Wellness Guide To Byron Bay

I love Byron Bay. It only took grabbing a coffee + vegan blueberry muffin at The Byron Bay General Store to notice…“there’s something special here.”

Byron Bay is beautiful — lush tropical climate, the perfect rolling waves, long stretches of soft sand, yellow flowers everywhere, colorful birds singing, + the healthiest eats (+ my personal fav: coconut coffee!).

But, the spirit of Byron Bay is what sold me. Byron Bay is full of surfers + seekers — people from all over the world (many of them in their 20s/30s in camper vans) searching for a free-spirited + meaningful way of life. You’ll find a lot of yoga, bodywork, reiki, + wellness programs in Byron Bay to support you on your path. Take off your shoes, relax + soak in the Byron Bay magic.

Coffee

One of my favorite parts about Byron Bay is the coconut coffee! Almost every coffee shop has their own version. It’s so good. You need to try 🥰

• High Life — *MUST! Our favorite coffee shop. Lots of adaptogenic drinks. + of course, their own version of coconut coffee! Also amazing food + good vibes.
• Wide Open Road Cafe
• Sparrow Coffee
• Sunday Sustainable Bakery

Cafes

Something to note about coffee shops + cafes — most of them close very early (2pm or earlier). Make sure you plan your meals accordingly so you don’t miss out on the amazing cafes in Byron.

• The Bryon Bay General Store — *MUST! This cafe screams Byron Bay. Established in 1947, even though it’s been renovated many times, the building has never been knocked down. We were lucky enough to have this cafe a short 5 minute walk from our Airbnb, so it was a daily stop for coconut coffee + vegan muffins + treats.
• Bayleaf Cafe — *MUST! Seasonal menu with local ingredients + clearly a hotspot for breakfast especially. They also have a takeaway coffee counter!
• Combi — *MUST! The best acai bowls + buckwheat pancakes + smoothies + vegan desserts. Not to mention, the cafe + the way the food is presented is very instagrammable.
• Folk
• Otherside Byron
• Chihuahua
• OCA Organic Cuisine + Arts
• Orgasmic Food Byron Bay
• Fel’s Kitchen

Restaurants

• Light Years — *MUST! Oh my gosh this Asian bar + diner *might* have been our favorite restaurant in all of Australia. It was SO good. Kingfish ceviche, Wagyu beef rendang, + Asian greens are a must.
• Three Blue Ducks — *MUST! “The Farm” is an establishment. Three Blue Ducks is the cafe/restaurant on The Farm (open until 4pm on weekdays + 8pm on weekends), but there’s also a bakery, coffee shop, ice cream store, small grocery, children’s playground, + lots of animals!
• Karkalla
• Rae’s
• The Loft
• The Balcony Bar + Oyster Co.
• Fishmongers
• Bang Bang
• The Mez Club
• Want dessert? Go to Frankies Gelato Naturale!

Wellness

#1] Take a surf lesson: *MUST. Surfing is a way of life here. It seems like every other car as a surfboard on top of their car, + you’ll see people heading to the beach with surfboards in hand at every time of day wherever you go. The waves are so gentle + mellow at The Pass — it’s perfect for all levels. We did privates at Soul Surf School with Andy + loved it!

#2] Walk the Lighthouse Walk: *MUST. This coastal walk has the best views of Byron’s incredible beaches. You’re pretty much guaranteed to see dolphins + incredible birds on the walk, too! It’s about 2 miles + you’ll see the eastern most point in Australia!

• May to October is whale watching season!
• Other hikes + waterfalls to check out: Minyon Falls Lookout + Loop, Springbrook National Park, Lamington National Park, Three Sisters Walking Track, Killen Falls. (Some of them are further away than others. There’s honestly LOTS. This is a helpful article on the best hikes close to Byron Bay!)

#3] Go to a yoga class: I loved Bamboo Yoga School (they do a month long “traveler pass” that’s very affordable!). Since I got a pass I didn’t check out any of the other spots, but they are on my list for next time.

• Check out: State of Salt Yoga + Pilates, Barefoot Yoga School (if you are interested in yoga teacher training), Bende Pilates

#4] Get a massage: My one regret of Byron Bay is not going to a Spa! There’s so many well rated spas.

• Check out: Mystic Flow Massage, Sattva Massage, Byron Massage Clinic, Paloma Massage, Wildflower Massage, The Kiva Spa Ayupotheca, Aesthetica (medical spa for facials, etc.)

#5] Wander the Crystal Castle + Shambhala Gardens: See of the two largest crystals in the world + explore the tranquil gardens. I’d recommend this if you are into crystals!

Explore

#1] Go to the beach! Spend as much time on the beach as possible. 🤩🌊 The beaches are incredible + our two favorites (The Pass + Wategoes) are very baby friendly. There’s shaded spots + a very wide beach with low tide creating a lot of shallow areas for your babe to hang out.

• The Pass
• Wategoes Beach
• Tallows Beach
• Byron Beach
• Belongil Beach

#2] Check out the community boards to see events going on. One of my favorite parts about a small town is that all the cafes have community boards showcasing fun events going on… moon ceremonies, sound healing journeys, live music, mom + baby yoga classes, cooking classes, + so much more.

#3] Shop! There’s so many incredible stores. Wander down all the streets + see what shops speak to you. One of my favorite stores: Ottway The Label! I always get their instagram ads, so I got giddy when I saw they had a storefront in Byron Bay! Make sure to check out the Arts + Industry Estate as well.

#4] Explore surrounding towns: There’s quite a few super cute towns close to Byron Bay to explore. Check them out here!

• Check out the local markets in town — see the market schedule here!

Stay

We stayed a bit outside of the heart of Byron on Bangalow Road. It was right across the street from the Bamboo Yoga Studio + a 5 minute walk to Byron Bay General Store. The Airbnb was super spacious, had beautiful outdoor space, such a nice host Gigi, + lots of baby toys! We highly recommend this spot, especially with a kid. The only downside is that would need a car if you stay here — however, I *would* recommend a car regardless in Byron, since some of the beaches are a bit spread out!

Pro-Tips

• How long? 3–4 days
• Best time to visit: Byron has great weather year round, but spring (September-November) is considered the best since it has the least amount of rainfall. We visited at the end of March + it was perfect. We only had one day of rain. It was super tropical + hot + humid + beautiful.
• Grocery = Bay Grocer, Santos Organics (organic cafe attached), The Source Bulk Foods (good for hiking/beach snacks)
• I’d recommend a car to explore! We actually tried Uber Cars for the first time + it was so easy!
• Very baby friendly: While Sydney (especially Manly Beach) was one of the most family friendly cities I’ve ever been in — Byron Bay also was a great place to travel with a little one (+ seemed like a great place to raise a family).
• Only downside of Byron: The drivers… for being such a chill town, the drivers are crazy! Especially on Bangalow Road… it’s hard to cross the street!
• Byron is a very “early” town. All the coffee shops + cafes open up early… + close early (make sure to check restaurant times!). It seems like everyone is out + about very early in Byron + it’s a very active community!
• Get curious: Ask locals their fav spots. I always find that especially in a small town — that’s the best way to really get an “in” on some of the things you won’t find in travel guides. That’s also why I love looking at community boards!

“Any local will tell you: Byron Bay loves to play with contrasts. Sandy beaches line the coast while lush hinterland defines the horizon. Torrential mornings quickly dissolve into sun basked afternoons. Local markets happily mix with high street brands + designer boutiques. From quirky to chic, + everything in between.”

Did I miss any of your favorite spots in Byron Bay? Let me know! There’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll be back to visit this magical surf town in Australia!

Love,
Elisabeth