Byron Bay is the first place to see the sun in Australia and is a world-renowned destination for all things conscious. It is synonymous with healing, spirituality, nature, health and wellbeing.
Aboriginal elders say the land where Byron Bay lies has been used as a sacred healing ground for tens of thousands of years. This legacy for health and healing has lasted through the ages as it has long been famous for its alternative and holistic approach to living.
It is home to some of the best yoga studios, and meditation temples and has pristine nature everywhere you turn. There are beautiful healthy cafes and restaurants galore as well as healthy food and plenty of eco-friendly and sustainable brands to shop from. Everything Byron has to offer is also oh so aesthetically pleasing!
Byron Bay’s laid-back culture and heavenly landscape where the rainforest falls into the sea is a massive drawcard for those who are seeking to recharge their batteries, reconnect to nature and their inner self and ignite their soul.
This hippy haven is the perfect place to plan a conscious escape where you can enjoy all the incredible things Byron has to offer and leave in a much better way than when you arrive.Byron Bay remains a sanctuary to escape from the modern world for many to receive healing and rejuvenation.
If you, like many others, feel the draw to visit Byron Bay for a spiritual adventure where you can consciously escape reality, here are some of the best places to visit.
View over Byron Bay
Activities to do
Visit Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens
Crystal Castle is a magical place to explore and to also purchase crystals and other spiritual items. There is so much to do at Crystal Castle, it is almost like a spiritual theme park!
There is a retail shop and cafe but there is a beautiful rainforest walk with impossible large crystals on display, including an amethyst that you can lie down in! The tallest crystal in the world is here which is a 5.5-metre high smokey quartz geode!
There is a labyrinth, an enchanted cave, a world peace stupa, a reflexology walk to massage the feet and a buddha walk. They also host crystal singing bowl sound healing events. The World Peace Stupa is one of only seven in the whole world. Its purpose is to restore balance and harmony on earth in times of turmoil, making this a very special place.
Crystal Mountain is the perfect place to quiet the mind and become completely present with the beauty and soothing energies created here. This is a paradise for anyone who has a liking for nature, mindfulness, the earth and crystals!
Crystal Castle is an outside venue so it is best visited on a sunny day! A day pass to Crystal Castle costs $49AUD.
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Go swimming in Tea Tree Lake
If there was one place in the world that had a lake that was naturally infused with essential oils, it would be Byron Bay! Tea Tree Lake is infused with tea tree oil from the surrounding tea teas.
The oil gives the lake its unique colour and it is wonderful for your skin. The Lake is located in Lennox Head around 25 minutes from Byron Bay via car. It is worth visiting Lennox Head for the day as it has a beautiful beach and some amazing cafes to visit.
Discover the secret beach on the Three Sisters Walking Track
The secret about Byron Bay is well and truly out! This means that it attracts big numbers of people, especially in summer which translates to crowded beaches. However, there is a small secret beach you can find in Byron Bay for peace and tranquillity (that hardly anyone knows about!).
To find the little beach, head to the Three Sisters Walking track in Broken Head, just 10 minutes from Byron Bay’s centre. Once you read the end, keep going. After walking a bit further you will stumble across this secret little beach to get away from the busyness of the main beach.
There are many smaller beaches and bays to explore in Broken Head such as Kings Beach, Brays Beach and Whites Beach.
Broken Head Beach
Adventure to Minyon Falls
One of the best ways to connect with Byron Bay is to go on an adventure to swim under Minyon Falls. The Minyon Falls are one of the most beautiful falls in NSW and swimming in the pool at the bottom is the most profound way to experience their power and height.
From the lookout at the top of the falls, walk down the base through a stunning rainforest. This walk is worth doing in its own right and when combined with a swim in the falls, it makes for a spectacular trip.
Visit the famous lighthouse for sunrise
And be the first to see the sun in Australia! There is no doubt that rising early to witness the sunrise is never regretted. The peace and tranquillity of the quiet morning air combined with the beautiful hues in the sky as the change and we welcome in a new day can certainly be a spiritual experience!
This experience can be made even more special by watching the sun rise above the sea horizon to the east while sitting underneath the beautiful Cape Byron Lighthouse. The vista from the Lighthouse is breathtaking and will make for a sunrise that you will never forget.
