Nicole Tj
February 24, 2021

10 Things to do in Byron Bay | Read more on Travis

Byron Bay is a favourite Australian beachside destination for many, thanks to its relaxed vibe and beautiful setting. Located just under 2 hours drive away from Brisbane, or a very short plane ride from any major capital city in Australia. It makes for a great getaway no matter the season, so read on to discover our top tips on things to do in Byron Bay.

Where is Byron Bay? 

Byron Bay is an Eastern Australia coastal town in New South Wales, but is actually a lot closer to Brisbane than Sydney by car. It’s over an 8 hour drive away from Sydney but just under 2 hours from Brisbane.


Where to stay Byron Bay

Byron Bay Accommodation
Byron by Crystalbrook

From $495/night. Stay at Byron by Crystalbook and feel like you've just been whisked away to Bali. Set within 18 hectares of rainforest, sip cocktails by the pool, get a dose of yoga in, get out and about, or just curl up with Netflix and chill.

Things to do in Byron Bay

There are so many fantastic things to do in this coastal town and we’re here to give you the rundown on the things you simply can’t miss! These are our 10 top things to do in Byron Bay: 

  1. Visit Cape Byron Lighthouse
  2. Take a yoga class on the beach 
  3. Learn how to surf 
  4. Relax with a massage 
  5. Eat at The Farm 
  6. Go to the Cumbebin Wetland Sanctuary
  7. Visit Nimbin
  8. Go for a day trip to Brunswick Heads 
  9. Hit the markets 
  10. Grab a meal beside a lush rainforest 

Travis Byron Bay Guide - Cape Byron Lighthouse

Cape Byron Lighthouse - Open 9:30-4:30pm daily 

199 Lighthouse Road, Byron Bay NSW 2481

A hike up to the lighthouse that watches over Cape Byron is one of the most classic things you can do on a trip here. The lighthouse was built in the 19th century and is Australia’s most easterly point. If you make the trek here, you’ll be rewarded with ocean and hinterland views and might even spot turtles, dolphins and humpback whales.


Travis Byron Bay Guide - Take Byron Bay Yoga Class

Byron Bay Yoga Class

There’s something so relaxing about being by the ocean, so why not enhance that feeling with some beachside yoga? There are many different yoga schools offering this, but we love the sound of the First Light Yoga offered by Elements of Byron. It’s an early morning class at 7am and will be sure to get your day started in the very best way. If you’d prefer an indoor yoga class with the same stunning views of the beach, then head to Sattva Yoga Studio as they offer classes in the Byron Surf Club at Main Beach.

Travis Byron Bay Guide - Surfing in Byron Bay

Fun things to do in Byron Bay: Surfing

This low key town is a favourite among pro surfers and amateurs alike. If you’ve never been surfing before, why not give it a go here? Try a lesson with Let’s Go Surfing school! They offer options for adults, kids and also family packages too if you’re planning to get the whole group on board. All you need is your swimsuit - Let’s Go Surfing will provide everything else, including a wetsuit!

Travis Byron Bay Guide - Enjoy Massage in Byron Bay

Relax with a massage

Okay, so this one isn’t necessarily bespoke just to Byron Bay, but we don’t call a vacay a proper vacay unless you’re also getting a relaxing massage. Luckily, Byron Bay has plenty of massage options to guarantee your utmost relaxation. Book in for your full body remedial massage at The Haven. They offer a wide range of different massage types, so we’re sure you’ll find what you’re looking for here.

Travis Byron Bay Guide - Eat at The Farm

Eat at The Farm, Byron Bay, Open daily 

11 Ewingsdale Rd, Ewingsdale NSW

The Farm is one of the most popular places to eat and visit on the outskirts of Byron. This working farm, plant nursery and market/garden is a truly glorious place to while away a few hours over brunch and a walk. With animals on site including pigs, cows and chickens, it’s also a great place to take kids for a visit.

Travis Byron Bay Guide - Wetlands Boardwalk
@wheresmossynow

Cheap things to do in Byron Bay: Visit the Cumbebin Wetland Sanctuary

Only 10 minutes from the city centre, get in touch with nature at this beautiful wetlands boardwalk. You can take a relaxing stroll and spot frogs and beautiful birds. Better yet, pack a picnic and enjoy along the walk! It’s a great cheap thing to do in Byron Bay so you can keep your budget for dinner.

Travis Byron Bay Guide - Hippie Land - Nimbin

Take a day trip to Nimbin

While Byron used to be a real hippie destination, in recent years it has become a little more upmarket. If you’re looking to embrace your hippie side, take a trip into the hinterlands for a day and get out to Nimbin. It’s an easy one hour and 15 minute drive from Byron. Nimbin is part of the Rainbow Region and very important to the traditional owners of the land, the Bundjalung people. If you’re a nature lover, there’s some incredible national parks there waiting to be discovered!


Travis Byron Bay Guide - Swim at Brunswick Heads
@perspectives_by_ejm

Swim at Brunswick Heads

A quick 15 minute drive from Byron and you’re at this beautiful NSW coastal town. The beach is spectacular and also dog-friendly if you’re keen on bringing a furry friend along. You can walk, surf, swim or even fish at Brunswick Heads.

Travis Byron Bay Guide - Go Shopping at Byron Bay Market

Go shopping at the Byron Bay Markets

With some many creative minded people in town, Byron is a great place to discover local arts and crafts at one of their many markets. Generally, there is a market on every Sunday with the most popular being the Byron Bay beachfront market on the first Sunday of the month and the Bangalow market on the fourth Sunday of the month. If you’re there during the Summer, you can also enjoy a twilight market held on Saturday evenings. Find out more about what’s on here.

Travis Byron Bay Guide - Have a Meal at The Forest

Romantic things to do in Byron Bay: Have a meal next to the rainforest

Want to experience a unique dining adventure? Book a table at The Forest to dine next to the beautiful lush rainforest. We love the sustainable, local focus of this restaurant with over 80% of their ingredients sourced from within a three-hour drive. Whether you go for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just drinks, it’s really a special place to dine!

Travis Byron Bay Guide - Byron Lighthouse

Things to do in Byron Bay in Winter

Byron Bay is blessed with mild winters and generally lovely temperatures year round. In June, you can get highs of 19C which can feel practically like a Spring day if you’re from colder parts of Australia. There’s still plenty of things to do during the winter here including: 

  • Climb up the lighthouse
  • Visit the Sunday art market
  • Explore the Cape Byron walking track
  • Enjoy the Splendour in the Grass music festival 
  • Go whale watching 
  • Enjoy the Ballina Fine Wine and Food Festival in July

Travis Byron Bay Guide - Byron Bay Restraunts

Byron Bay Restaurants

Now that you’re sorted with our top things to do in Byron Bay, it’s time to think about where you’ll be eating. This coastal town isn’t short on great places to eat and drink, so we’ve narrowed down the hit list for you with our top 5 places to eat!


  1. Dine in at the petite and intimate Fleet Restaurant
  2. Enjoy dinner by the waterfront at The Beach Byron Bay
  3. Try some classy Italian cuisine at The Italian Byron Bay
  4. Have a unique dining experience at this restaurant-bakery hybrid Harvest Newrybar
  5. Taste some of Byron Bay’s finest produce at Azure Bar and Grill

Keen to start discovering Byron Bay for the first time or ready for a return visit? We can’t wait to see your own travel guides on Travis! If you’re looking for more amazing places to discover in Australia, check out this fab list of 50 best places to go from the Urban List now.


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