waterfall over cliff. Easiest access is to the top, but you can climb down to the bottom via a staircase. Up there you can walk over stepping stones and admire the rainforest from easy wide tracks.
You can also park down the bottom and take a long trail to the bottom of the falls through dry schlerophyll forest.
Site of anti-logging protest in 1979. Michel was there! A deep rainforest valley with fresh and vibrant creek and gorgeous swimming hole.
69 locals recommend
Protesters Falls
Protester Falls TrackSite of anti-logging protest in 1979. Michel was there! A deep rainforest valley with fresh and vibrant creek and gorgeous swimming hole.
A challenging walk through rainforest and then climb up the highest and pointiest mountain in this area. It is the plug of a 22 million year old volcano. About an hour's drive from our suite.
299 locals recommend
Mount Warning National Park
Mount Warning RoadA challenging walk through rainforest and then climb up the highest and pointiest mountain in this area. It is the plug of a 22 million year old volcano. About an hour's drive from our suite.
Essentials
Closest service station to us and it stays open until midnight. Also has fruit and vegetables.
29 locals recommend
BP
Closest service station to us and it stays open until midnight. Also has fruit and vegetables.
The most cute and inexpensive corner shop-cum-delicatessen with a massive range of only the things you would want to eat. Organic fruit and vegetables, health foods, fridges of coconut yoghurt, etc.
86 locals recommend
Baz & Shaz Fruit & Veg
44 Beech DrThe most cute and inexpensive corner shop-cum-delicatessen with a massive range of only the things you would want to eat. Organic fruit and vegetables, health foods, fridges of coconut yoghurt, etc.
All types of cars for rent and excellent repair shop. Serious repairs may need to be done in their larger workshops in the industrial estate.
Byron Service Station
All types of cars for rent and excellent repair shop. Serious repairs may need to be done in their larger workshops in the industrial estate.
The usual range of unexpected bargains along with ordinary food and household items.
56 locals recommend
ALDI Byron Bay
Fletcher StreetThe usual range of unexpected bargains along with ordinary food and household items.
Woolworths Byron Bay
106 Jonson StCentral, normal, now in nearby Mercato building
Health food store owned by locals. Central, same building as Post Office. It's pretty comprehensive.
9 locals recommend
Fundies Organics - Byron Bay Organic Groceries & Cafe
61 Jonson StHealth food store owned by locals. Central, same building as Post Office. It's pretty comprehensive.
Health food store owned by locals. Comprehensive range of food, herbal medicine, household items, etc.
42 locals recommend
Pinot & Picasso Byron Bay
30 Middleton StHealth food store owned by locals. Comprehensive range of food, herbal medicine, household items, etc.
Comprehensive range of bulk dry health foods on Jonson St just opposite the big shopping centre
13 locals recommend
The Source Bulk Foods Byron Bay
107 Jonson StComprehensive range of bulk dry health foods on Jonson St just opposite the big shopping centre
Drinks & Nightlife
Funky huge old building converted into a boutique brewery, bar, restaurant, event venue and chic cinema. Bar open noon to late night Wed to Sun. Live music under a massive Ficus tree each night.
58 locals recommend
Byron Bay Brewery
1 Skinners Shoot RdFunky huge old building converted into a boutique brewery, bar, restaurant, event venue and chic cinema. Bar open noon to late night Wed to Sun. Live music under a massive Ficus tree each night.
Excellent views of sunsets from a sophisticated air on the verandah. Lovely old wooden building with bespoke furnishings and decor.
190 locals recommend
The Balcony Bar & Oyster Co.
3 Lawson StreetExcellent views of sunsets from a sophisticated air on the verandah. Lovely old wooden building with bespoke furnishings and decor.
"The world's grooviest bar", said the Times of London. Well ... it's pretty good what with arresting murals, excellent local musicians every night from 7pm, a cross-section of local clientele - the fishing club is based there - and all under a large modest verandah off the old canteen of the former railway station in the middle of town. Robust meals at a reasonable price. It's not chic, it's not quiet, it's not even very clean, but it has a certain je ne sais quoi. Friday evening is locals' night. Check them out.
98 locals recommend
Railway Friendly Bar
86 Jonson St"The world's grooviest bar", said the Times of London. Well ... it's pretty good what with arresting murals, excellent local musicians every night from 7pm, a cross-section of local clientele - the fishing club is based there - and all under a large modest verandah off the old canteen of the former railway station in the middle of town. Robust meals at a reasonable price. It's not chic, it's not quiet, it's not even very clean, but it has a certain je ne sais quoi. Friday evening is locals' night. Check them out.
Meet the locals, have a beer and watch the sun go down over several ponds. Airy, playground for kids.
56 locals recommend
Byron Bay Golf Club
62 Broken Head RdMeet the locals, have a beer and watch the sun go down over several ponds. Airy, playground for kids.