His fame precedes it ... for Australia there are few people who do not know Byron Bay (or so it seems). They were many times those who recommended us to spend a few days here. But what will this small town on the east coast of Australia have to fall in love with everyone?
We must confess that before arriving in Byron Bay we already raised the shield against disappointments. Because of those places that have wonders, one is often disappointed, probably because of high expectations. But we liked Byron Bay much more than expected. Things are like this: this little town in New South Wales has something special. Therefore, the first recommendation is: do not miss it ... And the others are ... Well better read the article where we tell you a few ideas of what to do in Byron Bay.
Boss Josh with his guitar!
It has rained a lot since, back in the distant year of 1770, Captain James Cook spotted this overhang of land and called it Cape Byron. What I didn't know then was that, several centuries later, Byron Bay would become one of the hippie mecca of the 1960s. It was also one of the favorite destinations for surfers, many of them fell in love with its waves and its beaches and settled here.
1973 was the year of its consecration as a tourist destination, when the legendary Aquarius Festival (the Australian Woodstock) took place in the nearby hippy village of Nimbin. Come on, that Byron Bay ceased to be a secret well kept by a privileged few and became the desire of a lot of people. We assume that your thought would be similar to ours when we left Byron Bay: "I hope I play the lottery and can buy me a little house with a tropical garden here."
The truth is that there are not many things to see and do in Byron Bay and this, dear ones, is not a bad thing at all. By not having a closed planning with a thousand things to do, you can let yourself be guided by your instinct and explore the small streets of the village, or spend hours watching the waves of its main beach.
Now, there are some essentials. Here are the 10 things to do if or if in Byron Bay:
1. Learn to surf (or at least try). There are several schools that teach, calculates about € 42 for a 2-hour course. The main beach of Byron Bay is perfect for beginners, and if you are lucky, you can swim and / or go kayaking next to dolphins and turtles * _ *
2. Attend some music concert in one of the alleys from the center. We fell in love with the voice of Love Grove Music.
3. Hunt (good) street art. And believe us, it won't be difficult, just get lost in the alleys of the center and it won't take long to find beautiful urban art and graffiti.
Street Art in Byron Bay
4. Enjoy a delicious brunch in one of the immaculate coffee shops of the town. We also bring good news for vegans and healthy food lovers: Byron Bay is one of the world's leading realfooding destinations. Here are 6 restaurants to eat at Byron Bay
5. Go up to the lighthouse and be amazed by the views from there. It is a good place to realize how beautiful the landscape is in this part of the world (if you had not already done so).
Byron Bay Lighthouse
6. Freak out with the quiet which is one of the most famous villages in Australia (and how green everything is!)
7. See one sunset on the beach, while watching how surfers play with dolphins and listen to the musician on duty who, damn, they are soooo good! The sunset in Byron is a magical moment, do not miss it.
8. Celebrate whatever is during a happy hour. We spent 3 hours celebrating everything at The Sticky Wicket bar, at which time beer and cider cost only $ 5 (from 5 to 7)…. and chicken wings for $ 1. Unmissable hehe.
Celebrating ... loquesea
9. Buy a hippie dress in one of the many little shops in the center. Or a bag, or a backpack, or a pair of sneakers, or a swimsuit, or earrings, aiiiins that there are beautiful things out there. Of course, always with a head, it is not a matter of leaving the travel budget!
10. Get the backpack and go Without spilling a tear. Spoiler: it will be harder than you think.
It's not a goodbye, it's a see you soon!
Let's finish with a few curious facts about this beloved destination of Austrlia:
- It is located on the easternmost tip of Australia!
- This is where Elsa Pataky and her husband Thor live (they are not stupid, huh. Not poor, of course).
- At the entrance of the town there is a sign that welcomes you and recites what appears to be the mantra of the place: Cheer up, slow down and chill out 🙂
- Between May and November it is possible to spot whales in Byron Bay.
- But know that until 1963 Byron Bay was a beast whaling center.
Byron Bay is a special place, its bohemian atmosphere and relaxed life make it an ideal destination to spend a few days on a trip through Australia. And these that we have told you are some things to do in Byron Bay but, it is best to come and discover its charms for yourself!
Useful information
:: Where to sleep in Byron Bay?
We stayed 2 nights at the Byron Bay YHA, of the YHA hostel chain. What to say? A real past! It is very new, with great rooms, well-kept common areas and ... piscinote !! It is also very located, a step away from the town center and the beach. Definitely a success. You find bunk beds starting at $ 26.
:: Where to eat in Byron Bay?
Here are 6 restaurants where you can eat cheaply in Byron Bay
