Car Hire Byron Bay - Mini guide to Byron Bay

Byron is nestled in a stunning geographical location and forms the eastern-most mainland point on the Australian continent- perfect for spotting whales as they migrate north in June and July. It is home to an alternative community comprised of artists, craftspeople, glass blowers and poets. Byron Bay is loved by families for its stunning beaches, while surfers flock here for some of the best surfing in the world.

Wategos Beach and an area off the tip of Cape Byron called ‘The Pass’ are good places to surf, and most accommodation in town offers surfboard rentals. Main Beach, along the front of Byron Bay, stretches to the north for 50kms and is good for swimming. To the west of Main Beach is Belongil Beach, the unofficial nudist beach. Scuba divers like to go to Julian Rocks, about three kilometres offshore; this is where cooler currents from the south meet warmer ones from the north, providing a good habitat for a large variety of sea life.

Away from the beaches, a main attraction is the Cape Byron Lighthouse on Cape Byron. The area is stunning at night, as you can see the light reaching some 40kms out to sea. You can walk there from the town, following the beach the following thr stairs up the bluff. From here you get a fantastic view of the unsual peak of Mount Warning in the northern distance.

Entertainment is provided by a good choice of bars and restaurants. Additionally, Byron Bay becomes festive during the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival, taking place over four days during Easter weekend. Around 30,000 people camp out here and listen to about 80 acts. Alternatively, there is a charming local crafts market the first Sunday of every month.

A nice walk just south of town goes through the rainforest of the Broken Head Nature Reserve. You can also take a daytrip to the hippie retreat of Nimbin. Along the coast, you can enjoy some excellent fishing and superb beaches. Byron Bay is 78kms southeast of Murwillumbah, a good base for touring the nearby 1,154-metre Mount Warning, picturesque country towns, and countryside dominated by sugar cane and bananas.

You can get to Byron Bay by driving up the north coast from Sydney and exiting the Pacific Highway at Ballina. From there, take the scenic coastal road via Lennox Head. The journey is around 10 hours from Sydney (790kms) and 2 hours (200kms) from Brisbane. By bus, Greyhound Pioneer offer daily service from Sydney to Byron Bay. Alternatively, fly with Regional Express airline from Sydney to Ballina and then utilise Byron Bus Transfers for the rest of the journey. Coolangatta Airport, which offers a wider range of flight options, is one hour north of Byron Bay (112kms).