A Practical Guide To Byron Bay Without A Car

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Heading to Byron Bay without a car? Well, let me tell you, it is easily done! Let’s be honest, we all know, Australia is a big country, and sometimes it can be really hard to move around without a car as the distances are huge and the public transport system isn’t as it is in places such as Europe. However, Byron Bay is well connected, making it an easy stop for backpackers and tourists wishing to come and explore without a car.

In this post, I will be giving you all the tips and tricks of how to get to Byron Bay, what to do in Byron Bay without a car, walks in Byron Bay, cheap things to do in Byron Bay and Byron Bay things to do free.

This post is all about travelling to Byron Bay without a car.

How to get to Byron Bay without a car:

To get to Byron Bay without a car is actually pretty easy. The town is on the New South Wales coast of Australia and is easily connected by both plane and bus. Brisbane is 164km away, while Sydney is 759km away.

If you decide to fly into Byron Bay, you will need to fly into Ballina Byron Gateway Airport which is 35 minutes from Byron centre. To get from the airport to Byron you can use either buses or taxi service, see this link for more information.

Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is connected with some major Australian cities such as Melbourne and Sydney as well as airlines such as Qantas and Jetstar.

A cheaper way, if you are already ‘nearer’ Byron Bay, would be to take a bus. Greyhound buses connect Byron Bay with Surfer’s Paradise, Brisbane, Port Macquarie and more. This is a nice, cheap and convenient way to travel from place to place and is perfect for backpackers!

The bus will drop you off basically in the centre of town at the Byron Bay Interchange Bus Terminal which is just behind Jonson Street and the tourist information centre. From there, it will be very easy for you to walk wherever you need to go to get to your accommodation. 

12 Things to do in Byron Bay without a car:

Luckily Byron Bay is a very walkable town, and most things are easily accessed by foot. However, if you were wanting to travel further afield on the outskirts of town, this could also be possible as there are many places where you can rent bicycles. You will notice that many people bike around Byron Bay, making it faster to get around and also allowing you to go that little bit further.

On a side note, you would also get to use these cool bike racks.

All this being said, if you are wanting to visit Byron Bay without a car and you are wanting to see a lot of stuff, you must be prepared to walk a lot each day! A lot of these things to do in Byron Bay are also very cheap or even free activities.

If you don’t want to walk too far, here are some things you could do:

1. Check out my street art self-guided walking tour:

This self-guided walking tour, takes you around town to all the different street art in Byron Bay. It is a good way to spend the afternoon and is one of the things to do in Byron Bay free.

2. Check out some of the delicious eateries in the town centre:

There are many delicious cafes and restaurants all over Byron Bay. You could café hop and taste different flavours throughout the day. Check out my recommendations of the best cafes in Byron Bay here.

3. Check out the local markets:

Byron Bay and the surrounding area are known for their local markets. On a Thursday morning between 7am and 11am there is the Byron Bay farmers market where many farmers and local growers come and sell their local produce. You can find it at the Butler Street Reserve.

On a Saturday afternoon (4pm until 9pm), there is also the Twilight market which happens in the Railway Park opposite the visitor centre on Johnson Street. It sells local handicrafts and has an array of different types of street food making it a one of the cheap things to do in Byron Bay.  

4. Go on a day tour:

If you are wanting to visit something further afield, why not go on a day tour. There are many different tours available from many companies. They will pick you up from your accommodation or from a general meeting point in town and take you out of Byron Bay to explore the hinterland. Personally, I went on a daytrip to the hippie capital of Nimbin (which you can read about here), and this day trip to Minyon Falls (which you can read about here). I also took this shuttle bus service to Crystal Castle, but was able to go around at my leisure (you can read about the day here).

5.. Chill on the beach

The Main beach is at the very top of town, making it the perfect beach to go to if you do not want to walk far. It is a very long beach allowing you to find the perfect spot away from the crowds. There are also lifeguards on duty so you can feel safe while at the beach. This beach is also great as you can nip back into town if you want to grab something to eat before coming back to the beach afterwards. This is also one of the things to do in Byron Bay free.

6. Take a surf lesson:

Byron Bay is famous for surfing, so why not try out surfing in the crystal-clear waters of Byron Bay? There are many surf schools and shops all around Byron Bay which offer surf lessons, you can pop in and ask about the lessons and book directly. Alternatively, here are some options for surf lessons that you can also book ahead of time or online.

7. Try a yoga class:

Wanting to chill out and unwind a little while in Byron Bay? Well, a yoga lesson could be perfect for you. There are so many yoga studios in town, check out their websites for schedules and find one that suits you. You can also check out my blog post about relaxing things to do in Byron Bay if you are wanting to know more about yoga studios I personally would recommend. This could be one of the cheap things to do in Byron Bay.

8. Kayaking with dolphins:

Another very popular activity is to go and kayak with dolphins. Many of these companies also offer you a free return kayak if you don’t get to see the dolphins on your first attempt, however, it is quite common to see them most days. You can book directly along the main beach path, or check out these to book online.

9. Shopping:

Another thing to do in Byron Bay without a car would be to check out the wonderful shops that Byron Bay has to offer. Ranging from boutiques to eco-friendly, vegan shops to surf shops there is something for everyone!

If you are happy for a longer walk:

10. Walks in Byron Bay:

Byron Bay has many beautiful walks that you can do. Walking is always great, especially for the budget traveller as it allows you to see everything for free. That is why these walks could be great for things to do in Byron Bay free.

One of the most famous walks in Byron Bay is the Cape Byron Walking Track which runs from The Pass all the way to the Cape Byron lighthouse. You can also walk from the town to The Pass, it just adds a little bit more distance. However, the views are amazing during the whole walk.

It is also the perfect opportunity to turn into a whole day activity and beach hop around the bay. You can visit: Clarkes Beach, The Pass, Wategos, and Little Wategos.

You may even be lucky and see a koala or dolphins from the path so keep your eyes peeled.

11. Tallow’s Beach

Tallow’s Beach is another beautiful walk in Byron Bay. The beach stretches for 6.5km and backs onto some different reserves like the Byron Bay Recreation Reserve as well as National Parks like Arakwal.

By walking down Tallow Beach Road from town, you will arrive at “Cosy Corner”. You are then able to walk down the beach and into the National Parks/ Reserves. It offers beautiful scenery and with the beach being so big, it offers some peace and quiet away from the crowds.

12. Rent a bike for the day and head to The Farm.

The Farm is a real-life working farm that allows visitors to see, learn and experience farm life. There are animals, micro-businesses and crops that you can visit as well as beautiful flowers.

To get to The Farm without a car, you are going to need to rent a bicycle. As I have previously mentioned at the beginning of this article, there are many places where you can rent a bike in town. There is a cycle path the whole way from town making the journey safe. It is about 6.5km and when you arrive, you can look around the working farm, have a bite to eat in their delicious café and experience local produce.  

And there you have it, you can see that it is actually very easy to go to Byron Bay without a car and to see A LOT of things with no hassle.

I hope you have a fantastic time in Byron Bay, you explore and enjoy,

Love,

This post was all about Byron Bay without a car.