Choose Main Beach for a beach day, The Pass for surfing, or the Cape Byron track for a lighthouse walk. Check the current patrol roster and conditions before swimming.
Choose a Byron Bay beach
Main Beach sits beside the town centre. Cafés and shops are nearby, as is the surf club. It is the most convenient choice for a first visit or a quick swim. Clarkes Beach continues north towards The Pass, making it an easy stretch to explore on foot.
The Pass is best known for surfing and watching surfers from the lookout. It gets busy, and conditions vary, so its reputation does not make it a beginner-friendly break in every swell. For a beach closer to the headland, Wategos is about 2 km from town and offers swimming, snorkelling, surfing and picnicking. Parking is limited at busy times.
Little Wategos is a walk-in option from the Cape Byron path. Belongil and The Wreck suit a longer coastal walk, while Tallow Beach and Cosy Corner offer a more open stretch of coast about 3.2 km from central Byron Bay. Tallow is unpatrolled and has rip currents; treat it as a place for scenery and walking unless conditions and local advice support swimming.
Patrol dates differ by beach and season. Check current patrol information and swim between the flags when patrols are operating. Wategos can also have strong rips.
Walk to Cape Byron Lighthouse
The 3.7 km Walgun Cape Byron walking track passes through rainforest and grassland on its way past Cape Byron Lighthouse. Beaches and clifftop lookouts line the route. The lighthouse began operating in December 1901, and its tower stands 22 metres high. Migrating whales can be seen from the headland, particularly between July and September.
The lighthouse lawn is open from 8 am to sunset, while the Maritime Museum in the former keeper’s office is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Do not assume the lawn is open for sunrise: earlier access needs to be arranged in advance. The same park page lists lighthouse parking at A$10 per vehicle per hour, capped at one hour per vehicle per calendar day. Parking at The Pass is listed at A$5 per vehicle per hour. The same rate is listed for Cosy Corner and Bawaii. Check the page before setting out for current fees, alerts and access details.
The Bundjalung people of Byron Bay (Arakwal) regard Walgun as spiritually, culturally and historically important. The headland also includes the culturally significant Pass midden. A local Aboriginal guide leads cultural tours that explain more about this Country.
Kayaking, diving and markets
Surf-watch at The Pass, or book a guided kayak trip in Cape Byron Marine Park, where you may see dolphins, turtles or whales. For an offshore activity, Julian Rocks is about 2.5 km from shore and is visited on snorkelling and diving trips.
For local produce and food, visit Byron’s markets or The Farm. The Byron Farmers Market is on Thursdays and the Byron Community Market is on the first Sunday of the month; check current schedules. The Farm has a market garden and shop, with dining on site.