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If you’re looking for the perfect weekend getaway, look no further than Byron Bay!
With its stunning beaches, lush rainforest and charming villages, there’s plenty to see and do in this beautiful part of Australia.
Our ultimate Byron Bay 2-day itinerary will help you make the most of your time in this cute town!
You will discover everything there is to know about Byron including what to do during a weekend in Byron Bay, where to stay but also how to get there.
So, are you ready to discover this itinerary for 2 days in Byron Bay? Let’s get started!
How to get to Byron Bay
The fastest way to get to Byron Bay is to fly to Ballina Byron Getaway airport. It’s located about 30 minutes from Byron and there are direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle.
Click here to see the best fares to Byron Bay.
That having been said, the best way to get to Byron Bay would be to fly to Brisbane (flights are much cheaper), hire a car and drive down the Gold Coast to Byron Bay.
It only takes 1 hour 50 from Brisbane so it’s very easy.
There are also buses and trains that run from Sydney and other major cities, but if you’re looking for the most flexibility, renting a car is the best option.
Where to stay Byron Bay
There are plenty of accommodation options in Byron Bay to suit all budgets, from camping and hostels to apartments and luxury resorts.
If you are backpacking or on a tight budget, we recommend staying at the Byron Bay YHA, which has dorms as well as private rooms. It’s located in the town centre which is very convenient.
For something a little more upmarket, try the Hibiscus Motel, a stylish beach hotel located right by the beach. The rooms are very comfortable and bright.
Or, if you’re looking for a truly luxurious experience, take a look at the Crystalbrook Byron resort. It’s set in the middle of the rainforest, near the beach and they offer guided walks, yoga classes and more.
You will also find an amazing pool area, a restaurant and a bar.
The Ultimate 2-day Byron Bay Itinerary
There’s no shortage of things to do in Byron Bay, so we’ve put together this Byron Bay 2-day itinerary that will help you make the most of your time there.
Byron Bay Itinerary Day 1: Surf, Beach and Lighthouse walk
Morning: Surfing at Main Beach
Start your first day in Byron Bay with a surf lesson at Main Beach. Byron is one of the best surfing spots in Australia, so even if you’ve never surfed before, it’s worth giving it a try!
If you need some help getting started, sign up for a lesson with a local surf school like Let’s Go Surfing Byron They have experienced instructors who will help you catch some waves in no time.
They are very patient and are used to teach to beginners so not only will you have a great time surfing but you will also have some good laughs!
You can book online here.
If you are experienced surfers, you are of course more than welcome to bring your own board and hit the waves.
Alternatively, you can hire a surfboard from one of the local shops such as Surf & Bike Hire Byron Bay or Black Dog Surfing.
Lunch: Brunch in town
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a bite to eat at one of the cafes on Jonson Street, the main street in Byron Bay, Fletcher Street or Lawson Street.
If you’d like to go for a brunch, you will be in for a treat here since there are many places serving amazing ones!
Dip Cafe, The Hideout Byron Bay and Karkalla Byron Bay are all excellent options.
Afternoon: Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk
In the afternoon, you will be discovering most of Byron Bay by going on the Cape Byron walk.
This is a circular walk that starts in town and takes about 3 hours to complete.
It’s only 5 km and is quite easy so most people should be able to do it.
Technically speaking, it can be done much quicker than 3 hours but there is a lot to see and you will want to stop in many places so it’s good to have at least 2 hours dedicated to this walk.
From the town, head back to Main Beach and start walking towards Clarkes Beach and up to Fisherman’s lookout through the Pass.
You’ll then head to Wategos Beach and follow the coastal path to Little Wategos Beach and to the most easterly point of the Australian Mainland.
From there, you’ll go back a bit before turning left towards Cape Byron Lighthouse. This part is a bit steeper as you’re going uphill but it’s worth it.
Once you get to the lighthouse. It was completed in 1901 and has since become one of the most famous lighthouses in Australia.
From there, you will discover beautiful views over the coast (both sides) as well as the town.
You will then start walking back to town. You can see on your left beautiful views of Tallow Beach.
There is a track that goes down to this beach if you want to but it will make the walk a lot longer so that’s up to you whether you decide to go or not.
PRO TIP: Once you are back from your walk, it would be worth checking if the market is on in the town.
The Byron Bay Artisan Market is a great place to find locally made arts and crafts. It’s held every Saturday from 4 PM to 9 PM in summer and is definitely worth a visit if you’re in town then.
Byron Bay Itinerary Day 2: Julian Rocks Reserve & exploring the town
Today, you will be exploring the Julian Rocks Reserve which is a short boat ride from Byron Bay and discovering more about the town.
Morning: Snorkelling at Julian Rocks Reserve
Start your day with a snorkel at the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve. This is one of the most popular snorkelling spots in the area.
