Author Topic: Byron Bay  (Read 5086 times)

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Offline McAbouts

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Byron Bay
« on: February 28, 2012, 08:11:02 AM »
Hi all

Looking at 3 or 4 nights staying in or around Byron on the way back from Fraser Island. Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Or should we be looking a little further south? We have a week 2 get home so no real rush.

Cheers
Louise :D
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Offline BigJules

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2012, 08:41:10 AM »
It is years since I stayed in Byron. It is a nice town, tourist mecca. 4 days there might be pushing it.

I thoroughly recommend the caravan park at the northern most end of Brunswick Heads,  Ferry Reserve, which is only 15 minutes from Byron. Bruns is quieter, with a great pub, terrific fish n chip shop and lots of 2nd had stores.

Both locations are a comfortable distance from Fraser if you leave in the morning.

Further south, Darlington Park would be a terrific spot to stop in.
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Offline Chippy76

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2012, 08:43:38 AM »
I would suggest heading a little further south to Evans head. There is a great Caravan park called silver sands.http://www.silversandsholidaypark.com.au/ Have never stayed there personally , however always looks clean and is easy walking distance to shops, beach, pub and bowls club.
IMHO  Byron is over priced and full of back packers.

Cheers Chippy :D
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Offline Chippy76

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2012, 08:45:31 AM »
Darling ton park is north ..not south ...

Cheers Chippy :D
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Offline jimquim

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2012, 08:59:50 AM »
Another option is Broken Head, only a few km south. Best of both worlds; great beach, good caravan park and not as crowded. You can still easily drive into Byron for supplies/pub/massage or whatever takes your fancy (and in Byron it really is whatever takes your fancy!). :D

Offline Blinky Bill

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2012, 09:16:40 AM »
We enjoy Byron Bay for eating & walking about but do not enjoy camping there at all. In fact we hate it.

The best camping spot that we have found is at the Mullumbimby Rugby League ground, about 4kms East of Mullumbimby. Good basic facilities (hot showers & clean toilets), it's right alongside the Tweed River and a nice relaxed 10-15 minute drive to the excitement town of Byron.

The little town of Mullumbimby is nice too. Relaxed as all hell with good pub, top cafes, grocery stores & no pressure with parking or crowds. So she's a really nice contrast to Byron down the road.

We also like this camp ground because it's ever so slightly inland which often deters the rowdy mobs.

Cheers - Wayne
Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.
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Offline BigJules

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2012, 09:17:57 AM »
Darling ton park is north ..not south ...

Cheers Chippy :D


Nope, Darlington Beach Holiday Park is south of Byron, at Arrawara, between Grafton and Coffs.  ;D

We enjoy Byron Bay for eating & walking about but do not enjoy camping there at all. In fact we hate it.

The best camping spot that we have found is at the Mullumbimby Rugby League ground, about 4kms East of Mullumbimby. Good basic facilities (hot showers & clean toilets), it's right alongside the Tweed River and a nice relaxed 10-15 minute drive to the excitement town of Byron.

The little town of Mullumbimby is nice too. Relaxed as all hell with good pub, top cafes, grocery stores & no pressure with parking or crowds. So she's a really nice contrast to Byron down the road.

We also like this camp ground because it's ever so slightly inland which often deters the rowdy mobs.

Cheers - Wayne

This was under 4 feet of water not too long ago, and apparently the rain hasn't stopped since. Agree, Mullum is a nice town.
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Offline Savageone

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2012, 09:20:29 AM »
Lennox Head and Ballina both have parks on the water and are great locations, and I've heard Woody Head at Iluka has a good rep, Broken Head was also a good recommendation.

Byron has lots of cafes resturants pubs ect, depends on your interests.

Offline Blinky Bill

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2012, 09:52:44 AM »
"This was under 4 feet of water not too long ago, and apparently the rain hasn't stopped since. Agree, Mullum is a nice town."

Thanks for the update BigJules. I was actually tossing around heading up that way soon. Oh well!!

Lennox Head is anotheree that I've been wanting to check out anyways, so here's a good chance.

My only consideration is our mutt and that's where Mullum shined.

Having said all of that, I'm pretty sure that when I've spoken with the Lennox Head people that they were okay with the dog (on leash). Plus they can offer a spot well away from other campers.

Cheerio from Bello - Wayne
Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.
W. C. Fields (1880 - 1946)

Offline goingdh

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #9 on: February 28, 2012, 12:30:12 PM »
We've always stayed at Flat rock campground, 5min to either Balina or Lennox and just off the beach, last time we were there they had just done up the toilets/shower block and bbq area.
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Offline Humbolt

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #10 on: February 28, 2012, 02:05:12 PM »
Clarke's Beach is a favourite of ours. There are beach front sites and bushy sites all within a walking (path or beach) distance from Byron.
We happened to go on Schoolies weekend a year or two ago and didn't have a single drama nor did we hear any noise from town.
The pub was going orf but i will save that for another thread...:)

The facilities were top notch and were being upgraded at the time we were there.
Mostly families and the odd backpacker van.
Great time had!!!

