Byron Bay is an Australian icon, a bustling coastal town, located on the far north coast of New South Wales. Just outside the town lies the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse, which also marks mainland Australia’s most easterly point.
Byron is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the salty sea air. With a vibrant beach culture at its heart, Byron Bay is a town famous for its laid-back lifestyle. The slower pace of life, along with spectacular beaches, great shopping and gourmet dining has been attracting people from all over Australia, and beyond, for many years.
Begin by exploring Byron
Byron Bay is Australia’s hippie capital but attracts all types of visitors, from families and backpackers to surf and sunset chasers. Regardless of what you’re after, you’ll most certainly succumb to Byron’s beauty and charm.
There’s lots to do in Byron, including a plethora of outdoor activities, ranging from kayaking and surfing to horseback riding and whale watching. Aside from outdoor activities, Byron is all about just chilling out and soaking up the vibe – of which there is plenty.
Outside of Byron’s main town centre, the region has much more to explore, with beachy villages and charming hinterland towns, all worth visiting.
Surf at Lennox Head
From Byron, take a slight detour south to Lennox Point, a famous surf spot with a world-class break, located within a National Surf Reserve. Here you can spend an afternoon learning to surf with one of the local surf schools, or simply kick back and relax on the headland, watching the local surfers do their thing.
Brunswick Heads
From Lennox Head, make your way up the coast to Brunswick Heads, a small, unspoilt coastal village, situated at the mouth of the Brunswick River. Brunswick Heads is all about the simpler side of life and unlike its neighbour, Byron Bay, it has retained its traditional seaside village atmosphere, with fewer tourists than other towns on the coast.
Hastings Point
From Brunswick Heads, drive to Hastings Point, a sleepy coastal town, well known for its incredible beaches and laid-back atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to get away from it all, ideally suited for a romantic getaway or a low-key family holiday. The town is enveloped by verdant national park, with the ocean to the east, and the beautiful, yet delicate, estuary on the west. The area is known nationally as the Green Cauldron and is one of the most unique seaside towns in the country. It’s the perfect place for those looking to reconnect with nature.
Cabarita Beach
The final destination on this mini road trip is Cabarita, a charming town, away from all the hustle and bustle of Byron Bay and the other busier towns on the coast. Cabarita is relaxed, with a complete lack of tourists or traffic to disturb you. It’s not as busy as Brunswick Heads or as hectic or popular as Kingscliff. Cabarita provides the perfect getaway for when you want to put your feet up and enjoy lazy days reading by the beach.
Aside from relaxing on the beach, Cabarita offers plenty of outdoor activities and opportunities for walking and wandering.
A sunrise or sunset walk up Norries Headland is a great way to start or end any day. If surfing is your thing, check out Back Beach where you’ll find plenty of impressive waves begging to be surfed.
Cabarita is all about slowing down and spending lazy days with the ones you love. A short road trip up Queensland’s north coast is a mini adventure that offers plenty of rest and relaxation. Pack a good book and plan your adventure. Wherever you choose to travel, you’ll get there in a rental car with Hertz.
