Byron Bay beaches are some of the most beautiful in Australia. The area has great surfing, diving, and even snorkeling. If you are a dog owner, there’s a couple of dog friendly beaches too. Whether you want to visit the famous Wategos beach or enjoy some of the rolling waves at the Pass, visiting these Byron Bay beaches is one of the best things to do in Byron Bay.
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Byron Bay Beaches – Quick Tips
Byron Bay is famous for its beautiful beaches, surfing, and relaxed atmosphere. It’s also a great place for eco travelers, with sustainable shops, vegan restaurants and great nature trails. Use this guide (and map) to find out which beaches are going to be the best fit for you. Or if you have time, check them all out, because each one has their own, unique attributes.
How many beaches in Byron Bay?
This list covers the 7 main beaches within the Byron Bay town area. Byron Bay Shire is a bigger area than the town itself and stretches from Ocean Shores Area to Broken Head (with 30km of beaches). Within this area there are some more beaches however, these require driving out of the Byron Bay town area.
Are Byron Bay Beaches Dog Friendly?
There are only 2 Byron Bay beaches that are dog friendly:
- Belongil – just to the North of the Main Carpark
- Suffolk Park – Approx. 5 minute drive south Byron Bay town
Byron Bay Beaches Map
Here is a Byron Bay Beaches map that shows the location of the top beaches around Byron Bay.
Beaches inn Byron Bay Town
1. Wategos Beach
- Location: 2.8km from Byron Bay Town, a 35-minute walk
- Water: Clear, gentle waves, good for beginner surfers
- Activities: Surfing (longboards), swimming, walk to the lighthouse, whale watching (June, July, September-November)
- Facilities: BBQ, picnic tables, drinking water, showers, toilets
- Lifesavers: Patrolled in the summer
- Dog Friendly: No
- Parking: Free street parking, but time-limited
Wategos is one of the most beautiful Byron Bay beaches. It is tucked into a little pocket and surrounded by The Cape Byron State Conservation Area. With some of the most expensive real estate in Australia, it is also home to some celebrities.
The beach has some shaded areas, provided by the Pandanus Trees and makes for a great sunset spot. If you’re a beginner surfer or just like a nice, relaxed wave. This is a great place to take out the longboard.
There is an easy to follow walking track the follows the coastal cliffs to Wategos Beach from the Pass. And you can continue on up the Cape Byron Walking Trail to the Car Byron Lighthouse.
There’s a fancy restaurant at Rae’s on Wategos too, otherwise BYO snacks.
Little Wategos Beach
If you want a more remote spot. Walk around the headland (northern end of Wategos Beach) until you reach Little Wategoss. It is most easily accessible on lower tides as the rocky point at the end of Wategos can be a bit difficult to navigate.
Note that there are no lifeguards or facilities at this beach.
Walk right up to the end of the beach (the rocky outcrop). Here you will be standing on Australia’s most easterly spot. There are also some nice rock pools that are sheltered from the southern waves. It’s often quiet at Little Wategos due to its remote nature. So, enjoy the peace and quiet.
2. The Pass
- Location: 2km from Byron Bay Town, 10-minute walk, between Clarke’s beach and Wategos beach
- Water: Popular spot for surfers, when the swell is good there is often a nice right-hand point break
- Activities: Surfing, swimming, walk to Fisherman’s Lookout, whale watching (June, July, September-November), take a boat/snorkel trip out to Julians Rocks marine reserve, walk to the lighthouse
- Facilities: BBQ’s, picnic tables, drinking water, showers, toilets,
- Lifesavers: Patrolled some of the year
- Dog Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid parking
This may be the most iconic of the Byron Bay beaches. The Pass is a great sheltered beach that has a rocky outcrop (with a viewing platform that you can walk up to). The sea bed is very gentle sloping so you can easily walk out for a swim.
It’s also the busiest surfing beaches. There are all kinds of people surfing this spot, from first-timers to professionals. While it is a great beach to learn surfing, you will have to put up with the crowds.
If you’re just looking to hang out on the beach and watch the surfers go by, it’s best if you BYO shade (umbrella). There is not a lot of tree coverage so this beach
3. Main Beach
- Location: Infront of Byron Bay Town
- Water: Calm clear waters, high tide is good for surfing
- Activities: Surfing, swimming, whale watching (June, July, September-November), have some food/live music at the pub
- Facilities: BBQ’s, picnic tables, drinking water, playground, showers, toilets, ramp access to the beach, large grassy area
- Lifesavers: Patrolled every day of the year by lifesavers and lifeguards
- Dog Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid parking
Main Beach is one of the most popular Byron Bay beaches due to its proximity to town (it’s right in front of the main shopping area). It’s a great place to sit on the grassy hill and watch the waves or get in the water for a swim. It’s close proximity to town makes it easy to pop in and out for supplies.
