Amazing Things to Do, See & Eat in Byron Bay

Our one-year working visa in Australia is quickly coming to an end and I cannot believe how fast it’s gone by! In less than a month we will have to leave this country that we’ve called home for the past year and settle in somewhere new. It’s terrifying, exciting, and a bit sad. During our year here we definitely got to see some beautiful sights of the country, including a number of day trips to different parts of Victoria, a road trip through South Australia, and my favorite by far- an incredible week spent backpacking through New South Wales & Queensland. We took this trip over the Christmas/ New Years’ holiday, which honestly, I wouldn’t recommend going during this time as a lot of things were closed and the crowds were inescapable. However, if you are stuck going during the holiday season there is definitely a lot of fun to be had and a ton of activities to do!

Our trip started off in Byron Bay and although we only had two days there, we managed to do a lot, see a lot and made the absolute most of it! Here are some of our top favorite activities from Byron Bay that I would definitely recommend doing if you have the pleasure of visiting.

1.) Check out Cape Byron Lighthouse and Take The Walking Trail to The Most Easterly Part of Mainland Australia:

We both immediately liked Byron Bay from the moment we entered the area. There is an undeniable laid back vibe about the place, the beaches & surrounding areas are stunning, and the sun seemed to never stop shinning even when the weather called for rain. Our first stop when we arrived in Byron Bay was to Cape Byron Lighthouse, which is an active lighthouse at the easternmost point of the country. It’s quite a popular place, which we learned very quickly when trying to find parking. We lucked out with a spot just as we were getting ready to give up. If you’re visiting during prime time, I would suggest looking for parking farther down and making the walk up, versus going to the main lot.

There is a beautiful walking trail just past the lighthouse which we took all the way to the lookout point. A rookie mistake we made, which I would at all costs avoid, was forgetting to bring sunscreen. Parts of the path are shaded by the trees but I wouldn’t depend on that. I would also suggest bringing a water bottle. The total walk can take as little as 15 minutes, but if you like to stop and admire the views as much as we do, its safe to say you could spend about an hour round trip. It’s worth taking your time as there is a lot of beauty to take in. You may even get as lucky as we did and see a pod of dolphins!

2.) Eat Delicious Burgers at Main Street Burger Bar:

After our Cape Byron Lighthouse walk, we headed to the main strip which is filled with cute shops and restaurants, just walking distances from the beach. There were quite a few different options for lunch but we decided on a bustling restaurant near the corner of Jonson & Lawson called Main Street Burger Bar. The menu was reasonably priced with a really nice variety of beef, chicken, and veggie burgers- a little something for everyone! I had one of the best beetroot & halloumi burgers I’ve ever had along with delicious rosemary chips and a refreshing IPA. Sometimes it pays to go where the crowds are, as it usually means the place is pretty damn good.

3.) Lounge on Main Beach:

You obviously can’t visit Byron Bay and not go to the beach! And there are plenty of beautiful ones to choose from. Main Beach clearly has its name for a reason as it’s super accessible and very popular among tourists and locals alike. If you want to be where the action is, this is the place to go to! The beach is regularly patrolled by lifeguards and you can see stunning views of the lighthouse from the shore. We happened to be there on Christmas Day and although we missed our families, it wasn’t an awful way to spend the holiday.

4.) Take a Hike to Killen Falls:

We started our second day in Byron Bay off with a beautiful nature walk to Killen Falls. Killen Falls is about a half-hour drive south from town. There’s a small parking area and public toilets on sight. Just follow the sign labeled “Killen Falls Walking Trail” and enjoy the remarkable surroundings. About 10-15 minutes into the hike you’ll arrive at a stunning lookout point that cascades over Killen Falls, showing off the stunning views below.

