This blog post is all about how to spend a weekend in Byron Bay, with the perfect 3 days in Byron Bay itinerary.
I recently spent a weekend in Byron Bay and it very quickly became one of my favourite places in Australia.
It’s so chill, laid back and really makes you slow down which is a very welcome change, flying in from Sydney. Byron Bay is the surfing capital of Australia, and that was so clear to see.
Before my trip to Byron, I did a lot of research to make sure I got to see and do everything within my short stay, eat at the best restaurants (we ate so well in Byron Bay) and even stayed at two different accommodations to really experience what Byron Bay has to offer.
This is the Byron Bay itinerary I’d recommend if you want to hit the best of Byron Bay town itself, the lighthouse and Wategos, and a hinterland wind down before you fly out, all without spending half of your trip working out where to go next.
If you’re planning a weekend in Byron Bay, my itinerary will definitely help you get the most out of your trip and help you navigate where to stay, where to eat and what to do within your 3 days in Byron.
RELATED Byron Bay Itinerary blog posts to read:
- Hostel Review: Drifter Byron Bay
- AirBnB Review: Tallaringa Views, Byron Bay Hinterlands
- Where to Stay in Byron Bay: The Best Nearby Towns
- The Best Restaurants in Byron Bay
- Things to Do in Byron Bay for First-Time Visitors
An Introduction to Byron Bay
The coastal town of Byron Bay is located on the northeastern corner of New South Wales, on the border of Queensland. Byron Bay is best known for its surf, laid-back community and as a place to stop and chill.
To give you a rough size, only around 7,000 people live directly in Byron Bay, but the town attracts up to 2 million visitors each year. Mental.
The temperature in Byron is great year-round, the surf is suitable for all levels and abilities, you’ll find world class beaches here and there’s a huge focus on wellness and healthy living.
There are many reasons why people are attracted to visiting Byron Bay, but the main draw is the laid-back, bohemian lifestyle that’s evident throughout Byron and its neighbouring towns along the coast.
Is Byron Bay Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. It’s one of the top destinations when visiting Australia, and especially when exploring the East Coast of Australia.
First of all, and last of all, Byron Bay is where Chris Hemsworth lives. If it’s good enough for Thor, it’s good enough for me.
Joking aside (not really), Byron Bay is known as the laid-back, hippie town of Australia and the ultimate place to relax and unwind. If you like to surf, want to slow down, or experience the surfer lifestyle for a few days, then Byron is definitely worth the trip.
There is some chatter that Byron’s ‘not what it used to be,’ but that’s always the case when somewhere gains popularity. Sure, the peak season (summer) is chaotic in terms of traffic, trying to get a restaurant reservation and hotel prices, but it’s a popular tourist destination.
Even just days before we visited for our extended weekend in Byron Bay, Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi were spotted grabbing breakfast at Byron Bay General Store, as Jacob owns property in the Hinterlands.
Rumour has it Zac Efron recently bought property here and we already know the Hemsworths are in town.
It’s a hot spot for sure, but Byron Bay is definitely worth visiting.
The Best Time of Year to Visit Byron Bay
Byron Bay has a subtropical climate, which means the honest answer to “when is the best time of year to visit Byron Bay?” is that it’s good pretty much all year round.
Summer gives you the classic postcard beach days.
Winter gives you whale watching and a much quieter town.
Spring and autumn split the difference nicely.
There really isn’t one perfect month to visit in the year. I would recommend picking based on what you want out of the trip, not just what a generic list tells you.
We visited Byron Bay in winter which was definitely the ill-advised time to visit, but it meant we could try all of the best restaurants in Byron Bay with ease. Something I know is very difficult in the peak seasons.
For my boyfriend and I, we’re not that into surfing or swimming, so the weather wasn’t going to impact us. For our weekend in Byron Bay trip, we prioritised our hotel and accommodation, exploring Byron Bay and the surrounding towns and most of all, the food.
Identify your priorities and what you want most out of your weekend in Byron Bay, and plan your time to visit around this.
How to Get to Byron Bay
There are a few ways to get to Byron Bay, but it’s definitely easiest if you’re travelling from New South Wales or Queensland.
We looked at both flying and driving to Byron Bay from Sydney, but chose to fly into Ballina Airport, a much quicker journey.
