Hooray We Made it to Byron Bay!
There is a reason Aussies and travelers alike flock to this relatively small bohemian beach town. It’s like an Instagram influencer’s paradise, full of aesthetically pleasing cafes and beachy vibes. Apparently Chris Hemsworth has a mansion somewhere in the hills of Byron and him and Miley Cyrus have been spotted around town. According to locals, the town has absolutely “blown up” over the years which means it’s getting close to touristy, but I feel the place still has that Byron charm.
On the Friday we left for Byron we discovered that half of Brisbanites leave the city for a coastal weekend. So Friday at 4:30, we sat in traffic for a couple hours, feeling like real urbanites at this point. Neither of us have an immense amount patience for big city traffic. Nonetheless we had good tunes and each other. Later that evening, we arrived at our Holiday Park (campsite) a little outside of the town of Byron. This place was a few steps to the sandy oasis of Tallows beach. While I was laying out there for a little bit both days, there were just a few people within eye shot of me. It’s the kind of beach where it seems like there is that endless untouched coastline that Australia is known for.
Our campsite setup
The following morning we opted to drive to Whites Beach, which is in a more secluded location. It was a mini hike down to the beach from the van. Whites Beach was a nice little cove surrounded by rocky cliffs and lush landscape. It was a Saturday nearing midday and it was just the two of us and another couple occupying the beach. They were nestled under a very picturesque sea cave across the beach from us. It did look inviting for photos, but we also didn’t want to cramp their style since I assume most people came here for seclusion.
The path down to Whites Beach
Later on, we got changed and went into the town of Byron. We got tacos and margaritas and walked on a path along Main Beach and people watched for a bit. We got a couple more drinks from places we hopped around while exploring the small beachy town. It was very lively place with lots of backpacker-looking young people and shoeless people carrying surf boards. Considering how Byron is such a sought-out destination for many, we easily befriended some fellow travelers to hang out with that night and hit the town.
Sunday we went to Cape Byron, which is the land that creeps out and forms to the easternmost point of Australia. By looking at Google maps I concluded that if you went in a straight line East, the next place you’d hit would be Chile. Australia’s geographical location to the rest of the world still amuses me. There is a walk to the Cape Byron Lighthouse with stunning views and a convenient walking path. At the top, we had our packed lunches and some refreshingly cold gelato from a booth.
Anthony even made a friend during lunch.
After our bought of physical activity that day, we were ready to get on our swimmers and hit the beach. This beach was also on Cape Byron called Wategos Beach. As much as I love the sun, my skin can only take so much of the powerful Australian rays. We found a nice little shaded spot organically formed by nature to lounge in.
Our Wategos Beach shaded haven
This beach was definitely more populated than the others we had seen, but for good reason. The water was actually calm enough to swim leisurely and there was plenty of fun in people watching. As calm as the waters were for swimming, it was still a perfect place for novice surfers. Because of the location, there was a surf break a little farther out that you could swim out to and “ride the wave” back towards the beach. Personally, I’ve only tried surfing two or three times so I don’t really know the lingo. It’s super fun and always something I have wanted to get into, just haven’t had the opportunity to invest in it that much! After hours of bouncing between reading, swimming, strolling, and napping, we inevitably had to head home to Brisbane on this Sunday evening.
It was a perfect day, really. I would go back to Byron for sure as it holds some good memories. :)