Homegrown Explorer Casey Fung shares the best spots in Byron Bay and its surrounds for an adventurous spirit, to celebrate the relaunch of our favourite homegrown beer.

 

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Arakwal Bundjalung people, who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

 

Whether it was as a kid on family holiday, a coming-of-age road trip, or a couple’s weekend away, you’ve probably been to Byron Bay – but have you seen the best of it?

I grew up in the Byron Shire and still live here, so I’m sharing my favourite spots, the ones I keep going back to. While some of them are popular places, bear with me, as there are always hidden gems or side-tracks you probably missed.

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Best for Day Hikers – See the Best of Bush and Beaches on the Walgun (Cape Byron) Loop

We’ve all walked to the lighthouse from the celebrity-studded Wategos Beach, but did you see the Palm Valley? Or walk the quiet path through ancient Burrawang and Wonga Wonga vine?

This 4km loop gives you glimpses of a time before colonisation, with pockets of intact original rainforest and some rare peace and quiet from the busy spots – with the added bonus of breath-taking beaches and lookouts.

Note: A section of the walk at Wategoes was being concreted at the time of writing with reopening scheduled for mid-August. Check the council website for the most up to date information before you go.

 

 

This can be done in either direction, but I like to start with the bush and finish with a swim at the beach.

Starting at Captain Cook carpark (locally known as Captain Kooks), cross the main road and walk up the little lane called ‘Lee La’. At the top of the little hill, there will be a few places you can duck off into the bush and start the Tallow Ridge Track, which will eventually take you to the lighthouse.

 

Our Favourite Spots in Byron Bay and Surrounds Stone & Wood, Casey Fung, wategoes to pass, walgun cape byron loop

 

Strolling along, you’ll see what most of the area would have looked like before it was extensively cleared by Europeans. In fact, Byron was part of the ‘Big Scrub’ which was the largest subtropical lowland rainforest in Australia.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

After a small climb you’ll start getting glimpses of Tallow Beach to your right before coming out at the hang-gliding platform and then the Cape Byron Lighthouse which sits atop the Walgun (Cape Byron), which translates to ‘the shoulder’ in Bundjalung language.

Read more: Walgun and Nguthungulli – The Aboriginal Names That Will Replace Cape Byron and Julian Rocks

Now follow the track down to the ‘most easterly point’ past the iconic Coastal Banksia and Casuarina and down along Wategos beach, before climbing over the coastal track to The Pass – which is one of the best places to spot dolphins, turtles, and whales.

 

Our Favourite Spots in Byron Bay and Surrounds Stone & Wood, Casey Fung, dolphins, wategoes, walgun loop

Don’t miss the Palm Valley! When you get to the bottom of the hill before The Pass car park, look left and follow the little track, which is a 400m loop, through the unique nook of crowded Bangalow and Cabbage Tree palms.

Finish the loop by walking either along the beach or up along the scenic boardwalk on the main road.

 

Want to win the ultimate Byron Bay weekend, thanks to Stone & Wood? Enter now!

Best for Waterfall Chasing – Minyon Falls and Surrounds

Byron Bay has world-famous beaches, but the hinterland is my favourite. Here you’ll find plenty of quiet trails, and better yet, waterfalls.

As far as waterfalls go around here, you can’t beat Minyon Falls which leaps 100m into a dense Gondwana World-Heritage Rainforest valley.

If you’ve been there already, read on, as there are a couple of worthy side tracks for a swim or, if you feel like, you can rappel off a cliff.

During summer when the beaches are packed, I come up here at least a few times a week to swim up the creek and laze through the afternoon, as it’s always at least five degrees cooler.

Again, this is a popular place to visit, but there are a few offshoots worth seeing where I can almost guarantee you’ll be the only people there.

 

 

Visitors are often confused as there are a few ways to tackle this steep and sometimes slippery hike – here’s a quick rundown:

Minyon Falls

From the Minyon Falls lookout, which has been recently replaced with a flash cantilevered platform, you can walk 1.5km down Minyon Falls Road to the Minyon Grass day use area, then follow the 2km Minyon Grass trail to the base of the falls.

