| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
||||
| Cape Byron just out of town. The Cape Byron Lighthouse designates the most easterly point of mainland Australia. Numerous restaurants and cafes line the main street of Byron Bay, Jonson St. Increasingly Byron Bay is becoming more up market as its popularity grows, but the alternative culture still pervades the town and even influences other coastal towns south to Coffs Harbour. Alternative therapists, massage parlours, clairvoyants and interesting, crafts and curios are available. Despite tourist pressure Byron Bay has been spared any high rise apartments and has a unique charm. Nimbin, inland from Byron Bay, is home to many alternative permaculture communes, die-hard 1960s hippies, and enthusiastic hemp supporters. This influence has rubbed off strongly on Byron Bay. | ||||
|
|
||||
|
NIMBIN Nimbin is a town inland from Byron Bay. The surrounding area is home to many alternative permaculture communes, die-hard 1960s hippies, enthusiastic hemp supporters and get back to nature types. What you will experience is different to mainstream society. Byron Bay is a very mild version. Tours go to the Nimbin communities from Byron Bay. A day trip might be worth while, or stay longer if you are into that sort of thing. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
DIVING Diving is popular at Julian Rocks, 3 km off shore where warm and cold currents merge supporting a profusion of fish. Dive Centre. 111 Jonson St Phone 66857149. Sundive Inside Cape Byron Hostel on Middleton St. Phone 66857755. Bayside Scuba Corner Fletcher and Lawson Streets. Phone 66858333. |
||||
|
YOUTH HOSTELS Book around Christmas and New Year. Prices rise above those quoted below in summer. All hostels listed below are clean, relaxed and friendly places. Backpackers Holiday Village Hostel is clean and friendly with pool and spa. 116 Jonson St. Phone 02 6685 8888. Dorm $14, double $36. Free bike, surfboard and boogie board hire. Backpackers Inn 29 Shirley St. Phone 02 6685 8231. Dorm $15, double $45. Pool. Free bike and boogie boards hire. Cape Byron Lodge. 78 Bangalow Road. Phone 6685 6445. Dorm $10, double $30. Pool. Free bike hire. Cape Byron Hostel is YHA affiliated. Corner Byron and Middleton Streets. Phone 02 6685 8788. Dorm $14, double/twin $36 ($60 with bathroom, TV and fridge). J’s Bay Hostel is YHA affiliated. Corner of Carlyle and Middleton Streets. Phone 1800 678195 for prices. Friendly laid back atmosphere. Pool, kitchen and excellent communal areas. Bikes and Boogie boards for hire. Belongil Beachouse Just off Childe Street, west of town. Phone 02 6685 7868. Dorm $13, single $33, double $38. Cafe, garden. Free bike and boogie board hire. Aquarius Backpacker Resort Lawson St. Phone 1800 028909. Dorm $16 each with bathroom, TV and fridge. Doubles $45. Nomads Byron Bay Lawson St. Phone 02 6685 8695. Dorm $15, double $40. Arts Factory Lodge has an alternative culture. It has permaculture gardens, teepees, free bike hire, weird furnishings, cafe and teepee accommodation. More convention dorm accommodation is $16, doubles $35. Staff meet bus arrivals in Byron Bay. Major National Youth Hostel Chains YHA - Youth Hostels Australia (Hostelling International) http://www.yha.org.au
|
||||
|
ENTERTAINMENT Many of the pubs in Byron Bay have live music. Try the Railway Friendly
Bar, Beach Hotel, or Great Northern Hotel. Nightclubs
are Cocomangas on Jonson St and the techno Carpark in the
Plaza Shopping Centre. Both are open 11pm to 3am. Some nights the Epicentre
on Border St is alive with the reincarnated hippies who come down from
Nimbin in the hinterland. Check out what’s going on in Phat magazine
or the Tuesday entertainment liftout in Echo. Jonson St is the main
street and has numerous restaurants and cafes.
|
||||
|
GETTING THERE AND AWAY Long distance coaches operate on the Pacific Highway between Queensland
and Sydney. These stop at Byron Bay. Fares are Sydney $62, Brisbane $21,
Gold Coast $19, Coffs Harbour $33. Country Link trains run north
from Sydney to Byron Bay. Byron Bay is 80 km south of Coolangatta airport
on the Gold Coast and 190 km south of Brisbane airport.
|
||||
|
WHERE TO GO NEXT North to the Gold Coast and Brisbane. (100 km and 190 km away respectively) Travel south to Sydney (800 km away) |
||||
Page Index: [Byron Bay] [Cape
Byron] [Nimbin] [Diving]
[Surfing] [Youth Hostels]
[Entertainment] [Getting
There and Away] [Where to go Next]