The must-do highlights of Byron Bay in three days

The Age

13-05-2025

DAY TWO
Morning
Begin the day with an al fresco brekky at the buzzing Bayleaf Cafe, which serves everything from poached eggs to Japanese savoury pancakes, before hitting the shops. Byron Bay's alternative and surf culture has led to an eclectic array of stores, from high-street surf shops to boho boutiques Spell, Kivari, Rowie the Label, and Arnhem Clothing. Pick up crystals, candles, pendulums, salt lamps and sun catchers at Soulife Byron Bay, tie-dye apparel from The Rainbow Shop and, of course, cookies from The Byron Bay Cookie Company, which started its life as a stall at the local markets in 1990 (the white choc macadamia nut, and tropical mango and passionfruit are still favourites).
Less than 20 minutes' drive north of Byron, the laidback coastal town of Brunswick Heads is an entirely pleasant place to while away the afternoon – once you've found a parking spot, that is. Grab a burger from Old Maids, some sushi or sashimi from Trouble San or fish and chips from Starfish Takeaway, and find a spot on the grass besides Simpsons Creek that runs off the Brunswick River. There's a modern playground for kids to play, and you can hire a kayak, canoe, stand-up paddleboard or motorised boat from Brunswick Buccaneers to explore the emerald-green waterway. Wander over the bridge – where local kids can often be seen taking death-defying leaps – and go for a dip at Main Beach, or in the calm waters off Torakina Beach. Afterwards, pop into Hotel Brunswick to enjoy a cold beverage in the beer garden, or try a tropical treat from Wal from Natural Ice-Cream Australia, whose van is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Evening
On the way back to town, stop off at The Farm, which aims to educate young and old about where food comes from. Located on a 32-hectare property at Ewingsdale, around 10 minutes' drive north of Byron Bay, The Farm is home to several micro-businesses. Watch the pigs rolling in the mud and crush some macadamia nuts in the orchard before sitting down for dinner on the verandah at the rustic, sustainably focused Three Blue Ducks restaurant. The menu changes with the seasons, but Thursday is generally mussel night, with such delights as mussels with yellow curry sauce, lemongrass and kaffir lime, while on Sundays you can indulge in a roast dinner with pepper-crusted slow-cooked beef brisket, mustard, horseradish, jus and Yorkshire pudding served alongside garlic and rosemary potatoes and vegetables dug fresh from a nearby patch.
DAY THREE
Morning
Today is all about exploring the hinterland, starting in the historic town of Bangalow, a scenic 20-minute drive south-west of Byron Bay. Enjoy breakfast in the courtyard at WOODS café, hidden away in the arts precinct, or at Bangalow Bread Co. or Butcher Baker in the main street, which is lined with art galleries, luxury boutiques and homewares stores. Stock up on such products as locally-grown olives, goat cheese and wild-caught smoked fish at the Bangalow Farmers' Market, held every Saturday morning, or wander amidst the camphor laurel and fig trees at Bangalow Market in the nearby showground on the fourth Sunday of the month. History buffs can follow the self-guided Bangalow Heritage Walk, where plaques featuring old black and white photos reveal the past lives of the town's Federation-style buildings, including a bootmaker shop once owned by the great-grandfather of cricketing legends Steve and Mark Waugh.
Afternoon
Continue your journey along the winding country roads before settling in for lunch at one of the many acclaimed eateries hidden in the hills beyond Byron Bay. For a classic Aussie pub, you can't go past the beautifully restored Eltham Hotel, which was built in the former railway town in 1902. Alternatively, indulge a long lunch at Mediterranean restaurant The Hut, which is located in an old schoolhouse at Possum Creek, farm-to-table restaurant Frida's Field at Nashua, or the Japanese-inspired Doma Cafe in the sleepy village of Federal. After lunch, make your way to Cape Byron Distillery at McLeod's Shoot for its Brookie's Rainforest and Gin Tasting tour to learn about how the rundown dairy farm was transformed into a sub-tropical paradise bursting with ingredients such as native raspberry, cinnamon myrtle and Davidson plum, which are used to help create the distillery's award-winning tipples.
Evening
Return to Bangalow for dinner at You Beauty, which was crowned Regional Restaurant of the Year in the 2025 Good Food Guide Awards. True to its name, the venue channels the spirit of a classic Aussie pub — an ethos shared by its owners, who also helm the aforementioned Eltham Hotel and neighbouring Ciao, Mate! pizzeria. But with its timber-clad interiors, high bar stools and intimate ambience, it leans more toward a chic inner-city hotel than a country watering hole. At the helm is sustainable chef Matt Stone, who champions local farmers and producers with a rotating seasonal menu. Expect standout dishes like roo skewers, salted snapper with fried potato, and the unforgettable crocodile toast with sesame seed, all perfectly paired with natural wines.