8 Can’t Miss Byron Bay Experiences
Byron Bay is one of my favorite stops on our Australian road trip. Can you blame me as there is so much to do in this popular beach town besides beaching it. Known for its hippie culture, Byron is filled with magic and natural beauty. A year round festival hub, Byron hosts two of Australia’s most popular music festivals – Byron Bluesfest (Easter weekend) and Splendor in the Grass (July) as well as the Byron Bay Writers Festival (August) and Byron Bay International Film Festival.
If you love crystals and geodes of all shapes and sizes then you’re going to love Crystal Castle. It is home to the biggest and most beautiful crystals in the world. If you’re tired of the beach or just want to get out of the main area for a bit, Crystal Castle is just a half hour drive away in the hills of Mullumbimby. It’s also a great place to visit on a rainy day because you can get some colorful umbrellas to walk around with. Can you say #instaperfect?
A day pass includes a walk around the exquisite natural surroundings where you’ll get to experience and admire all the crystals. There is an Enchanted Cave, the worlds largest amethyst cave in the world and also the world’s tallest geode pair, The Crystal Guardians. Here you’ll also find the largest stone Blessing Buddha in Australia and the only Kalachakra World Peace Stupa in the southern hemisphere.
For an additional cost you can take an aura photo and have your tarot read.
So for all you spiritual beings looking to enrich your spirit and discover the magic within yourself, this place is definitely worth a day trip.
Budget: $29 for day pass
Best time to visit: year round
Just 30 minutes outside of Byron, surrounded by luscious, dense rainforest and eroded rocks, Killen Falls is a great place to be on any given day. It’s a large swimming hole with a 10m waterfall at the end. At the back of the falls you can also find a large cave where you can sit or lay out and chill for the day. The walk to the falls is short and hilly, but nothing too difficult.
Whether it be at sunrise or sunset, the walk to Cape Byron Lighthouse is a beautiful one. So I’ve heard. Or you can do as we did and drive up to the lighthouse. Either way, the views from this most Eastern point of mainland Australia cannot be missed!
Nimbin is hands down the hippy capital of Australia. Still stuck in the 60s, Nimbin is filled with colorful shops, it’s alternative lifestyle and people offering weed at every turn. It’s located 1 hour and 15 minutes inland from Byron Bay so you can either hop in your car and go or take a day tour on one of those psychedelic tour busses.
Byron is a boho’s dream come true so if you’re into jewelry and trinkets then this is the place for you. Additionally you can also find loads of Farmer’s Markets. Byron hosts a plethora of markets which changes depending on the day of the week or month. If you’re planning on visiting Byron, check out the Byron Tourism Site to see where and when the next market is.
Born in Byron for all the boho chics that have a taste for flare and fashion, no visit to Byron is complete without visiting Spell. It’s known as the Bohemian Brand for Modern Gypsies. Their dress are fun and playful and as a lover of all things print, I’ve never been more impressed by each of their collections.
Dolphins are one of my absolute favourite creatures so any time I have a chance to take a dolphin cruise or kayak with dolphins in the wild, I’m there! We went with Cape Byron Kayaks (http://goseakayakbyronbay.com.au) as they had a wide selection of tour times available throughout the day (see below). Not only that, but you also learn about local history, aboriginal history, the lighthouse, dolphins, whales and turtles. You also get a Dolphin Guarantee so if you miss out on spotting any dolphins, they promise another trip for free.
Summer
8:30am – 11:30am
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Winter (May – August)
10:00am – 1:00pm
1:30pm – 4:30pm
Budget: $69 AUD per adult and $59 AUD per child under 12 years
Best time to Visit: year round, but July to November for Whales
This one is definitely a given as Byron Bay is home to an array of amazing beaches. If you want to lay out and relax in the sun or spend the day surfing (or learning to surf), Byron is every beach goer’s haven. You’ll find most people at Main Beach, as the name suggest, it’s the closest and main beach in town. However, there are plenty of other amazing beaches around Byron to choose from. Tallow beach, which is a long stretch of sand, not good for swimming, but definitely good for long walks; THe Pass, which is amazing for surfing; Clark’s beach, next to The Pass and also a good surf spot and; Wategoes Beach which is a great spot for swimming and surfing.
Once a well kept secret, but growing in popularity is Whites Beach. You’ll find it a bit further away from the main beach. You’ll need a car to get here as you have to drive down a dirt road through the rainforest and walk down a dirt patch. Here you’ll find crystal clear waters, creamy white sand and lots of rockpools.
Have you ever visited Byron? What are some of your experiences?
