Our favourite walks in and around Byron Bay
Byron Bay truly does have it all. Whether you’re here for the stunning beaches and surf, local boutique shopping experience, world-class restaurants or simply to soak up Byron Bay’s famous chilled vibes, there’s something for everyone.
If you’re like us and love the great outdoors and a good walk in nature, you’ve come to the right place! Byron is packed with beautiful walks suited to all levels, with gorgeous views to soak up a little Byron paradise.
And you don’t have to travel far from Byron Bay’s town centre to experience some of the best walks in the area. Whether you fancy a relaxed beachside stroll or you’re ready to get your hiking boots on to explore Byron’s local National Parks, we’ve got you covered.
Check out our favourite walks in and around Byron Bay.
No car? No sweat! These walks can all be accessed on foot from The Surf House.
Main Beach to Belongil
Starts: Main Beach – 50m from The Surf House
Ends: Belongil
2.5km one-way, approx 25mins
The beaches along Byron Bay’s main stretch of sand from Belongil Beach all the way down to Clarke’s Beach and The Pass are some of our favourites to explore and perfect for a long beach walk; the stretch is long and the sand is easy to walk on.
To get to Belongil, start at Main Beach car park and head North. This quiet 2.5km stretch ends at the Belongil Creek mouth.
Along the way, you’ll pass ‘The Wreck’, a small part of the SS Wollongbar shipwreck coming up from the water. This is a popular surf break and a great little snorkelling spot if you fancy stopping off to explore.
Belongil is home to a few amazing restaurants including one of our all-time favourites, Treehouse On Belongil. Treehouse serves up the best wood-fired pizzas in town, amazing cocktails and some great brekkie/coffee combos if you’re here in the morning.
Keen to get off the beaten track? Carry on North to Belongil Creek and into Tyagarah Nature Reserve. The reserve is a beautiful 7km strip of shoreline between Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads. Tyagarah Nature Reserve is home to nature trails, wildlife, Tyagarah Tea Tree Lake and even a nudist beach!
Local tip: If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy the sunset, Belongil is one of our favourite spots. Settle in for an evening with the locals and watch the sunset over The Byron Bay Hinterland.
Beach Walk to The Pass
Starts: Main Beach – 50m from The Surf House
Ends: The Pass
2km one-way, approx 20mins
Heading South at Main Beach will take you on a lovely little beach crawl to explore some of our favourites: Main Beach, Clarke’s Beach and The Pass.
Perfect for a relaxing beach walk and watching surfers catch the waves at The Pass. Keen to hit the waves yourself? Take a look at our guide to the best surf beaches in Byron Bay. Leaving the board at home? The Surf House offers complimentary surfboard hire when you stay.
When you reach The Pass, continue on to Fisherman’s lookout. Follow the stairs up to the viewing platform for stunning panoramic ocean views. Remember to keep an eye out for dolphins and humpback whales, migrating between May to November!
Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk
Starts / Ends: Captain Cook Lookout – 15min walk from The Surf House
4.5km loop, approx 1.5-2.5 hours
If you’ve started planning your trip to Byron Bay, you’ve probably heard of the Cape Byron Lighthouse walk. This popular track offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Australia: stunning beaches, coastal rainforest and the lighthouse itself!
Whilst you can do variations of the walk, we love to do a loop starting near town and stopping off at some Insta worthy lookouts along the way.
Starting at Captain Cook Lookout, just a short walk from town, head on to Fisherman’s lookout for great views across the Bay. Then, walk to Wategos Beach – one of the best lookin’ beaches around with clear waters and great waves.
From Wategos, take a detour over to Little Wategos Beach; a beautiful sheltered beach with great views of Cape Byron. This 150m stretch is protected from the wind, and a great spot to swim and sunbathe when it’s low tide.
From little Wategos, the main track will take you uphill to The Cape Byron Lighthouse. Get ready for some spectacular views over the bay! When you’re ready to head back to town, take The Tallow Ridge Track through pretty rainforest then follow Lighthouse Rd back into town.
Keen for a well deserved post-walk beer? Head up to The Surf House rooftop bar for happy hour specials.
Tallow Beach and Arakwal National Park Trail
Starts / Ends: Tallow Beach Carpark – 25min walk from The Surf House
8.7km, approx 2hours
Get set to immerse yourself in nature with one of our favourite local walks within Arakwal National Park, one of NSW’s smallest National Parks. This area has a deep cultural significance to Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal) people who have lived in the region for more than 22,000 years.
Soak up this wild and beautiful 3km stretch of beach with a sandy stroll along Tallow Beach which is only a few km from Byron town.
This is an amazing wildlife spotting area with birds (over 120 species have been recorded in this area!), dolphins and whales during migration season.
We recommend cooling off with a refreshing dip at Tallow Beach. Then, cross the little bridge over tea tree-dotted Tallows Creek into coastal heath into a mix of bushland and residential streets.
Keen to learn more about the history of this area? Book the Aboriginal Walk and Talk to learn about the Aboriginal history and stories connected to the national park via the Arakwal website.
Planning a Byron Bay getaway? Our private and shared room options offer the perfect base to explore Byron Bay.
Travelling solo? Meet fellow travellers and adventurers at The Surf House with social communal areas and activities held at our rooftop bar. Find out more and book your Surfy stay today!