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Australia's bohemian capital and quintessential surf town needs very little introduction. Drawing in travellers with a hankering for salty days and balmy nights, Byron Bay travel has become the postcard of the Australian holiday; a place where many decide to pull up camp and stay a little longer. However much you've daydreamed about its natural beauty and enviable way of life, this perfectly balanced area is likely to exceed your expectations. The typical day in Byron Bay might start with a coffee at Top Shop, taken in hand for a stroll past the milky lighthouse that stands at Cape Byron, the most eastern point of Australia. As the sun rises a little higher you'll likely pull up in the crystal bay of soft waves known as Wategoes, where taking a dip in the ocean and spotting of pod of dolphins will leave you sufficiently energised for the day. Later - after a chicken parma and a few ciders at the pub - you may feel inclined to unwind into the town's spiritual side with a crystal healing session or tarot card reading. That's if you haven’t already overdosed on spiritual Zen with a trip into the mountains to see rainbows in the radical town of Nimbin and admire local works of art at Tweed Regional Museum in Murwillumbah. Live music, surfing lessons and a whole lot of shopping and Byron Bay will be well and truly under your skin. Whether you stay a few days or few weeks you’ll always be left wanting more - Byron Bay is a place travellers get hooked on.
FAST FACTS
Language: English
Currency: Australian Dollar
Electricity: 230V
Visas: Click here to see if you need a visa to enter Australia.
Dialling Code: +61
Time Zone: GMT +10:00
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Music
Music
Byron Bay becomes a mecca for blues and roots music for 5 days each April. Running for almost 3 decades, Bluesfest now attracts an audience of over 100,000 each year, with an inspiring line-up of local and international acts such as B.B.King, Ben Harper, and Lauryn Hill.
Fashion
Boasting Australia's biggest collection of naval and merchant ships, Ballina Naval & Maritime Museum is worth the 30-minute drive out of Byron. It is home to historical river boats and a working steam engine, also standing as a tribute to women in the Navy. Not forgetting a trip to Ballina also means visiting a 6-metre tall prawn.
Take a drive into the mountains on an excursion of art and history, visiting Muwillumbah's Tweed Regional Museum. Located in a historic, 100-year-old building that was once the region's Council Chambers, the museum tells the stories of the Tweed through over 10,000 objects and 8,000 photographs.
When a naughty treat and fresh Australian fruits collide, you know you are onto a good thing. Layers of meringue and whipped cream make for a textured dessert delight, topped with numerous berries, passionfruit and occasionally kiwifruit. Take a day trip to Mavis’s Kitchen by Mount Warning for homemade free-range egg pavlova you’ll dream of forever.
Best eaten at
Mavis’s Kitchen, 64 Mount Warning Rd, Uki NSW 2484
Traditionally this may be an Italian dish, but parmigiana has well and truly established itself as an Australian favourite. Settle yourself in at Byron's iconic beachfront pub for a slab of chicken lathered in a tomato sauce and topped with grilled cheese. Hot tip: The Aussies have abbreviated its name, look out for the word "parma" or "parmy" on pub menus.
Best eaten at
Beach Hotel, 1 Bay St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
There's nothing Australians love more than kicking off a day of outdoor adventures with a hearty breakfast. Join the crowd of locals at Bayleaf for a tempting menu featuring the likes of spiced rhubarb with yoghurt, pancakes covered in fresh berries and eggs with avocado in numerous variations.
Best eaten at
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