I’d definitely recommend wearing supportive shoes. As you continue the walk, you’ll encounter some steep areas and some slippery rocks. We were pleasantly surprised by the lack of people, which is what we were hoping for. There were a couple of small groups, but shortly after we arrived the area cleared out and we had most of the place to ourselves. Its an absolutely beautiful, peaceful area to visit, especially if you’d like to escape the crowds or the hustle & bustle of the city and feel a little reconnected with nature.

5.) Eat Macadamia Nuts at Macadamia Castle

We noticed a sign for Macadamia Castle on our way back from Killen Falls and were very intrigued. There’s a petting zoo and animal park that houses koalas, kangaroos, and wombats. Apparently you can also play a round of mini-golf! But what we really came for was the variety of freshly roasted macadamia nuts. The gift shop was filled with macadamia nut-based products and there was a cafe serving up fresh sandwiches and homebaked desserts. Macadamia Castle is a really cute, fun place to walk around & explore and the cinnamon honey nuts were to die for! It’s worth a stop on the way back to town and a good place to grab some lunch or have a small bite to eat.

6.) Have the Most Relaxing Afternoon on Secluded Whites Beach

If I could choose only one thing from my list to do again, this would be it. Whites Beach is also about 30 mins south of Byron Bay and still seems to be a pretty good kept secret. There’s a small parking area right at the path entrance as well as a couple of little parking areas along the side of the road, just a short distance away from the entrance. This entrance that I speak of is a bit hidden but keep your eye out for this sign and you’ll know you’re in the right place.

There’s a good 10-minute walk through a forested area, which will lead you to a steep-stepped path down the side of a cliff. You’ll be welcomed with the most breathtaking view of the ocean. We felt like we were in actual paradise! With very few other people around, serene views in every direction, and just the sound of the ocean- what more could you ask for!? We found a perfect little spot tucked away on the side of the cliff, half shaded and half in the sun. This is where we spent the remainder of our day and where I would of happily spent the remainder of the week.

7. Eat Tacos and Drink Margaritas at Miss Margarita!

I don’t know about you, but I can always go for a good marg and Miss Margarita did not disappoint. We arrived on the earlier side, between 5:30- 6 pm and there was already a 20-minute wait. Once we were seated we put our orders in. Their margarita list has a great variety including a mezcal marg, which is what I went for. I would definitely recommend! The menu has a great taco selection where you can mix and match up to three different varieties. If tacos aren’t you’re thing (which I’d find hard to believe) you can also choose from nachos, enchiladas, fajitas, and burritos. This is definitely one of those places that is worth the wait!

8. Take a Day Trip to Brunswick Heads

Brunswick Heads wasn’t on our radar until we saw an exit sign and made a last second decision to check it out. It ended up being one of our favorite parts of the entire trip. Located just 20 minutes outside of Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads is a super easy day trip or just a nice place to visit for a couple of hours. The town is super quaint, with a family-oriented, friendly-neighborhood feel. You can tell that the town is very much so built up around the water. It was a beautiful day and it seemed like everyone was out either paddleboarding in the lake, sailing towards the ocean, fishing with their family, lounging at the beach, or surfing some waves.

We started with a little walk through town to Bruns Bakery. They had an extremely impressive array of baked goods, sandwiches, and sweets. I had a croissant that tasted as if it had just been freshly baked. After our lunch, we made our way around and explored the area. The entire town looked like a painting with breathtaking views in every direction. The only downside was that we hadn’t heard of Brunswick Heads prior to and hadn’t fit more time for it into our trip when doing the planning. With it being so close to Byron Bay, there is no reason to miss out on this stunning, little oasis.

Byron Bay was an absolutely perfect start off to our trip and an amazing place to spend a couple of days. With it’s chilled out vibes, gorgeous beaches, and super fun surrounding areas, you can’t go wrong. If you have the opportunity to visit I’d definitely recommend going and if you happen to be visiting that part of the country, Byron Bay is 100 percent worth putting on your list. I hope this was helpful to anyone looking for suggestions and I really appreciate you taking the time to read! Please leave any questions or feedback in the comment section. Happy Travels!