Byron Bay Accommodation

Byron Bay is situated on the east coast of Australia 11/2 hours drive south of Brisbane and 40 minutes south of the Gold Coast and its many Theme Parks. Take a look at a selection of Byron Bay maps.

Once a former whaling station Byron Bay is now a very popular holiday resort renowned for its magnificent surfing beaches. The lush and beautiful hinterland and countryside surrounding the town was opened up by cedar-cutters in the late 1800s and is now devoted to dairying, cattle, tropical fruit and nut plantations and tourist accommodation.

Getting to Byron is easy. The airports of Coolangatta to the north and Ballina to south service the area with airport transfers and car rental readily available.

Byron has a year round subtropical climate with summer temperatures dominated by a cooling onshore breeze.

The town is partly protected from the sea by Cape Byron, a rocky promontory 107m high and the continent's most easterly point. Cape Byron lighthouse, opened in 1901, is one of the most attractive and powerful lighthouses in Australia stands on the cape, beaming its light more than 40km out to sea. A walking trail leads to the tip of the cape, on the way visiting the lighthouse and providing fine coastal views. A ramp on the southern side of the cape is used by hang gliders that often soar overhead.

Good views of humpback whales on their migration up the coast to Hervey Bay can be seen from the cape in July and on their return in September. Ironicaly, before its closure in 1962, the Byron Bay Whaling Station was one of four on the east coast catching and processing whales during the migration. The Cape Byron Headland Reserve Trust manages an excellent information centre, and you can stroll from the lighthouse to the beach through the 47 hectares of protected remnant coastal vegetation communities.

Spectacular clifftop walking track offers panoramic views of the ocean and north coast hinterland. Wind your way along the tracks through diverse coastal plant communities, including rainforest that stretches right down to the beach sands.

The marine park at Julian Rocks, just off the main beach, is situated at the meeting place of tropical and temperate currents. Scuba divers will be dazzled by the amazing variety of fish and marine creatures to be seen. In November 2002 Julian Rocks became part of Cape Byron Marine Park with new zoning plans being discussed over the next few years.

According to a story from the aboriginal Bundjalung people a jealous husband threw his spear at the canoe of his wife and her lover. The canoe broke in two and sank to the bottom of the ocean. Only the back and the front of the boat stuck out of the water, creating a rock formation just 2.5 km off shore

The colourful markets can be found in many of the shires towns. Byron Bay, Bangalow, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads all boast monthly local markets.

The Byron Bay Markets are a microcosm of the whole town. Stalls selling all the alternative wares that you can imagine harmoniously fit in with those offering good old fashion merchandise. Hotdog stands bustle next to organic tofu sprukers. Leather hats and belt stands nestle in beside natural hemp spun robes and tie dyed dresses.

The dancers, performers, singers and drummers also provide feasts for the senses in all shapes and sizes. Walking up and down the aisles of the Byron Bay Market Grounds can become an all day experience, with new things to see at every turn.

Beaches such as Wategos, Tallows, Belongil and Clarke’s can be found on either side of the town and there are numerous rocky headlands providing perfect vantage points and ideal fishing platforms. These beaches are considered by surfers to be some of the best surfing beaches in Australia.

Byron Bay is famous for its relaxed and sometimes alternative way of life that has attracted an interesting mix of residents and is reflected in the galleries and boutiques and shops with New Age offerings.

There are many fine restaurants in Byron Bay whose cuisine you can sample. Entertainment abounds in the vibrant pubs and clubs around Byron Bay with live music available every night of the week.

Many backpackers visit the town all year round and are well catered for with plenty of low cost hostel accommodation. There is also plenty of house rental, apartment, motel, and studio type Byron Bay accommodation

Music and the Arts go hand in hand with Byron Bay with popular festivals being the East Coast Blues and Roots music festival at Easter time, Splendour in the Grass and the Writers Festival all attracting large followings. Byron Bay is famous for its environmentally and socially aware local community, boasting that it has no McDonalds, no high rise and no traffic lights.