Below are your best options of how to get to Byron Bay:
1. Driving to Byron Bay by Car
If you’re driving from Sydney to Byron Bay, it’s an 8 hour drive one-way.
Ideally, you’d stop along the way for a night in a town like Coffs Harbour or city like Newcastle to break the drive up and see another place en route.
If you’re driving from Brisbane to Byron Bay, it’s a 2 hour drive one-way, much more doable.
2. Flying to Byron Bay
Flying is the easiest travel option when travelling for a weekend in Byron Bay.
There’s no airport directly in Byron Bay itself, so you’ve got two real choices, and which one you pick usually comes down to flight prices on the day.
1. Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK)
This is the closes airport to Byron Bay, around 30 to 40 minutes’ drive to Byron Bay town centre and where we flew into when we visited Byron Bay.
Direct flights from Sydney to Byron Bay take roughly 1 hour 20 minutes, and Jetstar (our airline), Qantas and Virgin Australia all fly the route.
Once you land at Ballina Airport, you’ve got a few ways to get into Byron: pre-booked shuttle buses, a taxi or rideshare from the rank outside arrivals, or picking up a hire car right at the terminal.
It’s a very small regional airport (one baggage claim belt), so don’t expect a huge range of car hire desks. Make sure to book car rental ahead rather than turning up and hoping.
2. Gold Coast Airport (OOL)
Gold Coast Airport is a bit further out from Byron Bay, around 45 minutes to an hour’s drive down to Byron Bay itself.
The upside is it’s a much bigger airport with a lot more flight options and often more competitive prices, so it’s always worth comparing both before you book.
If you land at Gold Coast Airport, you’re looking at the same set of options to get into Byron: shuttle transfer, taxi, rideshare or hire car, just with a slightly longer drive at the end of it.
3. Taking Public Transport to Byron Bay
Many people on Working Holiday Visas, or those travelling along the East Coast of Australia, or on a long trip around Australia, opt to travel by coach to Byron Bay due to its low cost.
From Sydney, you can take an overnight coach which takes just over 12 hours and gets you into Byron Bay early in the morning.
From Brisbane, it’s much easier and quicker to get to Byron Bay by coach. The journey takes just 3 hours and buses run regularly throughout the day, meaning you can choose what time you’d like to arrive.
And from the Gold Coast, it’s even easier to get to Byron Bay as it’s only a 90 minute – 2 hour journey with buses running throughout the day.
The best Byron Bay coach options are FlixBus (cheapest) or Greyhound Australia (comfiest), and I’d recommend using 12Go to see all of your options in one place with times, prices and reviews so you can compare in one place.
Where to Stay in Byron Bay
Where you choose to stay in Byron Bay will be very important for your trip. The town of Byron Bay itself is quite small and compact, and you can walk around and see everything in a few hours.
Because of this, if you don’t plan on venturing too far or don’t have a car, I’d highly recommend staying directly in Byron Bay at somewhere like Drifter Byron Bay, where everything is a few minutes (or less) walk away.
If you do have a car, I’d really recommend staying just a little bit outside the main town of Byron Bay, at one of the smaller towns, or in the Hinterlands like we did, just a 30 minute drive outside Byron Bay.
Somewhere like Tallaringa Views gives you that remote retreat feel, with no neighbours except the local birds while also being a 10 minute drive from the town of Alstonville, and 30 minutes from Byron Bay.
4 Towns Near Byron Bay to Stay
If you choose to head outside of Byron Bay, I’d highly recommend any of the below towns, just a short drive away that gives you the experience of visiting small-town Australia, while also popping in and out of the main hub of Byron.
Plus, by staying outside of Byron Bay itself, you’ll find somewhere cheaper, possibly larger and better value for your money.
1. Bangalow
We only visited Bangalow on the final morning of our weekend in Byron Bay, but I wish we had spent longer here and visited earlier, so make sure to add this to your Byron Bay itinerary!
It was our favourite town outside of Byron Bay that we visited and when we come back, I think I’d be looking at staying in Bangalow as it’s only a 15 minute drive from Byron Bay.
