Byron Bay Blog

So you have slipped, slapped, slopped and slurped! No it does not mean that you are a drunken, frisky, drooling geriatric - it means you are ready for the beaches of Byron Bay.

Slip on a Rashy (Protective clothing)
Slap on a hat
Slop on some sun-screen
Slurp as much water as you can.
Safety First and Uppermost ! If you are concerned about the ocean, wildlife and the weather - then swim between the flags (LG).

Abbreviation explained
F=Family | LG=Life Guards | S=Surf  | Y=Youth | N=Nude |  G=Gay | E=Empty

The choices of beaches in Byron is actually staggering.

Main Beach Byron - Right in the Town Centre (F, LG, Y)
This is the main beach directly in front of the town of Byron Bay - It’s a beautiful beach with shops, cafes, restaurants, juice bars, toilets and showers just a short walk from the beach itself. There are also BBQ areas and a play ground. It is for most of the year patrolled by lifeguards just outside the Surf Rescue Club - swim between the red and yellow flags. The sound of squeaky clean white sand still amazes me and the water is clean, safe and fresh. You can see turtles and baby stingrays and often dolphins come in to play. In the Winter months you will see many humpback whales coming down from the North with their calves. The surf here is often small but can be a great place to learn to Boogie Board, Body-surf and even learn to stand on a Surf Board. Byron Bay’s Main beach really has it all. No dogs.

Clarkes Beach - Middle of the Bay (F, Y, LG in Summer)
This is an extension of Main Beach and hosts the fantastic and only café on the beach Byron Beach Café. More surf-lifesaving teams patrol this part of the beach during the Summer holidays. This part of the Bay is ideal for windsurfing, kite gliding, learning to surf and also has toilets and showers. It’s not so crowded as the Main Beach and is therefore a little quieter - again there is a BBQ picnic area. No dogs.

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The Pass (F, Y)
The Pass is one of the most beautiful points on the most easterly part of Australia - Byron Bay. It has the famous and picturesque Fisherman’s Lookout. It is here where the surf break is constant and the surfers cluster together and are watched and photographed by the hustle and bustle of tourists and locals alike. The panoramic views are stunning and the sunset over the mountain range can be spectacular - especially in the Winter months. It’s here that the Dive boats leave also several times a day, heading out to Julian Rocks. Tucked away behind the Beach is the Pass Café - Great food and great cold drinks. There is a BBQ picnic space also with toilets and showers. No dogs.

Belongil Beach (F, Y, N)
Belongil Beach is a great place to hangout. Great cafes and now with Yoga studios, great varied accommodation to suit all budgets and just a little way out of town to feel that you are away from it all. It’s north of Byron and on low tide you can get to it walking on the beach. The Belongil creek divides the beach and unless there is very heavy rain is always passable on foot. Walk further nude, I mean north and you can lose your inhibitions and your clothing. Although strictly speaking it is not legal to be nude on NSW beaches - the police turn a blind eye for the most part. Partly dog friendly.
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Wategos Beach - At the foot of the lighthouse (F, Y)
Take a delightful headland walk around the base curve of the lighthouse and you’ll come to the crème de la crème of real estate and beachside accommodation. Watergos is sheltered and north facing. It is nestled in idyllic views and the water here for some reason always feels more alive. Many people doing the popular lighthouse walk jump in at the end of their epic journey. Ideal for learning to surf and on some days with large northerly swells it’s ideal for Malibus - ride that long board. Showers, toilets and BBQ picnic area are practically on the lawn of Rae’s - the most expensive and exclusive accommodation in Byron Bay. No dogs.

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Little Wategos Beach - Further at the foot of the lighthouse (F, Y)
This is my favourite spot - I love coming here on full moon with a bottle of champagne and some good friends. A guitar and a few snacks … in winter you can watch the whales bask in the moonlight. This is not accessible by road and there are a few steps up and down - although it’s relatively easy to do before the champagne. There are no amenities but it’s the only place where you feel far from the madding crowd and yet when you look up the lighthouse is beaming right down at you. No dogs.

In the next blog we’ll look at more beaches - a little more E for empty and N for nude!

