Byron Bay Blog

Byron Bay is the most famous and lucrative town of the Byron Shire in Northern New South Wales, Australia. It has the following neighbouring villages … all offering something unique and diverse.

• Bangalow, historic village very well maintained with art galleries and shops
• Billinudgel, highway town with small industry and gateway to The Pocket
• Broken Head, few houses and caravan park bordering fantastic coastal National Park - Very beautiful
• Brunswick Heads, romantic coastal town with small harbour and river running through it
• Burringbar, pretty country side with rolling ranges
• Byron Bay, the town where it all happens - something for the whole family.
• Coopers Shoot, high along the mountain ridge with ocean and hinterland views
• Coorabell, seanic road with views overlooking Byron Bay panoramic !
• Crabbes Creek, tucked away and very quiet rural hinterland
• Ewingsdale, fast becoming exclusive subdivision near the highway turn off to Byron Federal, the hub in the hinterland - rolling hills and rolling in general
• Goonengerry, Leafy and steep hinterland, some great views
• Huonbrook and Wilsons Creek, Rainforest at its best - great off track water holes
• Knockrow, the highlands of the Byron Shire
• Lennox Head, the Byron Bay alternative, great beach, surf and accommodation
• Main Arm, Upper Main Arm, Middle Pocket, The Pocket, pretty spacious hinterland
• Mullumbimby, refuge for ex Byronians with shopping and cafes and pool
• Myocum, half way between Byron Bay and Mullumbimby, hilly and spacious
• Newrybar, small old village with great café just off the highway with hinterland views
• Ocean Shores, subdivision on steep hills with shopping centre and ocean views
• Possum Creek, close to Bangalow - sweet rural views
• Skinners Shoot, close to Byron Bay but very bush and rural
• Sleepy Hollow, mostly a highway rest place
• South Golden Beach and New Brighton, low lying development right next to the beach north of Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads
• St Helena, high above Byron Bay with fabulous views and some tucked away houses
• Suffolk Park, one of the first subdivisions in Byron Bay right on the beach
• Tyagarah, long white sandy beach and beautiful tea tree lake
• Wooyung, remote National Park along the coast
• Yelgun, possibly the next Blues Festival and Splendour in the Grass festival site

To find these locations visit our Byron Shire maps

Impressions of Byron Bay

Byron Bay and the surrounding villages attract a very eclectic group of residents of many of whom have sold their houses in Sydney and Melbourne and bought into paradise for early retirement. This migration has driven up real estate prices and forced out all but the wealthy or the hardworking. Many Byronians abandoned Byron Bay and moved into the surrounding villages, which in return has driven up real estate prices in towns like Mullumbimby.

The focal point in Byron Bay is the beach itself. It is north facing and protected and a great meeting place. The beach is really a pedestrian highway leading to Wategos Beach and the famous Byron Bay Lighthouse, which is the most easterly point in Australia. Wategos is a small beach, popular with board riders and overlooked by some very expensive real estate (some of the most expensive real estate in Australia). On the southern side of the lighthouse lies Tallow beach, which stretches from Cosy Corner in Byron to Suffolk Park and then rolls on to Broken Head .. a magnificent beach walk and very few people.

The surrounding towns could be described as family towns although a more progressive feel and ‘trendy’ stylish shops, cafes and restaurants are springing up everywhere, eg. Bangalow, Brunswick Heads, Ocean Shores, Mullumbimby, Federal and Possum Creek - the last being the former home of actor Paul Hogan. The choices are beach houses, country houses or small farms.

Bangalow is a small inland village whose main street features historic buildings, cafes, restaurants, a friendly pub and antique, craft and specialty shops. Brunswick Heads is an old style coastal village with modest housing and the choice of calm water or surf as it is on an inlet. Ocean Shores was established as a resort and recreation development. It is a well-maintained, very comfortable community with lots of space, views and nice houses as well as having a luxury country club and golf course. Mullumbimby is a small picturesque inland town, that sits at the base of Mount Chincogan.

Byron Bay is unique and has a ‘passing through’ feel about it, which is after all what many people are doing. There are all types of people in town and the eclectic mix of cultures and nationalities seem to amble along quite nicely - albeit randomly.

Pros & Cons for Investment

Pros

1. Natural beauty of the beaches and hinterland
2. Close to the Gold Coast (Airport)
3. Historically house prices have risen consistently
4. Good infrastructure and retail and dining facilities
5. Numerous satellite villages to live in outside of Byron Bay
6. Acreage available in nearby areas

Cons

1. House prices are relatively expensive however they stalled in 2004 and have remained soft
2. Strict regulations on real estate development
3. A very active resident group - council advocate limitations on real estate such as a proposed ban on short term holiday rentals

Real Estate

In Byron Bay the median house price in April 2007 was $500,000 and the median home unit price $385,000. These prices haven’t changed for two years and some properties have even depreciated, but don’t expect a view for that sort of money. Views are one million dollars and over, even for apartments. There’s not much selling on Wategos Beach - a duplex with magnificent views a street back from the water will be asking $3,500,000. Something right opposite the beach at Wategos will be over four million dollars and probably more.

The median price in April 2007 in Suffolk Park for a house was around $550,000. Quite a few properties in Suffolk Park are for sale between $1,000,000 and over $2,000,000. Bangalow’s median was similar at $565,000 with some very appealing classic properties in the town.

In Ocean Shores the median was $330,000, but this figure may be a bit misleading as it includes quite a lot of land for sale. There are a lot of properties on the market in Ocean Shores ranging from $190,000 for land, $350,000 for a modest house to $1,000,000 for a substantial house with views. At Mullumbimby the median house price was $325,000 and in Brunswick Heads $355,000.