The reserve is made up of 3 islands that are surrounded by a protected marine park. This means that the waters are home to an abundance of marine life, including dolphins, turtles, rays and fish.
You will need to take a boat to get there but it’s definitely worth it!
There are many companies offering snorkelling tours to the Julian Rocks Reserve but you can book directly online here.
The tour company will provide all the equipment you need but if you already have your own snorkelling gear, you are more than welcome to bring it of course.
You will be meeting at the Byron Bay Dive Centre and starting the tour from there.
If you’ve never snorkelled before (or don’t feel confident enough), you can go there 30 minutes early and they will give you a free snorkelling lesson.
You will then go on a 10-minute boat ride to the reserve and start snorkelling.
Turtles, corals, colourful fish… you will see them all!
Alternative: If you don’t feel like snorkelling but still want to enjoy a water activity, you can go on a guided sea kayaking tour. This is very good fun as well.
The guide will take you to the best spots, explain everything you need to know about the local wildlife and marine life and you should be able to see turtles and dolphins.
Lunch: The Farm
For lunch, head to The Farm Byron Bay. This is a working farm that also has a restaurant, a cafe, a bakery and a deli.
They use fresh produce from the farm in their dishes so it’s the perfect place to go if you want to eat healthy and locally sourced food.
It’s also a very cool place to visit in Byron Bay with kids since they can discover all the animals including black pigs and chickens.
The owners also offer guided tours so if you want to learn more about the way they grow their produce and how they look after their animals, it will be ideal.
The Farm is only a 10-minute drive from the town centre so it’s very easy to get to.
It’s located right in front of Ewingsdale Hall.
Afternoon: Exploring the town of Byron Bay
In the afternoon, you will be exploring Byron Bay itself. It’s a very charming little town with plenty of things to do and see.
You can start off by walking along the beachfront and then head into the main street, Jonson St.
There are many cafes, restaurants, shops and galleries to explore in Byron Bay.
Byron Bay is full of local bohemian boutiques so if you are into shopping and would like to get some unique pieces of clothing or jewellery. This will be the perfect place for you!
Byron Bay is also known for its street art and if you love discovering beautiful murals. You will be in for a treat!
While there isn’t a special place dedicated to street art, you should be able to find plenty on Lawson Street, Jonson Street and Fletcher Street.
Late afternoon: Glow worm and Hinterland
In the late afternoon, you will be heading to the hinterland to discover one of the highest waterfalls in the region: the Protesters Falls in NightCap National Park.
It’s very tall and one of the best things to discover in the area.
The walk to the waterfall is only 1.4 km long but it will take between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 to complete (there is a rather steep part).
Once you are done with the waterfalls, wait for the dark to come and you will be able to see the glow worms.
Nightcap National Park is particularly famous for its glow worms. It’s one of the best places in Australia to see them.
The cool thing about seeing glow worms near Byron Bay is that they are in the forest. This makes the experience particularly enchanting.
Usually, you find them more in caves like at the natural bridge in Springbrook National Park so seeing them in the rainforest is pretty magical.
Though you can see the glow worms by yourself, it’s actually recommended to book a tour for this activity. Local guides know exactly where the best spots are and they will keep you safe (it is a nighttime activity after all).
Also, transportation from Byron Bay will be included which means you won’t have to worry about driving at night.
Other activities to add to your Byron Bay itinerary
Of course, it’s up to you to customise this itinerary to make it entirely yours.
While I tried to put together the most optimised itinerary for Byron Bay, it’s important to note that we all like different things and therefore each have our own priorities so here are a few options for extra things to do if you have time.
Whale watching in Byron Bay
Whale watching is big in Byron bay. There are multiple tours that can take you out in the waters and right next to the whales so that you can watch them closely. Most seamen would not come back until you have spotted the whales.
They even have the equipment to help you hear the whales singing! The boats are open from all sides for enhanced visibility. Whale watching is a major attraction in Byron Bay mainly because the environmental conservationists enabled a ban on whale hunting in the area.
The business of whale watching in the area is sensitive to the research that goes into knowing more about whales. If you pay the carrier an amount, a portion of that fee goes to conservation scientists and sometimes the study researcher accompanies the tours! It is a beautiful ecosystem.
Going whale watching in Byron is a must-do in winter!
For more information and prices, click here!
Hot Air Balloon ride in Byron Bay
The landscapes in Byron Bay are magical. The beaches, the lighthouse… it’s the perfect place for a romantic holiday in New South Wales.
If you want to experience the true magic of Byron Bay, you can hop on an air balloon ride at sunrise or sunset. It’s pretty amazing!
For more information and see the latest prices, click here!
Skydiving in Byron Bay
Skydiving in Australia is an amazing experience! I personally choose to do my skydive in Airlie Beach, above the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef but Byron Bay is another great option!
