About Byron Bay
Byron Bay (or as the locals like to call it – Byron) is located on the East Coast of Australia, in New South Wales, approximately 800 kilometres North of Sydney and about 180 kilometres South of Brisbane. There are over 300 accommodation places to choose from in Byron, catering for all different types of budgets including backpackers hostels, hotels, motels, self contained apartments, cottages, bed & breakfasts, retreats, caravan parks, and even whole houses for rent. You can easily get to Byron by plane, train, bus or car.
Things to see
On the main street, right in the center of town, you will find all the hustle and bustle of the pubs, cafes, souvenir shops, clothes shops, internet cafe, the train station and the information centre. One of Byron’s greatest attractions is the lighthouse, which was built in 1901 and is located at the most Easterly point of Australia. It stands at 22 meters high, is constructed from concrete blocks. It was finally converted to electricity in 1956 when it became Australia’s most powerful lighthouse.
Things to do
Byron Bay is surrounded by about 30 kilometers of beaches, which offer some of the best surfing around. There is a lifesaver-patrolled area along the main beach, which is safe for swimming, as well as some unpatrolled areas, which you need to take extra care in, as rips can sometimes be present. On the first Sunday of the month, Byron holds markets where you can buy some of the local arts and crafts, organic produce, and view the local performers such as jugglers, dancers, fire twirlers and didgeridoo players. They will entertain you for hours. There are a mountain of other activities in Byron including hot air ballooning, hang gliding, skydiving, whale watching and kayaking with the dolphins. If you meet someone special, you can even get married on the beach by a local celebrant here.
Famous health retreat
There are a large number of health retreats in Byron including one named Gaia Health Retreat, which Olivia Newton-John (who played Sandy in the movie “Grease”) took ownership of in 2004. Every guest who stays here plants a tree, so that they can help make a positive contribution towards nature.
Diving Byron Bay
Scuba diving here takes place around the uninhabited islands of Julian Rocks, located about 2.5 km out of the coast.
