THE BEST BEACHES IN BYRON BAY

Byron Bay is home to some of the best beaches for surfing and swimming beaches in Australia and are a major draw card for the Byron Bay Region.  Millions of visitors from around the world flock to Byron Bay each year keen to ride a wave, swim in the surf and experience the friendly laid-back lifestyle that Byron Bay is renown for.

If you are an avid member of the surfing community, here you will find some of the best surf spots in Australia with varied Byron Bay surf conditions to suit a beginner through to the more experienced surfer.  If surfing in Byron Bay isn’t high on your wish list, you will still appreciate the diverse beauty of the beaches, enjoy a refreshing swim in the surf, feeling the sand between your toes, listening to the roar of the ocean and taking in the most awe inspiring sunsets guaranteed to make you daydream about staying here forever, as many a tourist has done before you.

There are so many incredible beaches in Byron Bay to explore on your Byron Bay holiday and we have put together a list of the 8 of the Best Byron Bay beaches for you to visit on your holiday.

1. TALLOWS BEACH

 3-minute walk from Byron Holiday Park

Best accessed via the short sandy walking trail from the Byron Holiday Park, Tallows Beach, located within the Arakwal National Park is at the top of the list for the best beaches in Byron Bay.  Less populated than other beaches in the region, Tallows Beach is a pet friendly beach in Byron Bay (and we offer the best Byron Bay pet friendly accommodation – wink) and a perfect spot to enjoy some quality beach fishing, swim in the ocean, stroll along the beach, catch sight of the magnificent whales during the Byron Whale watching season or where you can simply soak up some rays as you listen to the roar of the ocean and take in the incredible sights of osprey and white-bellied eagles scouring the coastline.

Cosy corner which is tucked just below Cape Byron has a challenging surf break and good Byron Bay surf conditions.  The beach is unpatrolled, and the current can be strong and unpredictable, so the breaks are better tackled by the more experienced surfer.

2. MAIN BEACH

9-minute drive from Byron Holiday Park

Conveniently located right in town, a short stroll from cafes and restaurant and offering great facilities, BBQ’s, picnic tables, showers and a children’s playground making Byron Bay’s Main Beach one of the most popular beaches in Byron Bay.   The beach is patrolled by life savers year-round and offers great swimming conditions and mild waves that are ideal for all levels of surfers.   If you are new to surfing Main Beach Byron Bay is also home to several Byron Bay Surfing Schools like Byron Bay Surf School and Soul Surf School Byron Bay where you can learn the basics or hone your skills with more advanced surfing lessons.

Being a tourist hot spot, Main Beach can get crowded so if you are planning on spending the day at the beach, it’s a good idea to set up your beach shelter and roll out your towel early to ensure the best position for the day.   and if you are looking to avoid the crows

3. BELONGIL BEACH

 14-minute drive from Byron Holiday Park

Stretching 2.5km north from the seawall at Main Beach to the Belongil Creek Mouth, Belongil Beach is one of the few quiet Byron Bay beaches, a favourite amongst the locals and often overlooked by tourists preferring the action of Main Beach.   Here you can enjoy a long beach walk or take advantage of the solitude and catch a few rays as you take a siesta on the beach.

If you are a keen snorkeler, you will enjoy snorkeling the Belongil Beach shipwreck of the SS Wollongbar, a 2K ton passenger steamship which was stranded in the surf right in front of Belongil Beach in 1921.   Close by you will find the popular surf break – The Wreck Byron Bay – which offers a very sheltered reef break and consistent surf a good swell, ideal for surfing.

4. CLARKES BEACH

7-minute drive from Byron Holiday Park

Nestled between Main Beach and the Pass and a short 7-minute drive from your Byron Bay campsite at Byron Holiday Park, Clarkes Beach is another idyllic north facing beach with good amenities offering safe swimming conditions and some great rocky areas and tidal pools perfect for snorkeling.

The beach less crowded than the nearby Main Beach which means you will have a lot more space to spread out.  The beach’s northerly position makes it quite protected from the southerly winds making the waves a lot smaller and providing ideal conditions for learning to surf in Byron and for you to enjoy a variety of other Byron Bay water activities.,

5. THE PASS

9-minute drive from Byron Holiday Park

The Pass, located at the end of the bay further east from Clarkes Beach, is an iconic surf break popular within the surfing community offering great surf conditions for experienced surfers and calm shallow waters along the long sand bank perfect for families with young children.  The Pass is also the launch spot for dive boats taking divers and snorkelers out to the nearby Julian Rocks in the middle of the bay.

We recommend climbing the stairs up to the Fisherman’s Lookout up to the viewing platform where you can take in the incredible panoramic views of the Byron Bay coastline and where you can get a bird’s eye view of all the surfing action.

6. WATEGOS BEACH

10-minute drive from Byron Holiday Park

One of the prettiest beaches in Bryon Bay with crystal clear water, gentle rolling waves and rocks dotting the sand, Wategos beach is an oasis that the locals would prefer to keep to themselves.  Wategos beach is a quiet sheltered beach with calm waters and home to an array of marine life so be sure to pack the snorkeling gear.  You may even be lucky to site some of the local bottlenose dolphins who regularly visit the area.  At the far end of the beach you can take the steps up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse which is open from 8am until sunset and offers the most spectacular views of the Bryon Bay Coastline.

Patrolled during the summer months, the calm waters and facilities at Wategos Beach are ideal for kayaking and beginner surfers and for families with small children.  The beach is safe enough for kids to explore at a safe distance and there are also free BBQ’s and picnic tables, so you can pack a picnic and really make a day of it.  The Wategos also has a shallow sandy bed that can be fished for flathead and whiting, so you can try your luck at catching some fresh fish for lunch.

7. LITTLE WATEGOS

10-minute drive from Byron Holiday Park

A little further around, the path from Wategos at the end of the cape beneath the Byron Bay Lighthouse you will find Little Wategos. The beach is north facing and only 150m in length offering sheltered and safe swimming conditions.  The beach is inaccessible by car so, as you need to walk from Wategos Beach or via a sidetrack from the Byron Bay lighthouse to reach Little Wategos, the location offers a more secluded spot ideal for sunbaking, swimming, snorkeling and if you are keen, some fishing off the rocks.   It is also a very romantic spot for you to watch the sunset with your special someone.

8. BROKEN HEAD

6-minute drive from Byron Holiday Park

Surrounded by a rainforest reserve with sandy beaches, rocky coves and close to the nearby famous Three Sisters Walking Track, Broken Head Beach should be on every Byron Bay itinerary.  A short 7km south of Byron Bay the beach is one of the most secluded beaches in Byron Bay and you can easily spend a day here exploring the rock pools, swimming and surfing in the ocean, taking in the awe-inspiring views from the coastal walking tracks and enjoying a picnic on the beach or in the picnic area at the end of Broken Head Reserve Road.