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Offline Wato

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #12 on: February 28, 2012, 09:32:14 PM »
Another vote for Flat Rock. Good beaches and far enough away from the crowds

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Offline Roo

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #13 on: February 28, 2012, 10:09:36 PM »
Blinky Bill, Thats the Brunswick river beside the Mullumbimby rugby fields. Tweed river runs through Murwillumbah...next river north...and it flooded recently. Mullum Looks like a good spot for a stopover....I'd not leave anything unattended though. I work in the area,  the smelly hippy's will pinch anything not tied down.
 Broken Head is a great spot but you pay a Byron Tax.... Brunswick Heads is a great town, there are a couple of parks there, i'd pick the one right in town as the Highway could be noisy at night for the other two.. plus the pub is closer.
Further South, Lennox head has the park on Lake Ainsworth....freshwater tea tree lake right behind the sand dunes of Seven Mile beach. Surfclub across the road has a cafe or a short walk to town or Pub. I went past there last Wednesday, place is empty....will be chockers on weekends and holidays. For more basic beach camping, the Flatrock campground halfway betwen lennox and Ballina is a good one. Beaches are usually unpatrolled and not super safe for kiddies but rock fisho's and surfers will like it. lots to explore on the rockshelf between tides to keep kids entertained.

I work in byron.....place is full of backpackers and louts year round. Daytime and Bikini weather can make it worthwhile for a daytrip.;)
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Offline Blinky Bill

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #14 on: February 28, 2012, 11:38:46 PM »
Blinky Bill, Thats the Brunswick river beside the Mullumbimby rugby fields. Tweed river runs through Murwillumbah...next river north...and it flooded recently. Mullum Looks like a good spot for a stopover....I'd not leave anything unattended though. I work in the area,  the smelly hippy's will pinch anything not tied down.

Gidday Roo - The Brunswick River is it? Oops my apologies. May explain why people can't find me based on my directions.  :-[

Smelly Hippies? You are forgetting that I am from Bellingen. Not one myself but no shortage of them around these parts. There used to be more until some discovered the wonders of capitalism.  ???

Take care -  ;D
Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.
W. C. Fields (1880 - 1946)

Offline namoidowns

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #15 on: February 29, 2012, 06:28:08 PM »
If it was me, I would stay clear of Byron Bay in preference of Brusnwick Heads.  Bruns is a great spot with both the beach and river and is only 15 mins from Byron without the crowds.

Offline Renno

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #16 on: February 29, 2012, 06:36:36 PM »
Really depends on what you want to do with your time. I like Byron and we used to come up when we lived in Sydney.
We used to ago to Clarkes Beach as it was out of town, we would walk in most days anyway. Now we mostly head down to Brooms Head, either the caravan park or national park. I prefer the Nat Park but Mrs Renno like the amenities of the CP.
Flat Rock is nice, Broken head is nice as well with a really nice beach, good fishing as well....
Renno  :cheers:
« Last Edit: February 29, 2012, 06:38:17 PM by Renno »

Offline ati

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #17 on: March 01, 2012, 02:55:52 PM »
Have a look at Wooli, one of my favorate spots.

Ati :cheers:

Offline Renno

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #18 on: March 02, 2012, 08:18:07 AM »
My idea of a great trip would be exactly what Finners did, still trying to get down to pebbly beach.
As soon as I can get the time (and the weather co operates) thats where I am going.

Finners Trip to Pebbly

G'day Renno - Bevan has all the good oil on Pebbly being a local - but IMHO - it's the best NSW beach campsite I've ever been to. Just about as perfect as you could imagine. At low tide - crossing the creek is piss easy - though you need 4WD for the exit (video here):
http://flic.kr/p/aybNC4

We left at mid-tide - about crotch depth - used a water blind and was glad for it. No problems though - plenty of traction on the bottom. It's salt water careful wash down needed once home.

Yes bring firewood - but there's a huge dump provided on the way in near the bins (easy to miss - where you fork off the main track to Pebbly rather than s/o to Station Ck campground), there are bins on right and just past them a pile of (hidden) firewood - all milled offcuts.

Other tips? No water on site. Loos are excellent (best composting dunnies I've ever seen/used) but only one block so if you're at the end of the dispersed camping can be long walk. We brought a kayak which allowed us to explore up Station Ck - great fun - recommended. If strong winds forecast - the small dune provides little protection if camped immediately behnd them - but the campsites on the western side of the meandering campground track may have a little more protection. We went prime site with immediate beach access, and felt the wind when a southerly change came through. Sites are grassy. The website warns the northern section is closed for rehab - but this only reduces camping sites by about 5%. Bushwalk to the north possible. Fishing should be good - though Bevan and I cast a line or two with no luck. Probably the way I baited the hooks!

Pebbly beach has fantastic ambiance. Very very highly recommended. We actually enjoyed it more than Fraser in some regards - we felt like we were remote camping again.

- Finners

Offline McAbouts

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Re: Byron Bay
« Reply #19 on: March 02, 2012, 07:59:09 PM »
Thanks heaps everyone.
Have just jotted down the list and will research.
Flat rock has the most ticks so far so will start there.
Can't wait to have a good look around this area.

Cheers
Louise :D
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