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The Byron Bay Beaches are legendary. It’s not just Australians and the surfing community who know about Byron Bay, but people all over the world.
They draw thousands of international visitors from around the world who want to ride their waves, experience the world-famous community vibe, and soak up the East Coast sunshine.
Fair warning, those who visit, many never want to leave, and I don’t think you could get any more Australian than learning to surf at Byron Bay.
Australia is known for its beaches, its has over 10,000 of them, and Byron has some of the best in the country.
You don’t have to be a surfer to appreciate the amazing beaches on offer in Byron. Just taking a swim, a walk or celebrating one of the magic sunsets with a cold drink is enough to cast that spell over you that many can’t escape from.
I’m not a surfer but I love the beaches in Byron and can see and feel the excitement of the guys and gals who get up at the crack of dawn to hit the waves.
For me, I appreciate that they’re clean, sheltered, family friendly and not overdeveloped with high-rises. And ranging in temperature from 18°C in the winter to 26°C in the summer, this is my kind of beach that you can enjoy all year round.
But if you don’t know which beach is right for you. Check out these unmissable Byron Bay beaches below.
The Best Byron Bay Beaches
From quiet and peaceful beaches to excellent surf, you will find everything you need and more at these incredible beaches!
1. Main Beach Byron Bay
They don’t call it Main Beach for nothing. It’s where it all happens in Byron Bay – well, most of it.
Main Beach is the closest beach to town and the most popular. If you’ve ever seen a postcard of Byron I bet it was of Main Beach.
With a north-facing curve comes a popular surf break, soft white sand, turquoise water, a surf patrol for the kids and INCREDIBLE sunsets.
Main Beach is the quintessential Aussie beach. It’s not just a beach but a place where locals and tourists alike can come together and enjoy the faciltiies.
It has a long grassy area with picnic tables, the perfect spot for picnics without getting sand in your sandwiches, as well as all the facilities you need – parking, toilets, showers and a Surf Club where you can book surfing lessons.
Not to mention it has the iconic Byron Lighthouse keeping watch from the distant headland, which you must walk up to, and the legendary pub across the road, the Beach Hotel which is great for a Sunday session.
What else do you want in your Byron Bay Beach town?
We walked it daily, jumped in the waves, sat on the rocks, built sandcastles and played at the playground.
At night we ate takeaway fish & chips from Mongers, burgers from BayGer, or $5 pizzas from Domino’s and sat on the grass as the sun went down and watched the fire dancers – great free entertainment for the kids (they perform for tips).
2. Clarkes Beach
Around the bay to the east is Clarkes Beach.
This is where we stayed in our camper trailer at Clarkes Beach Holiday Park and stumbled onto the sand every morning. What an awesome spot to sleep.
It’s only a 10-minute walk to Byron Bay town from Clarkes Beach and another friendly place to swim with your kids, and less people than Main Beach.
There’s some rocky areas for snorkeling and don’t miss the breakfast views from the Byron Beach Cafe.
3. The Pass
At the end of the bay further east from Clarkes Beach is The Pass.
We climbed up the Fishermans Lookout which is a set of stairs with a viewing platform and watched the early morning surfers carve up the waves.
The Pass is a famous surf break and almost inspired me to grab a board and have a lesson. The surfing looked awesome with long smooth waves which seemed like they went all the way into Clarkes Beach.
4. Wategos Beach & Little Wategos Beach
It was love at first site for Caz and I when we first set eyes on Wategos Beach, the most easterly point in Australia. It’s still on our list of best beaches in Australia and one that we tell everyone about (sorry locals).
What a beach.
Crystal clear water, rocks dotted along the sand, and despite being Australia’s most easterly beach, it has gentle rolling waves that are perfect for the longboarders and beginner surfers doing their thing, and its sheltered and safe for the kiddies.
We never visit Byron Bay without going to Wategos Beach.
If you don’t ride a longboard at least dive in the water and then make use of the free BBQ’s or the cafe on site and enjoy paradise.
At the northern end of the beach is Cosy Corner, which is a popular spot for surfers as its protected by northerly winds.
A little further round over the path from Wategos is Little Wategos. Go here if you’re looking for a lovely sheltered spot for snorkeling, sunbathing or swimming.
It’s pretty small, and during high tide, it pretty much disappears, but that’s why we love it. It’s almost always quiet.
5. Tallows Beach & Cosy Corner
I’ve only looked down upon Tallows Beach from the Lighthouse walking track we did, which is an awesome view by the way, and Tallows is a long stretch of sand all the way to the south.
Apparently Tallows Beach is a good spot for some beach fishing, whilst Cosy Corner which is tucked just below Cape Byron headland has a good surf break in favourable conditions.
But be warned, we actually saw a surfer being rescued who was getting swept out to sea in the strong rips around Cape Byron whilst we were up at the Lighthouse.
6. Lennox Head Beach
Lennox Head beach, located between Byron Bay and Ballina, has beautiful white sand and crystal clear waters, it is the perfect place to soak up some sun and relax.
The beach offers a variety of activities such as swimming, surfing, snorkeling, fishing and more. With stunning coastal views, unique wildlife such as dolphins swimming off the shore, as well as plenty of restaurants and shops nearby, Lennox Head has so much to see and do.