4. Tallows Beach
- Location: Between Cape Byron Conservation Area and Broken Head Nature Reserve, approximately 3km away from town.
- Water: Usually a good spot to find waves
- Activities: Surfing (not beginners), swimming, beach walking, bird-watching
- Facilities: Toilets at Cosy Corner, No drinking water, parking at Cosy Corner
- Lifesavers: Check Byron Shire Council website for up to date lifesaver information
- Dog Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid parking
This long stretch of beach (6.5km long) is mostly national park which means that there is no beach development. It also means that it is very easy to find a spot for yourself. Visiting this beach is best in the morning before the winds pick up, as it is exposed to the strong southerly winds.
It is also a great beach if you like a long walk. Here you can head south from the car park (around 3km one way) to a river mouth. It is actually the natural entrance to a tea tree lake. The water is naturally dark brown from the tea tree oil. Yes, you can swim in it, but you won’t be able to see your feet through the dark-colored water. If you enjoy camping, this is a popular Camping Byron Bay location.
5. Belongil Beach
- Location: From the seawall at Main Beach car park to the Belongil Creek mouth
- Water: Can vary from super calm to big waves
- Activities: Surfing, swimming, beach walking
- Facilities: Dog friendly, toilets at Apex park,
- Lifesavers: Check the Byron Shire Council website for up-to-date lifesaver information
- Dog Friendly: Yes
- Parking: Paid parking
Belongil Beach is where you can see some of the biggest beachfront homes in New South Wales (and Australia). They are along the top of the sand dunes and are some of the only truly beachfront real estate in the area.
It is a nice long beach for a walk. There is also a tea tree lake entrance around 3km from the Main Beach car park that you can walk to.
The Wreck can be found at Belongil Beach. It is famous for the unique piece that sticks out of the water and is viewable from the Main Beach car park. You can swim out to the wreck and snorkel around it when the conditions are right. But be aware, as the waves on this beach can get pretty big (and crash into the wreck). So, be sure to check the conditions before you swim out to it.
It is one of the two Byron Bay beaches that is Dog Friendly!
6. Clark’s (Clarkes) Beach
- Location: Between Main Beach and The Pass
- Water: Generally pretty calm with a small shore break
- Activities: Surfing, swimming, beach walking
- Facilities: Toilets, Showers, BBQ’s, Water fountains, Picnic tables, Playground
- Lifesavers: not usually patrolled
- Dog Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid parking
Clarkes Beach is one of the areas that connects Main Beach to the Pass. If you walk along the beach from town towards the Pass Point, you will walk through Clarkes.
It is the corner of Main beach before the Conservation Area and has a wide, flat area of beach perfect for playing a game of beach cricket. It is also a popular camping Byron Bay location, home to ‘Reflections Holiday Parks’.
Be sure to check out “The Beach Byron Bay” which is a stylish cafe that has amazing views towards the pass. It is a great place to get breakfast. Note that while it is a beach cafe, you have to wear footwear and clothing (can’t walk straight out of the sea).
7. Whites Beach
- Location: Broken Head (approx 10-minute drive from Byron Bay Town)
- Water: Often calm by the shore but has waves breaking further out
- Activities: swimming, surfing,
- Facilities: none
- Lifesavers: none
- Dog Friendly: No
- Parking: Free parking
This is one of the true hidden gem Byron Bay beaches. When you park the car and walk down the stairs you get a full view of the secluded bay. Rocky outcrops on both ends, beautiful, white sand, and clear water.
It is a quiet getaway for those who like to escape the crowds. There are some interesting rock caves at the end of the beach and a great drive through rainforest along a dirt road.
Where to Stay in Byron Bay
Looking for some unique places to stay? We’ve found the best Airbnb Byron Bay stays, from hinterland lodges to beachside houses. Alternatively, you can stay in a Gold Coast Airbnb and make a day trip down to one of these beautiful beaches. From these Coolangatta Airbnbs, Byron Bay is a short 50-minute drive away.
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Aaron is one of the co-founders of The Dharma Trails. His background in marine eco tourism and writing have blended together to create the eco travel platform read by users around the world.
