Ranger / Local Life
What we love about byron
A taste of our favourite places in and around Byron Bay, from the people who live here.
Byron Bay is just the beginning. The beaches, river towns and green hinterland around it are full of growers, makers, cooks and baristas who make this region special. Below is a small selection of the places we love most, a taste of the local knowledge we share with every guest. We’d love you to get out and explore, eat what’s grown here, and find your own favourite corners along the way.
01 Morning
02 Lunch
05 Beach life
06 Markets
Mornings
Start the day the way locals do, with coffee and a pastry from Bay Grocer. If the sky is clear, take it with you on the walk up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse. On a beautiful morning, there’s no better way to begin.
For a proper sit-down breakfast, head to The Roadhouse on Bangalow Road. Expect serious coffee, Spanish-style plates and a room full of locals rather than a long queue.
Or take the scenic drive into the hinterland to Woods Bangalow, where the menu is locally focused and changes with the seasons. It’s a lovely way to taste what the region is growing right now.
Image: Bay Grocer
Image: Salty Mangrove
lunch
There’s no shortage of great lunch spots in and around Byron. Light Years is always a favourite: bright, buzzy and beautifully lit. For something more refined, Beach Byron Bay at Clarkes Beach offers fine dining with the sand at your feet.
Some of the best experiences are a short drive away, so make a day of it. The Hut Byron Bay is a Mediterranean experience in the hills, made for long, unhurried lunches.
Head north up the coast to New Brighton for The Salty Mangrove, our absolute favourite. Brunswick Heads, a relaxed river town just up the road, has some great options too, including Trouble San and La Casita, a colourful Mexican cantina known for its tacos and margaritas. Head slightly further north to New Brighton for The Salty Mangrove, our absolute favourite all day eatery that’s open 7 days.
afternoon drinks
After a swim at Wategos, head up to The Cellar Bar at Raes for an aperitif. It’s the perfect way to ease into the evening with salt still in your hair.
For a sweeping view over town, the rooftop bar at Hotel Marvell serves excellent cocktails and is always buzzing. Go early if you want a good spot for sunset. If you’re exploring further afield, Saint Maries in Brunswick Heads is a relaxed local pizzeria and wine bar, great for a drink and something to eat.
Image: Saint Maries
dinner in town
Image: Pixie
When it comes to dinner, Byron has endless options. In the Jonson Lane precinct, Pixie serves beautiful Italian food, and Bar Heather is a gorgeous seasonal restaurant and wine bar where the menu follows what’s fresh.
Just out of town, opposite Belongil Beach, the much-talked-about Belongil Bistro is one of the newest names on the scene. Expect stunning interiors, incredible food and genuinely warm service. If you’re happy to drive a little further, Mullumbimby Continental is a European-style bistro open every day. It serves some of the best food and cocktails in the region and is a great excuse to discover one of the hinterland’s favourite towns.
beach life
Illustrative, not to scale. Hover a beach to find it.
Main Beach
Patrolled all year, gentle, and closest to town. The default with children.
Clarkes
Low waves and rock pools, good for beginners and small people. Patrolled in school holidays and peak season only.
The Pass
The right-hand point break Byron is known for, with rides that go on. Crowded through summer, so go early.
Wategos
A sheltered curve of white sand backed by forest. Dolphins most mornings. Our pick for a swim rather than a surf.
Little Wategos
The most easterly beach on the mainland, down a steep path and plenty of stairs. Unpatrolled, quiet, and worth the walk.
Belongil
Two and a half kilometres of open beach, dog friendly, and a few minutes from The Seabird. Good for a long walk at either end of the day.
Brunswick Heads
A quiet riverside village twenty minutes north. The calm, clear water of Simpsons Creek suits small swimmers and paddleboards, and Torakina Beach sits where the river meets the sea.
Dolphins
Ten minutes on foot from The Local House and The Local Studio, or a few minutes on the bikes.
Tallows
Three kilometres facing the open Pacific. It can be rough and it is unpatrolled, but it works when everywhere else is flat and you will often have it to yourself.
Whites
A protected bay reached by a rocky staircase cut into the cliff. Frequently deserted.
markets
Byron Farmers Market. Thursday mornings at Butler Street Reserve. Growers rather than resellers, and where a good deal of what ends up in our provisions boxes comes from.
Mullumbimby Farmers Market. Friday mornings, twenty minutes north.
Bangalow Farmers Market. Saturday mornings.
Bangalow Markets. The fourth Sunday of the month, in the village.
New Brighton Farmers Market. Weekly farmers market on Tuesday mornings.