Byron Bay, New South Wales
Byron Bay is a small town located on the Northern New South Wales coast in Australia. Cape Byron is the eastern most point of the Australian mainland and a section of the ocean walking track is signposted to signify the eastern most point.
History
Byron Bay's European history dates back to James Cook in 1770 who found safe anchorage in the bay and named Cape Byron after a fellow sailor, John Byron. Logging of Australia Red Cedar was the first industry in the Byron Bay area and in 1895 the Norco Co-op was formed to manage the cold storage from the expanding dairy industry in the area. In 1901 the towns iconic lighthouse was built on Cape Byrons most easterly point. Surfers started coming to the town in the 1960s and thus began the towns reputation as a tourism destination.
Byron Bay Today
Byron Bay quickly developed into a known 'hippy, alternative' town and 'free-spirits' can still be found in the towns central park area. I visit Byron Bay regularly to surf and relax. There are many well known surf-breaks in the town. The Pass is a long point break wave popular with longboarders and Tallow's Beach provides punchy beach break waves that catches any southerly swell.
The Pass - Byron Bay - Source
There is a wonderful walk that traverses Cape Byron. It is quite steep and challenging in sections but provides stunning views of the ocean and passing whales during the migration season.
One of the more interesting Byron Bay events is the annual 'Naked Bike Ride'. I happened to be visiting the day of the ride one year and was shocked to come out of the Railway Bar and be confronted by many naked bodies clamouring onto bikes and riding off into the town. This is just one of the many strange and interesting events the Byron Bay hosts each year.
Byron Bay is a wonderful town that has become very popular with tourists. Weekends can bring traffic gridlock when you try and enter the town and the increase in visitors during the past decade has taken some of the uniqueness of the town away.
If you have never been to Byron Bay, then I highly recommend a visit. Its beaches are stunning and the allure of the towns culture does have a fascinating attraction for visitors to the area.
Thanks for reading.
