If you need a place to chill out, Byron Bay is the place to be. To me, it's like nowhere else in Australia, and probably nowhere else in the world.
Known as a great place to learn how to surf, it's also home to the most easterly point of Australia.
BYRON BAY TOWNSHIP
There are many places to eat on and off Jonson Street, the main street in Byron Bay. As a compact place, Byron Bay is so easy to walk around and that is just what I did.
I stayed at the Cape Byron YHA which is a 2-minute walk to the road to the lighthouse. It's two blocks back from Jonson Street, and only a 5-minute walk to the beach.
BYRON BEACH
The first walk I did was Byron Beach to Fisherman's Lookout. This is about 2km in length and a great walk along the beach.
View of Byron Beach from the road lookout
Surfers and Dolphins dot the sea and this is also a great place to view sunset.
Sunsets and sunrises are the best at Byron Bay
WATEGOS BEACH
Wategos and Little Wategos Beach are the next beaches heading around the headland. Not only are these great beaches but smaller and less crowded although they are still popular.
Sand Drawing on Wategos Beach
TRACKS AROUND THE HEADLAND
You first walk up the road to the Fisherman's Lookout then the path starts in the car park. This path has a lot of steps going up and as I'd watch the locals run up, I realised how unfit I was.
Remember to put on and bring your sunscreen as well as drink and bring plenty of water.
The track will take you past Wategos Beach and a turnoff, further along, will take you down to Little Wategos Beach.
The smaller and quieter beach that is Little Wategos
From here it's up to the Most Easterly Point in Australia and its views over the ocean. From June to November you may even be lucky enough to see the Humpback Whales heading north or south on their journey.
The rugged coastline of the most easterly point in Australia
The track then heads up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, the most iconic piece of architecture here.
This is where you can see forever across the ocean as well as looking out over the other side to Tallow Beach. If the conditions are good, this is where the hang-gliders take off from.
A hang-glider, on a the right-hand side, floating over Tallow Beach
When heading back down to town, you can either walk down the road or there is a track.
This track is more sandy and not as popular or well-formed as the coastal track so you have to be more careful and have good footwear.
This is a nearly 4km loop walk that can take as long or short a time as you'd like.
SUNRISE AND SUNSET
It seems to be the thing to do, go up to the lighthouse at sunrise and sunset.
The first time I went up for sunset, it was a Sunday night and I learned my lesson very quickly, everybody goes. For sunset get there early.
I ended up back at Fisherman's Lookout for sunset. There were still a few people around but nothing compared to the lighthouse.
There is nothing like a stroll along the beach at sunset
It is easy to walk up to the lighthouse from the town and especially at sunset as it's very hard to get a car park.
Last light at the Cape Byron Lighthouse
Sunrise isn't as crowded as sunset but it's still a popular place to go.
It took me 30-40 minutes to walk up using the road. Take a torch as there isn't much light this time of day and you should arrive at least half an hour before sunrise.
The colours of the first light hitting the Cape Byron Lighthouse
This is a magical place to be for the sunrise. As you see the sun appearing on the horizon over the sea, the colours in the sky change to pastel colours.
A bit of cloud adds to the light show Mother Nature puts on
When you've finished up here, you can go back down to town via the coastal track, which isn't so busy at this time.
Byron Bay is an amazing area to just chill out and explore. You could learn to surf, relax on the beach or walk the many tracks around the headland.