If you’re looking for an unspoiled, long stretch of beach with great surf, relaxing vibes and epic sunsets – check out Lennox Head Beach.
7. Brunswick Heads Main Beach
Just a short 20-minute drive North of Byron and you’ll come to Brunswick Heads, which has an incredible Main Beach which sits in a nature preserve between the Simpson Creek and Pacific Ocean.
The beach is wild and yet still clean and well-maintained. It has excellent surf, as you can expect with all Byron beaches, and also has a dog exercise area where your pooch can run around off leash.
The beach is patrolled, so you can surf with ease of mind, and there’s also toilets, showers and a car park with loads of spaces.
Right next door, you’ll find Torakina Beach, which is another beautiful beach with white sand and turquoise waters.
What more could you want?
8. Belongil Beach
Belongil Beach is directly west of Main Beach and stretches for 2.5-kilometers. It’s one of the best beaches in Byron for dog owners, since there is an off-leash area near the Main Beach car park.
As well as being a great place for dogs to roam, Belongil Beach is most famous for its shipwreck of the SS Wollongbar, which was a passenger steamship that got stranded here in 1921.
Around the wreck, you will find excellent coral and an abundance of marine life, which is great for snorkelling.
Belongil Beach is also a popular surfing spot and has some great waves for beginner to intermediate surfers to enjoy too. If you’re driving, you’ll want to park your car at Main Beach carpark and walk over.
9. Whites Beach
Whites Beach is somewhat of a hidden gem near Byron. It’s a small beach that you could easily miss if you weren’t looking for it.
Nestled near Jews Point in Broken Head, this beautiful and secluded beach is the perfect place to escape the crowds you find at Byron Bay.
Access to the beach is quite steep, and there is a long dirt road to the carpark, but it’s all worth it when you find yourself at this beach that you may get to yourself, if you’re lucky!
Fair warning, there are no facilities here, not even a toilet, but that’s the price you pay for seclusion!
10. Seven Mile Beach
Seven Mile Beach is a long stretch of beach that extends from Lennox Point headland to Jews Point in Broken Head.
It’s a great beach for swimming, surfing and snorkeling, or to walk your dog and stretch your legs.
You can also drive along Seven Mile Beach if you have a 4WD and a permit.
11. Broken Head Beach
Broken Head beach sits between Jews Point and Suffolk Park. It’s a great place to spot migrating whales and dolphins if you visit in the right season.
Nestled on the shores of Broken Head Nature Reserve, this beach is a nature lovers paradise! The sand is powdery and soft, the bay is sheltered, there’s excellent surf and places to snorkel.
There is a short walk to a lookout point, which offers excellent views of the beach and surrounding scenery. If you want to go camping, you’ll find an excellent campsite here too.
Where to stay in Byron Bay
Knowing where to stay can often be the hardest decision you make, so to make it easier for you, we’ve listed our favorite places to stay. We stayed at Clarkes Beach Holiday Park, now known as Reflections Holiday Parks Byron Bay, and had a great experience.
It’s located right opposite Clarks Beach and has cute little cabins you can stay in. Each cabin is like a little house with a bedroom, bathroom, living area, and a small kitchen or kitchenette.
Some other great hotels to look at are:
- Raes on Wategos is one of the most famous accommodation options in Bryon Bay and Australia. Voted one of the world’s top 25 hotels by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine, Raes offers a blissful and unforgettable Byron Bay experience. Read More reviews here.
- Victoria at Wategos offers accommodation with views over the garden, outdoor pool or Cape Byron Lighthouse. Providing surfing amenities, it is just 350 feet from Wategos Beach in Byron Bay. Read more reviews and check availability here.
- Beach Hotel Resort Just 150 feet from Byron Bay’s Main Beach and surrounded by lush tropical gardens, this resort offers free WiFi, a luxurious swimming pool and a hot tub Read more reviews and check availability here.
Booking.com has over 150 properties in Byron Bay from hotels, resorts, apartments and hostels. You get free cancellation on most rooms and a best price guarantee.
Getting to Byron Bay
Byron Bay is a 9 hour drive north of Sydney (800 km), or a 2-hour drive south of Brisbane (175 km).
Fly into Coolangatta Airport on the Gold Coast and from there it’s a short 45-minute drive.
If you don’t have your own car, you can find a rental car through RentalCars.com. They are the world’s biggest car rental booking service that compares all the major brands like Hertz, Avis, Alamo, and Europcar.
Final Thoughts on Byron Bay Beaches
So there you have it, those are the best Byron Bay beaches, and as you can see, there’s so many great options to choose from.
Byron Bay is world famous for its beaches, which are arguably some of the nicest on mainland Australia.
But hopefully this guide will show you there is more to Byron than Main Beach, and that each of the other beaches offer something special and unique.
Want to know more about what Byron Bay Beaches look like? Check out this video on Byron Bay beaches for our friend Stoked for Travel.
More Inspiration for Byron Bay
Do you need more inspiration for your trip to Byron Bay? Then check out these posts:
- Doing the Byron Bay Lighthouse walk
- The Byron Bay Blues Fest
- More posts on things to do in Byron Bay
- 11 of the Best Beaches in NSW
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