See pictures of all Byron Bay Beaches

So you’ve been to all the beaches in Byron Bay from Belongil Beach to Little Wategos Beach and you’ve decided that there is only so much young pert boobs and bottoms that can sustain your interest - now you are ready to explore other bumps and humps of the other wild and and varied beaches that Byron Shire has to offer.
Slip Slap Slop & Slurp and away you go !
Slip on a Rashy (Protective clothing)
Slap on a hat
Slop on some sun-screen
Slurp as much water as you can.

F=Family | LG=Life Guards | S=Surf | Y=Youth | N=Nude | G=Gay |  E=Empty

Tyagarah Beach and Tea-Tree Lakes - (F, N, G, E)
Tyagarah Beach, north of Byron Bay, is accessible via Greys Lane (a long and dusty road with quite few pot holes) near the Adventure Sport Airport. Before the beach there are Tea-Tree lakes that many people like to swim in (I prefer the ever moving ocean rather than more still waters). Clothing is optional and this can attract both the free spirited dressed in their birthday suit and those keen to ogle at those free spirits - I believe that women are always safer in company in out of the way nudist beaches. Both Tyagarah Beach and the Tea-Tree Lakes are popular for gay man. Toilets at Beach. No showers. $7 Park Entrance Fee to be paid at a honesty box in the beginning of the park.

Brunswick Heads Beach and Torakina - (F,LG, Y)
Brunswick Heads Beach is a favourite spot for tourists during the holiday season - other than that it’s a relatively quiet beach populated only by the locals. In the holiday season there are Life Guards and the beaches are relatively safe. However if the swell is too high and the rips too strong (or if you are just not sure) there is always Torakina beach - a man made breakwater beach that has virtually no swell, rips or tide if you stay near to the shore. This is the perfect family beach or children’s beach. Many children have learned to swim here before graduating to the deeper and more unpredictable ocean. Water quality is generally very good but can get a little murky close to the bottom on the tide.

Tallows Beach - From Cosy Corner to Broken Head (F, Y, E)
The nearest Beach on the other side of the Byron Bay Lighthouse is Tallows Beach. This is a very long beach stretching all the Way to Broken Head. If the sun is not too fierce it’s a fantastic long walk or even a great run. The beach caresses parts of Byron, Suffolk Park and Broken Head neighbourhoods. Most of the vegetation comes under Araknal National Park and is managed and preserved beautifully - please be respectful. The water can be a little rough and tumble so always be careful. Small Dog Walking patch. Showers and Toilets only at Broken Head Caravan Park.

Cosy Corner - Nestled under Byron Bay Lighthouse (F, Y)
This is a great beach, which for the most part is protected from the Northerly Winds that can make all sandwiches crunchy. It’s a great place for many of the surfers to go out from - often to surf the Cape Byron Head Land. Its location is excellent - just in town but feels very far from the madding crowd.

Beyond Broken Head - Follow Seven Mile Beach Rode to get to:
The following 4 beaches are breathtaking and well worth the drive and trek down. ONLY the able bodied and relatively fit can venture off track to get to these beaches. Getting there is not so bad but climbing back up might be a little difficult for some. But again - really worth the adventure for the seclusion and the picture post card views and landscapes.

Kings Beach (N,G) - can get quite busy in the holidays but still never as busy as the main beaches in Byron - there are no facilities so bring all your necessities with you. The unofficial yet very established gay beach of Byron Bay.

Whites Beach (N,E,Y)
The track down has been recently upgraded yet it is still a little rocky in parts and care must be taken. Bring your camera and enjoy the view - on a clear day you can see forever! I have often had this beach to myself for most of the day. It’s a paradise and you can almost convince yourself it’s a tropical island and you are deliciously alone.

Brays Beach (N,E,Y) - hidden around the next rocky bend you will find the smaller younger brother of Whites Beach - just as beautiful and quiet with an even stronger sense of Robinson Crusoe seclusion. Again bring what you need but not too much - this is a little trickier to get to.

Seven Mile Beach (N,E,Y) - Finally you will come to Seven Mile Beach. And as the name suggests you can walk for miles. It’s a rugged beach, feels less manicured and the wilderness of the nature that hugs the shore appears a little more watchful and savage - it feels more primitive and the ancient Aboriginal spirits can be heard whispering through the bush.

See pictures of all Byron Bay Beaches

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Byron Bay Beaches in a larger map