Go dolphin spotting on a kayak
One thing that Byron Bay is known for, is the abundance of dolphins in its sea. A visit to Byron may be your chance to get up close to dolphins in a conscious way from the safety of a kayak.
Dolphins are incredible creatures, and being able to witness them and even connect with them in the wild can be a life-altering event. You may even spot turtles and humpback whales while out on the water during the annual migration through the waters of Byron Bay.
Cape Byron Kayaks is so confident that you will spot dolphins or whales that if you don’t, you will get another trip for free!
Get a massage at comma
Comma is an iconic place to go for a massage. If you want to experience a deep release of stored tension, toxins and even emotions while in Byron Bay, then getting a massage should be on your list. Slip into a deep state of relaxation and give yourself the gift of pure indulgence.
Comma “a modern Australian massage experience” is a beautiful spa located in the heart of Byron Bay. They offer a unique range of holistic massages with names such as “Equilibrium”, “The Vessel” and “The Last Resort”, to give you an idea. Going to Comma is a whole experience in itself!
Source: Comma
Find your zen at a yoga class at Byron Yoga Centre
Yoga and Byron Bay go hand in hand. You simply cannot go to Byron Bay and not do yoga! There are several stunning yoga studios in Byron Bay so there will be a class to suit your needs, whether you are a complete beginner or after something a bit more niche.
Harness the hippie spiritual vibes that are abundant in Byron by getting on your mat, even if it’s out of your comfort zone. Tune out of the external world and tune in to yourself by treating yourself to a yoga class while you are staying in Byron Bay. Even better, try and go every morning! Hit an amazingly healthy cafe afterwards (see below!) to charge your body with even more good vibrations.
Byron Yoga Centre is an established studio in Byron Bay that offers an array of classes and even its own unique style of yoga called Purna yoga created by Byron resident, John Ogilvie. Byron Yoga Centre’s daily classes offer a wonderfully accessible yoga experience. They have many other offerings including yoga retreats, wellness retreats and teaching trainings for serious yogis!
More yoga studios in Byron Bay.
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Practice meditation at The Temple
Another amazing way to get in touch with your inner self and experience something conscious is to try a meditation class. The Temple is the perfect place to do just this in Byron Bay. The Temple hosts regular meditation classes in a beautifully calming space. Get ready to find a whole new layer of connection with yourself.
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Where to Stay
Bayview Beachfront apartments
Bayview Beachfront Apartments Bayview Beachfront Apartments are the ideal place to stay if you’re looking for an affordable relaxing beach retreat that is also in the heart of Byron Bay. Have Byron Bay at your fingertips while also feeling like you are staying at a beach resort!
Bayview is located directly across the road from Byron Bay Main Beach and is a short walk to all of the cafes, restaurants and shops in downtown Byron Bay. Bayview offers self-contained 1 and 2-bedroom apartments overlooking a luxe pool and the beachfront!
Source: byronbay.com
Elements of Byron Bay
Elements of Byron Bay is the ultimate wellness resort! Elements have everything you could possibly need within their premises and yet are a stone's throw away from everything Byron Bay has to offer. At Elements you get the best of both worlds: The ability to have a wellness retreat experience without leaving the hotel AND the ability to explore the surrounding areas and attractions easily.
Osprey Spa is located onsite and offers a full range of massages, facials, beauty treatments and even freshly blended smoothies in a serene setting. They offer daily Beachfront Yoga each morning with a stunning view of the ocean and surrounding nature around Belongil Beach!
The onsite restaurant, Azure Bar and Grill has an excellent array of fresh and healthy food to keep you vibrant during your stay. Azure is also well known for its pizza (which doesn’t always have to be junk food!).
Elements also offer two pools, a Mexican bar, a more ranch offers a 5-day wellness program, fitness classes and guided rainforest walks. When you sign up for the wellness program you have full flexibility to participate in the activities you choose or do your own thing. There is no strict timetable here!
Source: Osprey Spa
Soma Byron Bay Retreat Centre
Soma Byron Bay is the ultimate luxury retreat escape located 10 minutes from the centre of Byron Bay. This wellness retreat is on 22 acres of lush rainforest!Soma is an ancient Vedic word stemming from India and it means nectar of the gods. It represents reaching a state of peace and contentment as a result of accessing meditative states. It ultimately represents the bliss of all existence!
