Byron Bay NSW

About Byron Bay

About Byron Bay

Byron Bay is a popular destination due to its abundance of stunning scenery and vibrant culture.

The town has several beautiful beaches and is popular with both domestic and international tourists, including backpackers, who travel along the Australian coast.

Cape Byron, a headland adjacent to the town, is the most eastern point of Australia mainland, and is part of a giant volcanic crater.

The Cape Byron lighthouse overlooking the town was opened in 1901, and has the most powerful beacon in Australia. The lighthouse itself is a popular attraction to visit and can be accessed via a stunning scenic walkway along the coastline.

The town is popular with residents from all socio-economic backgrounds and walks of life. It is famous for its laid back and alternative lifestyle, but also has a higher proportion of Baby Boomers (27%) than any other town in Australia.

The area is also noted for its wildlife, with the whale watching industry a significant contributor to the local economy.

Search through the pages below to find:

  Byron Bay Accommodation - hotels, resorts, holiday houses, apartments, camping & more
  Byron Bay Restaurants, cafes, bars, takeaways and local produce
  Byron Bay Activities - what to see and do in Byron Bay
  Byron Bay Businesses - locate a local business, store, service or trade

Click on the tabs at the top of this page to view current weather and surf resports for Byron Bay.

The town is the nucleus of Byron Shire, which has in excess of 30,000 people (ABS est. 2003).

Captain James Cook named the area Byron after John Byron circumnavigator of the world and grandfather of the poet, Lord Byron.

Byron Bay Cape is popular with surfers, who come for the famous breaks at The wreck, The Pass and Wategoes beaches. View our section on Surfing in Summerland for more information on local surf spots and other useful info for surfers.

Hang-gliders too are drawn to the headland to launch from its 65m cliff. The Cape is also a great spot to watch the dolphins surfing and the annual whale migration.

Byron is a popular spot with great shopping, dining, swimming, fishing, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking and just about everything else you can do in a coastal town. But best of all Byron's breath-taking beauty makes it a fantastic place to relax.

Getting to Byron Bay

Byron Bay is located 20kms north of Ballina, about 800 km north of Sydney and 200 km south of Brisbane.

Probably the easiest way to get to Byron by air, is to land at the airport in Ballina which has many daily flights from Sydney as well as several flights from Melbourne during the week. You can then take the road along the majestic coastline to Lennox Head and Suffolk Park to finally arrive in Byron Bay.

By Car - many drive up the long coastal eastern highway which is undergoing many upgrades to improve its safety.

Other popular places to stay close to Byron Bay include Lennox Head, Ballina, Bangalow and Brunswick Heads.

There are also many other fantastic locations nearby where you can stay and catch local transport into town, or hire a car and go exploring the beautiful region.

Don't forget to come back to the Summerland Coast NSW website and write reviews on your Byron Bay experiences to share with locals and other travellers.