Best Beaches In & Near Byron Bay

By The Beach Guide | Last Updated: September 18, 2023

Just across the border from Queensland, tucked in behind the most easterly point in mainland Australia, is Byron Bay, the perfect beach town. Cape Byron offers a something of a dramatic backdrop with the lush lighthouse-topped headland dropping down to a curve of near-white sand that stretches off into the distance.

Over the years Byron Bay has established itself of something of a backpacker and surfer mecca with its laid back vibe and world-class waves. But you don't need to surf to appreciate this slice of paradise - as long as you are a fan of unspoilt natural beauty and relaxing as a way of life then Byron is for you.

To be honest there is no such thing as a bad beach anywhere nearby. The selection below are just our personal favourite beaches in Byron Bay.

2. Byron Bay Main Beach

© Karl Lundholm

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 0.5 hrs

Byron Bay is situated in the far north of New South Wales and on the very eastern tip of Australia - Cape Byron is the easternmost point of mainland Australia. This small beach town was put on the tourism map back in the 1970s when it was on the hippy trail later becoming a popular backpacker destination. It is to a large extent the legacy of Byron's early days that… read more »
3. Little Wategos Beach

Kpravin2

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 0.5 hrs

Sitting in the shadow of the 100 metre high Cape Byron headland, Little Wategos is the most easterly beach in Australia. The beach can be accessed by a set of steps and a track which lead away from the main Byron Bay Lighthouse walk.
Being one of the less accessible beaches in Byron Bay means Little Wategos is a great get-away spot. It's only about 150 metres in length but it… read more »
4. Wategos Beach

Will Ellis

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 0.5 hrs
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5. Belongil Beach

© Bex Walton

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 0.5 hrs

Byron Bay's Belongil Beach sits on a sandbar which runs for 2.5 kilometres from Main Beach car park to the mouth of Belongil Creek. On its opposite side is Tyagarah Beach.
Less crowded than Main Beach, Belongil Beach is generally considered a good place to swim and otherwise enjoy the water, with lifeguard patrols at its southern end between the red and yellow flags.
Its expansive stretch of sand is a… read more »
6. Clarkes Beach

Visions of Domino

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 0.5 hrs
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7. Tallow Beach

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 0.5 hrs
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8. Lighthouse Beach

Martin7d2

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 0.5 hrs

Located in the popular seaside resort of Ballina, Lighthouse Beach is a gorgeous expanse of clean golden sand stretching northeast from North Creek to Ballina Head. The beach takes its name from the Richmond River Lighthouse which overlooks the north end of the beach.
Lighthouse Beach only came into existence in the early 1900s after the entrance walls to the Richmond River were built. It caused the bay to fill with… read more »
9. Broken Head Beach

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 0.5 hrs
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10. Cabarita Beach

Cabarita Beach

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 1 hr
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11. Shelly Beach

Martin7d2

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 0.5 hrs
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12. Dreamtime Beach

© Daniel Pink / CC BY

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 1 hr

Sitting to the south of the little headland of Fingal Head, near the NSW/Queensland border, is the beautiful 5km stretch of golden sand known as Dreamtime Beach. The beach here is a different world to the busier, more developed Fingal beach on the other side of the scrubby headland with Tweed Heads and the Gold Coast beyond.
The beach's name harks back to a time when the indigenous Minjungbal people laid… read more »
13. Currumbin Beach

© Daniel Jurin

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 1 hr

With its crystal clear waters and sparkling white sands, Currumbin in South East Queensland is regularly voted the state's cleanest beach.
Surfers flock from far and wide to ride the waves here, and there are a handful of surf schools dotted along the beach which cater for everyone, from beginners taking their first lessons to experienced surfers looking to escape the crowds across the Tweed River.
Loads of other watersports get practiced… read more »
15. Burleigh Heads

Simon Morris

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 1 hr

Sitting neatly between the better known resort of Surfers Paradise to the north and Coolangatta to the south, Burleigh Heads Beach is a top choice for those looking for golden sand and good surf. The largely protected waters are good for swimming and surfing around the headland, which is within the Burleigh Heads National Park.
Burleigh is one of the most consistent surf spots on the Gold Coast… read more »
16. Palm Beach

Simon Morris

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 1 hr

Sandwiched between Burleigh Heads and Tallebudgera Creek on the north end and Currumbin Point to the south, Palm Beach is a popular patrolled beach on Queensland's glorious Gold Coast.
The sandy beach extends for about 4km (2.5 miles) parallel to the busy Gold Coast Highway 200m to the west. Park on one of the many side streets and direct beach access is easy.
Along much of the beach there… read more »
17. Duranbah Beach

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 1 hr

Dee-bah as it's known to the locals is the most northerly of New South Wales' many beaches. In fact, it's so close to the Queensland border that you can walk up to the headland here in just a couple of minutes, and find yourself in a different timezone.
The beach is a bit of a geographical lash up; set on the Queensland side of the Tweed River it is part of… read more »
18. Coolangatta Beach

Kgbo

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 1 hr
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19. Kirra Beach

© Nathan Cowley

Travel time from Byron Bay: approx 1 hr

An urban beach found in the neighbourhood of Coolangatta, part of Queensland's Gold Coast, Kirra Beach is a relaxed and down to earth destination that continues to exude the surf vibe that made it famous around the world.
Beyond its globally-renowned breaks, suitable for intermediate and expert boarders, protection from southerly winds means Kirra Beach is also a great place to go for a swim, or strap on scuba gear and… read more »