With that, you know this retreat centre is going to offer you something very special. Soma Byron Bay was created by meditation and mindfulness expert, Gary Gorrow, so you know this is the place to come if you’re wanting to connect to your inner self and your spiritual side (in a super-luxe way!).
Experience Soma by joining one of their Vedic meditation, coaching and consciousness-expanding retreats, which you can also try online to get a taste of these teachings before investing in an in-person retreat.
Source: Soma Byron Bay
The Krishna Village
Krishna Village is an eco-friendly yoga retreat also located in the Byron Bay hinterland an hour's drive from Byron Bay. This retreat centre focuses on creating a sustainable, spiritually focused yogic lifestyle. The Krishna Village is located at the bottom of a farm on the Oxley River. This is the place to fully immerse yourself in a traditional yoga ashram-style retreat, where you leave the outside world (including Byron Bay) behind!Facilities are basic, in line with their ashram-style retreat centre with communal bathrooms and facilities.
The Krishna Village allows you to create your own unique retreat with no rigid schedule. Mix and match classes and other activities yourself. They offer onsite courses in yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, reiki, acupressure and permaculture if you want to deepen your knowledge and take some useful skills away with you.
Your stay includes three vegetarian leans a day and two yoga classes daily. Krishna Village offers an affordable option (from just $60 per night!) for a retreat stay and they also have volunteer and exchange opportunities available. Stay here for a few days or a few months and become a part of the yogic community!
Source: Krishna Village
Browse Airbnb for the perfect stay
There are a vast number of incredible accommodation options on Airbnb for all budgets. If you’d like the flexibility to do your own thing and have your own space while in Byron Bay, Airbnb is an amazing option. Find an apartment somewhere in the centre of town or a beautiful house in the Hinterland. The options are endless and simply stunning.
Where to eat
Many incredible cafes and restaurants in Byron Bay serve up local, healthy and of course beautiful food in Byron Bay. Here are our top picks.
FOLK
FOLK is your home for organic, plant-based food with excellent coffee on the outskirts of the centre of town. This is the perfect place to refuel with a nourishing, healthy and ethical brunch!
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Combi
Combiis an iconic cafe in the heart of Byron Bay’s town centre. Combi is a beach-themed cafe specialising in raw food, smoothies, beautiful superfood bowls and raw vegan treats. Indulge in a beautiful setting without any guilt! You’ll leave Combi feeling like a healthier, better version of yourself.
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The Cardamom Pod
The Cardamom Pod was established in 2001 and is Byron Bay’s original vegetarian restaurant. They have been serving vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and raw cuisine that is also affordable. The Cardamom Pod is aligned with the Hare Krishna movement and serves delightful Indian food prepared with the purest of consciousness and devotion.
Source: Instagram
Where to Shop
Byron Bay is a hub for conscious brands. There is an abundance of incredible places to shop for sustainable, eco-friendly and ethical clothing, food and other products.
Visit the local markets
Byron Bay is home to many different local markets that sell an array of things from fresh produce to locally made clothing and decor. Byron Bay Community Market is on every month and sells a huge array of stalls selling spiritual fares such as handmade dreamcatchers, organic food, incense and homemade clothes.
The Byron Bay Farmers Market is an amazing market to stock up on locally grown organic produce and delicious food. This market is held weekly! In the summer season from October to April there is also a Twilight Market every Saturday night which has live music and stalls selling treasures such as clothes and jewellery.
Spending your money at local markets is a conscious way to travelin Byron Bay as you will be supporting local business owners and creatives. Plus you may come away with something unique that you will always cherish.
Other conscious places to shop in Byron Bay
- Opia Byron Bay - Ethically made clothing from natural fibres with a vision for a more sustainable future.
- Spell Byron Bay- For the ultimate luxury bohemian clothes.
- Afends - Pioneers in sustainable hemp clothing with streetwear style edge.
- Zulu & Zephyr - Simple sustainable clothing and swimwear that is timeless and very high quality
Top left - Opia Byron Bay, top right - Spell, bottom left - Afends, bottom right - Zulu & Zephyr