We had breakfast at WOODS (highly recommend, you can see what we ate in my TikTok video), tried the famous chocolate chip cookies from Bangalow Bread Co. and had Ciao, Mate (Italian restaurant) on our list of best restaurants in Byron Bay, meaning we must come back.
Accommodation options in and around Bangalow I’d recommend:
- 99 Acres Bangalow Retreat: a luxury stay in Bangalow with incredible views of the Hinterlands featuring five rooms in the main guesthouse and four self-contained villas.
- Sun Ranch Byron Bay: set on 55 acres of farmland, Sun Ranch is a 5 minute drive from the town of Bangalow and I could see myself returning to Bangalow, staying at Sun Ranch and never leaving this 2-mile radius.
2. Alstonville
Alstonville was the small town closest to Tallaringa Views, the cabin we stayed in during our final two nights in Byron Bay. It’s a 30 minute drive from Byron Bay, so very accessible.
We had actually only driven to Alstonville to pick up groceries for the cabin, but once we drove through the main street that first evening, we knew we had to come back the next morning and explore it fully.
HOME Bakery was the busiest spot for breakfast and we grabbed a pie and carrot cake to try – both were excellent. We grabbed coffee from Benchtop Espresso and had a browse in Miles & Henry Bookstore and Bolt and Buckle men’s store.
Accommodation options in and around Alstonville I’d recommend:
- Tallaringa Views: where we stayed in the Hinterlands, a 10 minute drive from Alstonville. I can’t recommend this peaceful retreat enough!
- Alstonville Settlers Motel: a modern motel with an outdoor swimming pool, directly in Alstonville town. A budget option in Alstonville.
3. Ballina
If you’re flying into Byron Bay, you’ll very likely be flying into Ballina Airport. It’s a 30 minute drive from Byron Bay, so can also make for a great place to stay.
Because of its proximity to the airport, prices can be higher than some of the other small towns on this list, but it’s a lot more populated and you’ll find more restaurants, bars and cafes here to explore.
While you’re in Ballina and driving to or from the airport, I’d highly recommend stopping at The Big Prawn at the local Bunnings Warehouse.
Australia has a list of ‘Big Things’ to see around the country and so far we’ve ticked off 5 out of over 150 (the Big Galah on our Adelaide to Perth road trip, the Big Merino on our way back from Hunter Valley, the Big Stubby in Larrimah, the Big Golden Guitar in Tamworth and the Big Prawn in Byron Bay), so plenty more to go!
Accommodation options in and around Ballina I’d recommend:
- Ballina Manor Boutique Hotel: a former girl’s school dating from 1924, 4.5 km from Angels Beach. The hotel has 12 unique rooms and they even run daily historic tours of the building – how cool!
- Ballina Beach Resort: a 4-star hotel in Ballina, steps away from Lighthouse Beach and its own tennis court. Check me in, please.
4. Mullumbimby
The Banya bathhouse is the main draw in Mullumbimby but the town is relatively bigger than the others I’ve listed above, with more accommodation options.
Mullumbimby is a short 15 minute drive from Byron Bay and a popular spot for visitors coming from Byron. Self-claimed as ‘the biggest little town in Australia,’ it’s a quirky town definitely worth a visit.
We took the drive out on a Sunday afternoon and stopped by The Banya bathhouse for coffee and their famous New York Cheesecake which was delicious. Next time we visit we’ll definitely bring our swimmers to make use of the actual bathhouse.
Accommodation options in and around Mullumbimby I’d recommend:
- The Middle Pub: the only typical hotel in the town, a budget stay outside of Byron Bay
- Mullumbimby AirBnBs: you’ll likely have more luck looking at studios and holiday rentals on AirBnB for Mullumbimby as there are quite a few available to rent.
The Best Hostels in Byron Bay: Budget Accommodation
For my first two nights in Byron Bay, I stayed at Drifter Byron Bay, an upmarket hostel located directly in the centre of Byron Bay.
This was my third time staying at a Drifter accommodation, and I’ve always had a great experience staying in one of their private rooms. Previously, I’ve stayed at Little Drifter Canberra on two occasions when I visited Australia’s capital city last year.
Drifter Byron Bay was definitely my favourite of the two as it had more of a surfer/laid-back vibe than it’s Canberra location, and I can’t stop telling people about the swimming pool there. Drifter Byron Bay could easily be a luxury hotel, not a hostel!