Note: The Minyon Falls walking track is a 4.5km track through the bush to the bottom of the falls, but it’s currently closed due to flood damage. On this track there’s also a 400m side-path to Quandong Falls, which is a good spot for a dip if there has been enough rain.

If I want to see the falls I usually just go up and down the Minyon Grass Track, because usually I’m here for a dip.

If you want to swim or see other waterfalls there are a few other good options. From the main lookout, follow the creek back and you’ll see there are plenty of cool little rockpools for a dip and a picnic.

Note: If you’re going for a swim it’s best to avoid lathering up in sunscreen as it’ll wash into the delicate creek ecosystem. Luckily it’s generally pretty shady in the valley.

 

Best for Serious Adventurers – Rappel Down Boomerang Falls

This used to be my favourite secret spot, but now there’s now a road sign, so happy hiking! Park at the national parks gate on Boomerang Falls Road and follow the track until you can hear the falls and you’ll see a small trodden path off to your left.

 

 

This will take you to the top of the falls, but be extremely careful as there are some hidden cliff edges in the scrub and the way is steep and tricky.

I wouldn’t recommend trying to find the bottom of the falls as it is very steep and slippery. If you’re experienced, this is a nice spot for abseiling or rappelling down to the bottom of the falls – but it makes for a very difficult hike out. 

Best for Water Adventures

Groups of kayakers heading out to Nguthungulli (Julian Rocks) is a common sight in the bay, but there are a few other spots to get out on the water where you’ll find true tranquillity.

Launching from Brunswick Heads you’ll have a few options of where to paddle.

 

 

Most people stay on the Brunswick River, which you can follow all the way to my hometown, Mullumbimby, but this takes a good half day and you’ll want to be following the tide.

What I’d recommend instead is taking the small southern tidal offshoot called Simpsons Creek.

At high tide the water is crystal clear (a description I don’t take lightly) and you’ll see plenty of fish and a resident Brahminy Kite hunting them, plus if you’re lucky some Spotted eagle ray.

This peaceful section of creek flows along the Tyagrah Nature Reserve for a few kilometres and has tucked away little beaches to make landfall and jump back in for a refreshing dip, or even a rope swing to break up the paddle.

 

 

Alternatively you can follow the northern tidal offshoot called Marshalls Creek in the other direction where you’ll find similar serenity, plus you can dock at the back of the Ocean Shores tavern if you fancy a beer.

If you don’t have your own kayak, canoe, or SUP, you can rent one from the little red boat next to the bridge at Brunswick Heads.

Best Sunset Views – Almost Anywhere

Despite seeing the first sunrise in Australia, Byron Bay and surrounds has amazing sunsets too.

Being a bay, a bunch of Byron’s beaches are west facing. So take a look on a map to find your spot, but I’d recommend a sunset from The Pass or Little Wategos Beach, where you’ll get a view back across the bay to the far Nightcap Ranges, Koonyum Range, Mount Chincogan and Wollumbin.

 

 

Recently, homegrown brewers Stone and Wood made a conscientious revision by relaunching Cloud Catcher as Cloudy Pale Ale, to respect age-old Bundjalung storytelling about Wollumbin, the ‘cloud catcher’.

On the hinterland roads there are countless places to stop and watch the sunset.

When it gets to that time of day, go for a drive or look at a map and you can easily follow the ridgelines and find your own favourite spot to watch the sun go down.

As always, please be respectful and safe with where you park, and where you walk.

 

Best for Post Adventure Beers

Now that you’ve had all those epic adventures, you must be thirsty!

On the way in and out of Byron you can’t miss the Stone and Wood brewery, which is known as their spiritual home. It’s just around the corner from where it all started.

The tasting room has more than 30 brewing tanks and good eats prepared by local foodies 100 Mile Table.

For beer-lovers there are one-off rotating pilot batches brewed on site, as well as 90 minute brewery tours daily where you can find out more about brewing, ingredients, and the approach to being a conscious business – with Stone and Wood being a B Corp company.

But my favourite place to enjoy a Cloudy Pale Ale is just about anywhere, as long as it’s with my partner and baby, or a few close friends, recounting the day’s adventures and excitedly planning the next.