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Beyond Byron's Beaches

From Main Beach, where surfers catch waves at The Wreck, to Clarke’s Beach, to Watego’s and beyond, the Byron coast provides beaches to suit most wishes. There’s The Pass, where longboarders mix it with beginners; there’s Tallows Beach, Lennox Heads and Broken Head. And then, our family has our own secret beach, reached via a dirt road and a bush track, where we can have a whole cove to ourselves, with only a few surfers in the distance and some divers snorkelling off the rocks.

But when the waves have worn you out, there is so much on offer within just half an hour’s drive.

CAPE BYRON GIN DISTILLERY

A gin distillery, set on a macadamia farm surrounded by rainforest, serving gin-based cocktails–what a perfect start. Cape Byron Gin Distillery is only a 20-minute drive from Byron, and they are producing some of the best tasting gins in the world. Both their Brookie’s gins have taken out world gin awards this year at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirit Competition. Brookie’s dry gin has 26 botanicals, many sourced from the local rainforest, while the ‘Slow Gin’, made in the style of an English ‘sloe’ gin, has a distinctive pink colouring from the native Davidsonia plums used in its making.

The family-run distillery is open for tastings, and for distillery tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Try the watermelon spritz, made with Slow Gin, watermelon crush, lemon syrup and herbs. Not only refreshing, the Slow Gin has a lower alcohol content, making it my new go-to drink for summer.  


GET SOME RESORT STYLE

You may not be staying at the Byron Bay Resort, but you can still visit this restful and stylish space for some time out. Have a drink on their poolside deck or consider their fine dining degustation menu. Wander off through the 25 acres of rainforest while friendly staff mix up an aperol spritz, a whisky, or a craft beer, and come back to relax on the cosy couches.

There is also a day spa, offering treatments and massages, and yoga is on offer to both guests and locals at 6:45 am on Friday, Saturday, Monday & Tuesday ($25 per session or $150 for a 10 pass.)

Until the 30th of November, the “Spa Exclusive” package is available to guests and visitors, giving access to the day spa steam room, spa and pool.

BRUNSWICK HEADS

Brunswick Heads, just 15 minutes from Byron and set on the Brunswick River, is home to the famous Brunswick Heads Hotel, built in 1940, and now owned by John and Delvene CornelI. If you have any chance to be there on a Sunday night, make the most of a pub with a huge beer garden and a solid list of gigs. Last time we were there, we danced in the rain with a heaving mob to a world music-style techno band who were just back from touring Japan.

The town is now also home to one of the most impressive small restaurants in regional Australia. Fleet was recently awarded Two Hats in The Good Food Guide 2019. Josh Lewis and Astrid Turner started up the small 14-20 seat dining room after successful restaurant ventures in Victoria (Loam on the Bellarine Peninsula.) Fleet offers diners a chef’s menu filled with subtleties and inventiveness. Think: roasted celeriac, soured cream and bottarga; or a dessert of crispy onion and tarragon paired with liquorice and dandelion ice-cream. Astrid’s small and carefully curated drinks selection introduces the diner to wines from boutique organic winemakers or brewers from around the world. If you can’t get a booking, don’t be deterred by the months-long waitlist. It has come through for us twice now, due to cancellations on the day.



For those unable to get a seat at this highly sought after joint, Ethel, owned by the same crew, serves up salads in huge earthenware bowls for breakfast and lunch. You’ll also find take-home meals, deli provisions and coffee and cakes. And stay tuned for Astrid and Josh’s new venture: it’s Mexican and it’s due before the end of this year.

NEWRYBAR

Newrybar is a tiny little town, about 25 minutes from Byron Bay, but Harvest restaurant has made a huge mark on the food scene of the area. Take dinner on the verandah, or have whiskies and cocktails by the fire. With its bakery/cafe next door, you can stock up on smoked meats, cheeses and fresh salads, or stop on the deck and enjoy good coffee or juices.

Across the road, Newrybar Merchants has a cool collection of tenants ranging from bookstores, to furniture-makers to artists. For those who like to search through collectables, and browse locally made jewellery and furniture, Luther & Co also has a fine range. For fashion, the dependable and inspiring DriftLab has sorted me for many a summer.

BANGALOW

Bangalow, 20 minutes drive from Byron Bay, is another great stop for fabulous food and artisan products, with plenty of eating and shopping options along the main street. Established as a town in the 1880s, Bangalow was originally a camp for timber-cutters, and the pub has a lovely ambience. The town has an annual agricultural show in November, a bluegrass festival in August and there is even a billy cart festival in May. Monthly Markets are on the fourth Sunday of each month, and farmer’s markets are on every Saturday from 8am-11am.

OFF THE MAIN TRACK

Less than 15 minutes from town, The Farm is a former 80-acre dairy farm which now hosts a community of micro-producers committed to a philosophy of growing, educating and sharing their passion for sustainable farming. It is home to cattle, chicken, fruit and veggie gardens, and a produce store and restaurant, Three Blue Ducks. The restaurant is open seven days, with dinner Fridays and Saturdays, and they can also supply hampers at $100 to suit 2-4 people. Stroll the farm grounds and check out the animals while you’re there.

Byron Arts and Industry Estate is only 3km from town and is home to surfboard makers McTavish, design studios, artisan potters, coffee houses including AllPress, fashion outlets, homewares, Stone and Wood Brewery, candle-makers, teahouses and more. You can even get a haircut and beard trim at Thomas Surfboards which has a full barber service, brews a fine coffee and plays host to bands in the evenings. 100 Mile Table catering runs events using local produce from the Northern Rivers region, and they also open as a cafe from Monday to Friday, 7am–2pm.

Just outside the Arts and Industry Estate, a new addition to the local residential and retail hub is the Habitat precinct, where you’ll find homewares and design shops, and a new foodie favourite (with more Harvest connections), Barrio, They have a ‘Feed Me’ menu at $49 per head, for a minimum of 4 people. Menu options include chargrilled pork belly and charcoal chicken, with omelettes and corn bread for breakfast and hot sandwiches and sides on offer for lunch.

Might be time to head back to town. Yes, there’s more to Byron Beach than the waves. But to be honest, that’s what mainly keeps us coming back. I just can’t tell you where the ‘secret beach’ is, because maybe, just maybe, we can keep that as our own family hideaway. 


TIPS

Falls Festival Monday 31 December 2018 to 2 January 2019
Byron Writers Festival 2-4 August 2019
Byron Bay Blues Fest 18-22 April 2019

If you don’t have a car, the local bus service, Blanch’s, can take you around the Byron Shire, or try the local taxi service on 02 6685 5008.

Published online in Australian Traveller, 4 February 2019.







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