Hostels in Byron Bay I’d recommend if you’re on a budget or want to meet other travellers:
- Drifter Byron Bay: where we stayed and I’ll always recommend. Modern, has a luxury feel and I won’t ever shut up about the swimming pool here.
- YHA Byron Bay: a boutique-style hostel in the centre of Byron Bay, much more luxury than your typical YHA.
- Wake Up! Byron Bay: closer to the beach than it is to town, so if you’d prefer to spend your time surfing then Wake Up! will definitely be for you. They also run free hourly shuttles to town too.
The Best Boutique Hotels in Byron Bay: Mid-Range Accommodation
I love a boutique hotel. Boutique, to me, means small enough to have a personality, usually under 20 or so rooms, design-led rather than corporate, and run in a way that feels like someone actually cared about every detail rather than following a hotel chain’s playbook.
Some boutique hotels overlap with luxury in terms of price, but the feel is entirely different, more like staying somewhere with a story than staying somewhere with a brand.
Maybe I just love a hotel with a theme or something completely unique, is that so bad?
Boutique Hotels in Byron Bay I’d recommend if you want a memorable hotel stay:
- The Sunseeker: this is an ’80s motel reimagined as a boutique hotel. I’ve already followed them on Instagram because the aesthetic is just everything.
- 28 Degrees: an adults-only eco guesthouse (TV-free for a digital detox), with rooms featuring private plunge pools and views of Cape Byron Lighthouse.
- Swell Hotel: located in Byron Bay itself, an adults-only resort with 16 one-of-a-kind, custom-designed suites and retro ‘70s-inspired architecture. The definition of a boutique hotel.
The Best Luxury Hotels and Unique Stays in and Around Byron Bay
I had a few luxury stays on my radar when searching where to stay in Byron Bay when planning for our trip.
Sun Ranch particularly stood out to me because it’s a ranch and I’m obsessed with country music, Yellowstone and Western America (we just visited Monument Valley in America last year). However, because it looks so incredible, it does come with a higher price tag. Hopefully I can stay here during our next trip to Byron Bay!
After our stay in a cabin in Hunter Valley at the beginning of this year, I wanted to see if there was anything similar in the Byron Bay Hinterlands and found Tallaringa Views.
Tallaringa Views was exactly what I was looking for, tucked into the trees in the Hinterlands, remote and peaceful. Just what we wanted for our final two nights in Byron Bay, and I reviewed our two night stay if you’d like to know more about staying at Tallaringa Views.
Unique Stays and Luxury Hotels in Byron Bay I’d Recommend:
- Tallaringa Views: where we stayed for our final two nights in Byron Bay, alone up in the Hinterlands – bliss.
- Sun Ranch: an actual ranch with horses. Need I say more? With 55 acres of land, this 70s Californian ranch is the luxury stay of my dreams.
- Raes on Wategoes: the famous 5-star hotel that sits directly on Wategoes Beach. A bucket list hotel stay of mine!
- Elements of Byron: an award-winning, 50-acre beachfront resort surrounded by lush rainforests with 202 private villas.
Day 1: Weekend in Byron Bay Itinerary
Below is how I’d recommend you spend the first day of your weekend in Byron Bay itinerary after arriving.
Midday: Arrive and Check In
However you’re getting to Byron Bay, flying into Ballina or the Gold Coast, or driving up the coast, aim to land around midday so you’ve got a full afternoon and evening ahead of you.
Check in to your accommodation, for us this was Drifter Byron Bay (the best location to start our trip!), drop your bags off, freshen up and head back outside.
Don’t overthink the first few hours, today is about staying close to town and easing into the pace of the place.
Lunch: Orgasmic Byron Bay
Head straight to Orgasmic for lunch, just like we did. The falafel and hummus here are genuinely unreal, and the pita alone is worth the trip.
This was our first taste of Byron Bay and I was honestly blown away. I very rarely eat hummus or falafel but if I lived in Bryon Bay I could see myself eating here on a weekly basis, it was that good.
Afternoon: Main Beach, then Shopping
After lunch, walk it off with a stroll along Main Beach, just to get your bearings and feel the pace of the town settle in.
From there, head into the boutique shops along Jonson Street and the surrounding lanes.