As previously mentioned for the air balloon ride, the landscapes are breath-taking! So if you are a thrill-seeker, a skydive in Byron Bay will be the ultimate experience!
To see the latest prices and learn more about skydiving in Byron Bay, click here.
Local markets
You can go visit the local markets too, which are in great abundance – some regular ones include – Byron Bay Artisan Market (Saturday nights – October to March), Byron Bay Farmer’s Market (every Thursday morning) & Byron Bay Market (first Sunday of every month).
Markets are a very important part of the local culture in Byron Bay. People don’t go to supermarkets that much there, they really enjoy going to the market and get everything from local producers!
You will find everything you need there. From cheese to olive oil and organic vegetables… everything you may need is there! The products are very good and high-quality, definitely worth a try!
You can also grab a delicious coffee at a stand and just walk around to enjoy the atmosphere.
Quite a cool concept, right? Very eco-friendly!
Breweries and distilleries in Byron Bay
Byron Bay’s food scene is very developed. There are a lot of nice restaurants but also awesome local breweries and distilleries!
Most of them are open to visitors meaning that you can go, take a tour and taste the beers and rum!
The two breweries in Byron Bay are Stone & Wood and Byron Bay Brewery.
The distilleries are Cape Byron Distillery and Husk Distillers.
You can also choose to go on a Food and drinks tour where you will get to visit all of the above.
For more information and see the latest prices.
Visiting Nimbin
Nimbin is an adjacent town to Byron Bay and nobody told Nimbin that the world had gotten over the 60’s a long time back.
The vibe is extremely rustic and the landscape itself has not evolved at all so you will be delighted to see all the old-world quirks around the area. You can visit Minyon falls for a nice, refreshing dip.
Nimbin is a very quirky town and definitely worth a visit, especially if you want to see something a bit different.
You can get there by car or on a bus tour from Byron Bay.
Click here for more information and prices.
Go on a cruise on the Brunswick River
Located only a few kilometres north of Byron Bay, the Brunswick River is a beautiful place to go if you want to escape the coast for a bit and observe the wildlife.
You can go on a sunset cruise where you will get to see amazing birds and wildlife.
For more information and see the latest prices, click here.
Shopping in Byron Bay
As you might have understood by now, Byron Bay is not a place where you will find high street shops but it’s definitely one of the best places in Australia to go shopping!
Byron Bay is full of cute little boutiques. Many designers move to Byron Bay so they can pursue their dreams!
For the ladies, I recommend going to Spell. This cute shop offers amazing bohemian-style clothes, very unique. Another popular one is Zulu and Zephyr.
Please note that most of these shops are not cheap though. If you are backpacking, it’s still worth looking because that’s very unique but you probably won’t want to shop there.
Restaurants in Byron Bay
Byron Bay restaurants can be great and treat your taste buds royally! If you want to know where to eat in Byron Bay, here are our recommendations:
Byron Beach Cafe
If you want to enjoy beautiful views of the beach while eating your meal, the Byron Beach Cafe will be perfect for you!
They offer an amazing selection of delicious and stylish food that you can eat on the terrace, looking at the beach!
Combi Byron Bay
This cafe is one of the most popular in Byron. They offer delicious coffee, cakes and snacks. It’s definitely one of the most instagrammable cafes in Byron Bay.
Manna Haven café restaurant
They have an award-winning vegetarian and vegan spread, made from local produce and served fresh. New menus come in every week and they serve vegan and gluten-free food as well. Enjoy your meals in the outdoor garden-style setting.
Yulli’s Byron Bay
This is an Asian restaurant, with a contemporary touch. It is a 100% vegan restaurant. The menus are also customizable into gluten-free meals. The setting is authentic oriental, and you must reserve before you go.
Foxy Lou’s
An all-day diner, breakfast place Foxy Lou’s is a comfort Asian street food, happy hour kind of a place. The vibe is electric, and food comes to you fast.
Planning your trip to Byron Bay
When is the best time to visit Byron Bay?
The best time of the year to visit Byron Bay are the Spring and Autumn season. These seasons offer a great combination of perfect weather and good prices on travel and accommodation.
To be more specific, you should visit Byron Bay from September until November and in the months of June until August for cheaper hotel and flight rates.
Where is Byron Bay?
Byron Bay lies about 165 kilometres south of Brisbane, in the New South Wales state in Australia. It is a beach town.
Cape Byron, the headland which lies adjacent to the bay town is the Eastern-most edge of the Australian continent. This ‘Cavvanbah’ or meeting place as called by the local aboriginals, is named Byron Bay after John Byron, a naval chief officer.
And that’s it for our 2-day Byron Bay itinerary! We hope you enjoy your time in this beautiful part of Australia.
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