There are very few properties available in Possum Creek, and they are usually priced at over one million dollars and come with some small acreage set in lush bushland.

The controversy regarding the proposed banning of short-term holiday rentals resurfaces every summer when the town gets busy. The issue has not been shelved and there are threats of legal action.

Roads

The roads around Byron Bay are generally reasonably well maintained. However, there can be some unexpected pot holes around the bend mostly caused by flash flooding and tropical rain.

Airport

Nearest Airports Ballina just 35 minutes south. Coolangatta (Gold Coast) airport is 35 minutes north and Lismore is 40 minutes west

Nearest Rail

Sydney to Grafton or Sydney to Casino takes up to eleven hours, then a one hour coach ride to Byron Bay. Brisbane to Casino takes 2 ½ hours by rail. There used to be a railway station in Byron Bay, but like so many country towns it has been closed.

Transport

Buses connect Byron Bay with Ballina and Coolangatta airports as well as the capital cities - there is a thriving bus network for both locals and tourists as well as plenty of taxis and rental cars. Go to our Byron Bay travel and transport page

Hospitals

Byron Bay has a small hospital whose services include maternity, palliative care, chemotherapy, general medical and day surgery. Because Byron Bay is a tourist hub, the hospital’s accident and emergency department is open 24/7. Ballina District Hospital is a larger hospital serving the area (40km away). A small hospital is also located at Nimbin and Lismore Base Hospital also handles most extreme emergencies.

Beaches

Byron’s main beach is safe and very popular. In fact it is also a key pedestrian thoroughfare to Wategos and the lighthouse. If you walk the beach long enough you will meet every visitor in Byron Bay. There are also some serious surfing beaches such as The Wreck, The Pass, Cosy Corner and Wategos. See also out Byron Bay beach guide and reviews

Cycleways

Cyclists just use the streets and often don’t wear helmets - although the odd on the spot fine has been known from the odd rooky constable.

Bushwalking, National Parks

Numerous. There are eight nature reserves nearby. The walk to the lighthouse is steep but well maintained. The waters surrounding Byron Bay are a designated Marine Park and whales, dolphins and a diverse selection of marine life can be seen with a snorkel and a mask.

Dogs

There are several designated areas where dogs can run around freely and plastic poop bags are freely available. 99% of residents and tourists respect this ensuring all beaches are clean and safe for children … Dog walking areas can be found at Tallows Sufflok Park, Belongil, Brunswick Heads and Ocean Shores / New Brighton.

Shopping

Byron Bay has a large number of shops lining the main streets as well as a large Woolworths supermarket. It has resisted large shopping malls and many fast food chains. However - there are bargain bucket shops and bling bling boutique shops. Byron Bay Directory shopping guide

Dining

There are many restaurants, both casual and fine dining in and around Byron. A remarkable range of cuisine helps city slickers feel at home. What’s more, they know how to make good cappuccinos here! In general the coffee is amazing and much of it is grown locally. Byron Bay restaurants and dining guide

Things to Do

There are bushwalks to the lighthouse of which you would never tire. It is the most easterly point in Australia with the most amazing 270° ocean views with dolphins and eagles always performing. Off the main beach there is surfing and fishing, kayaking, snorkelling and dolphin watching. Scuba diving is popular off Julian Rocks, visible from the beach at Byron. There are seven golf courses in the area, five of them 18 holes. There are libraries located in Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads. Council swimming pools are located in Byron Bay and Mullumbimby. There are interesting markets and craft fairs throughout the district as there are many artisans around. There are yoga schools and numerous health and beauty clinics. Health food shops and therapeutic massage clinics front the main streets and many of the shops cater for the alternative lifestyle. If you are into astrology, numerology, any alternative-ology then this is the place. Thongs on the feet are normal attire. If you were a shirt and tie you will get sympathetic looks as most people will assume that you have just come for a court hearing because of some demonstration you were on to save a whale or even a mung bean. Our listing of things to do in Byron Bay

Population

Byron Bay is not the boom town it used to be. Properties might be getting more expensive but the community is not growing as rapidly. As at the 2006 Census the population of the Byron Shire (which includes Byron Bay and surrounding towns) was 28,767 up 3.5% from 2001. Between 1996 and 2001 the Byron Shire grew by 7.75%. Post code 2482, which includes Mullumbimby, appears to be the fastest growing area within Byron, at a rate of 7.6% between 2001 and 2006 to total 6,158 people.

Accessibility

From Byron Bay to Tweed Heads and the Gold Coast is 65kms and takes less than an hour to drive. From Brisbane to Byron is 170km taking 2 hours with the new improved roads and additions to the highway that now cuts out Coolangatta. The road from Brisbane is dual carriageway for most of the journey. Sydney to Byron Bay is 775km which takes over ten hours to drive. The road from Sydney is a nightmare with only gradual improvement - if you can fly and hire a car.

Educational Level

The proportion of adults who had achieved the HSC equivalent or higher as at the 2006 Census was 51%.

Climate

Warm/Temperate. Mean Daily Maximum Temperature ranges from 27.5°C in January and February to 19.4°C in July. Minimums 20.6°C in January and February to 11.7°C in July. Mean annual rainfall 1,721mm and annual number of rain days 153, annual number of clear days 107. That’s a lot of rain and a lot of sun - keeps Byron very lush and tropical. Byron has had no water restrictions for almost 5 years. Byron Bay climate chart