Today is all about staying in and around Byron Bay itself, so there’s no rush. Wander, browse, and let the afternoon move slowly.
Byron Bay shops and boutiques I’d recommend popping into:
- Trinkets the Bead Shop: you can make your own beaded bracelet here, just note they stop this service after 3pm.
- The Book Room: a great bookstore in Byron Bay to visit to grab a new book for your vacation.
- WildBilly’s Bookshop: I loved this Byron Bay bookshop the most – the resident dog is so worth the visit!
- Birds of Condor: if you’re into golf, or know someone that is, you’ll find some quirky things in here. I picked up a gift for my dad in here!
Evening: Drinks at Balcony Bar, Dinner at Bang Bang, Duelling Pianos at The Northern
As the light starts to change, head to Balcony Bar & Oyster Co for a cocktail on the balcony, it’s one of the best golden hour spots in town. Their Aperol Spritz hit the spot for me. We also dined here a few nights later (you can see what we ate at Balcony Bar in my TikTok video here) and I can tell you the food here is amazing and the oysters are a must!
From there, walk to Bang Bang for dinner, one of the best meals we had in Byron Bay. We were quite lucky to get a last minute table for two and this was during off-peak season. For your trip to Byron, I’d really recommend booking a table here as it’s often booked out due to being so popular.
Order everything, or go for the tasting menu if you want the decision made easy for you, every single dish here delivers. We had the $79pp Bang-quet banquet menu and it was incredible!
Finish your first night in Byron Bay at The Northern Bar for their famous duelling pianos, a Byron classic and one of the most fun nights out you’ll have. It’s $20 entry to the famous Byron Bay piano bar but totally worth it, and one of the best Byron Bay nightlife spots!
Day 2: Weekend in Byron Bay Itinerary
If you’re spending a weekend in Byron Bay, this is likely your only full day in Byron. I’d highly recommend spending more than a weekend in Byron Bay, but if you’re tight on time, this is how I’d recommend spending your second day.
Breakfast: Avo Toast at Combi
Start your first morning in Byron Bay at Combi for breakfast. The shakshuka is excellent and the avocado toast is exactly the brunch classic you’re picturing, done properly, all with that unmistakable Bali beach club energy that makes this place so popular.
Combi literally took us back to our mornings in Canggu, and I can see why Byron Bay is often compared to Bali, just without the motorbike chaos.
You can see the vibe of Combi and what we ate for brunch at Combi in my TikTok video here.
Morning: Cape Byron Lighthouse Hike
From brunch at Combi, head straight to Cape Byron Lighthouse for the long walk up to the top.
The Byron Bay lighthouse hike takes you through beach, rainforest and cliff top on the way to Australia’s most easterly point, and it’s a beautiful stretch whatever time of day you go.
Keep an eye on the water, dolphins are a regular sighting, and whales too if you’re visiting between roughly June and November.
We spotted some whales while at the lighthouse which was a very special surprise and reward for getting to the top.
Midday: Wategos Beach
From Cape Byron Lighthouse, make your way down to Wategos Beach, a short two minute drive away.
This is Byron Bay’s most exclusive stretch of coast, calm water, sweeping views, and a noticeably quieter pace than Main Beach.
Spend an hour or two here before lunch, as it’s the perfect midpoint between the morning’s hike and the afternoon ahead.
This was by far our favourite spot in Byron Bay. The water was shimmering, the beach was quiet except for some surfers and we (pretended to) browse around some of the insane multi-million dollar homes sitting on the beach.
One can dream, right?
Make sure to pop into Raes on Wategoes, the five-star hotel that sits on Wategoes beach, for a drink or grab a coffee from their van in the courtyard.
Raes is high on my list of Byron Bay hotels I want to stay at next time I visit!
Lunch: Mexican Food at Costa Taco
After Wategoes Beach, head back into Byron Bay town for tacos at Costa Taco.
I recommend the birria taco as a quick snack rather than a full sit down meal. It’s solid, and a good reminder that Byron Bay’s Mexican food scene is deeper than you’d expect for a beach town this size.
We had a taco each from Costa Taco to keep us going after brunch and before dinner, and it very much hit the spot.
Afternoon: Beach Time, and Maybe A Surf Lesson
After a snack at Costa Taco, spend the rest of the afternoon back on the sand, taking it easy.
If you’ve got the energy, this is a good window for a beginner surf lesson, most can be booked through your hotel, a street kiosk, or online through GetYourGuide if you’d rather have it locked in ahead of time.
If not, this is simply the part of the day for doing nothing much at all, which in Byron Bay is very much the point.
Evening: Sunset Drum Circle, Dinner at The Farm
As the sun starts to drop, head down to Main Beach near the rocks by Belongil for the sunset drum circle.
It’s a local tradition, and it doesn’t run to a strict schedule, so treat it as a bonus if you catch it rather than something to plan your whole evening around.
For dinner, grab a taxi and drive ten minutes away to The Farm, one of the most popular things to do and one of the best restaurants in Byron Bay.
We dined at The Farm for lunch and it was one of the best meals we had during our visit. You can see what we ate at The Farm in my Instagram Reel here, as well as the surrounding grounds and animals to visit.
The restaurant at The Farm is Three Blue Ducks restaurant, that also has locations across New South Wales and Victoria. The food here was incredible, so fresh and the flavour combinations were out of this world.
The pomegranate cauliflower in particular was a highlight, and I can’t wait to visit their Sydney location too.
Day 3: Weekend in Byron Bay Itinerary
This is your final day in if you’re spending a weekend in Byron Bay and hopefully you can time your flight or drive to the evening, to get as much time out of Byron Bay as possible.
Morning: Brunch at WOODS Bangalow
For your final day in Byron Bay, hire a car (we’ve used Discovercars.com on a few occasions and highly recommend them), or arrange transport in advance, and head to Bangalow, about 15 minutes from Byron Bay, for brunch at WOODS.
This is the best brunch we’ve had in a long time, not just in the region, anywhere, and it’s worth building your whole morning around.
I made a video of our breakfast at WOODS on TikTok if you’d like to see the full experience, and afterwards (if you have room) I’d also recommend trying the famous chocolate chip cookies from Bangalow Bread Co. If you like huge, chunky chocolate chip cookies then you’ll want to try these!
Midday to Afternoon: The Banya in Mullumbimby
From Bangalow, drive on to Mullumbimby, around 20 minutes further, and spend the rest of the day at The Banya bathhouse.
Wood fired saunas, mineral plunge pools, and exactly the kind of slow, restorative afternoon you want on the last day of a Byron Bay weekend.
Don’t plan anything else around this, just let the day unwind properly and fully relax.
Evening: Head to Your Flight Home
Depending on your flight time, you’ll want to allow around 30 to 45 minutes back to Ballina or the Gold Coast airport from Mullumbimby, so plan your Banya bathhouse visit with that in mind.
An evening flight out of Byron Bay gives you the most breathing room to enjoy the full day without watching the clock too closely.
Top Tip for A Byron Bay Trip: Stay Longer!
I completely fell in love with Byron Bay during our first visit and I know it won’t be our last.
I’d be very interested to visit Byron Bay in summer to see how busy it really gets, as we visited Byron Bay in winter and while it was definitely an off-peak time to go, the town was still relatively busy.
If you are planning to spend a weekend in Byron Bay, the number one recommendation I have for you is to extend it!
We actually spent almost 5 days here in total and it felt like the perfect amount, wasn’t rushed and we could explore a lot of the towns around Byron Bay too.
Make sure to check out my other Byron Bay blog posts and travel guides to help fully plan your trip, and I’ll also have a full YouTube vlog of our trip coming soon.
RELATED Weekend in Byron Bay blog posts to read:
- The Best Time of Year to Visit Byron Bay
- A List of Free Things to Do in Byron Bay
- The Best Boutique Hotels in Byron Bay
- Small Towns to Visit Around Byron Bay
- The Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots in Byron Bay
By Orlagh Shanks
Orlagh Shanks is the Editor of Orlagh Claire, an award-winning travel and lifestyle blog.
After working in the PR & Influencer Marketing industry, Orlagh quit her job to travel Asia for 12 months and moved to Sydney, Australia where she is now a full-time travel blogger and content creator sharing travel tips and recommendations for all 30 of the countries she’s visited so far.
Leave a Reply