The Best Beaches in Byron Bay: A Local's Guide for Picnics & Sunsets

Byron Bay has a way of making every beach feel like the one you've been looking for. As an Australian brand based in Byron, we've spent more sunsets, picnics and salty afternoons on these stretches of sand than we can count — and we have strong opinions about which beaches earn their reputation and which ones quietly deserve more attention.

Whether you're chasing dolphins at dawn, the perfect picnic spot, or a sunset that makes your camera roll cry, here's the local's shortlist.

1. Main Beach — the easy classic

Right on the doorstep of town, Main Beach is the busiest stretch in Byron — and for good reason. Patrolled by lifeguards, framed by grassy lawns and footsteps from the cafés on Jonson Street, it's the easy choice when you want a beach day without a plan.

Best for: Families, first-timers, post-coffee swims. Picnic notes: The grassy reserve at the back of the sand is ideal for laying out a blanket without worrying about the tide. Shade is limited at midday — bring an umbrella.

2. Wategos Beach — picnic perfection

If we had to pick one beach in Byron for a picnic, it'd be Wategos. Tucked beneath the headland on the north side of Cape Byron, this gentle, north-facing crescent is sheltered from southerly winds and warmer than most beaches in the area. Dolphins are regulars in the bay, and the water stays calm enough to float on for hours.

Best for: Long lazy picnics, calm swims, sunrise. Picnic notes: The grassy lawn behind the sand has scattered shade trees and is perfect for a blanket. Parking is limited — arrive early or walk down from the lighthouse track.

3. The Pass — for surfers and people-watchers

Famous for its long, peeling right-hand point break, The Pass is where Byron's surf culture lives. Even if you don't surf, it's worth a visit just to watch — the lineup at sunrise looks like a postcard.

Best for: Sunrise swims, watching surfers, photographers. Picnic notes: The grass picnic area looks straight out over the break. A spot here in the late afternoon is hard to beat.

4. Clarkes Beach — quieter than Main, easier than Wategos

Tucked between Main Beach and The Pass, Clarkes is the locals' middle ground. Quieter than Main, more accessible than Wategos, with the same gentle waves and a long stretch of sand for walking.

Best for: Families with younger kids, longer swims, mid-morning beach days. Picnic notes: The grassy area at the back is broad and shaded in places — one of the better picnic-on-grass spots in Byron.

5. Tallow Beach — wild and uncrowded

Drive ten minutes south of town and you'll find Tallow Beach — seven kilometres of unbroken sand backed by Arakwal National Park. The surf is bigger, the wind is wilder, and you can walk for an hour without seeing more than a handful of people.

Best for: Long walks, dramatic photos, escaping the crowds. Picnic notes: No grass, just dunes — bring an umbrella and a sand-resistant blanket. Swim only at the patrolled section near Cosy Corner; rips can be strong elsewhere.

6. Belongil Beach — the relaxed northern stretch

Heading west from Main Beach, Belongil is the long, dog-friendly stretch the locals love. Quieter, more relaxed, and home to some of Byron's best informal sunset gatherings.

Best for: Sunset picnics, dog walkers, slower afternoons. Picnic notes: Sand-only — a beach blanket with weighted corners or sand pegs is essential.

7. Broken Head — worth the drive

Twenty minutes south of Byron, Broken Head is a sequence of secluded coves backed by tropical rainforest. Whites Beach and Kings Beach (down the southern track) are postcard-quiet — you might have a whole cove to yourself.

Best for: Adventurous picnics, photography, escaping the Byron buzz. Picnic notes: No facilities, no shops — bring everything. The walks down are short but steep, so pack light.

What to bring for a Byron beach picnic

Years of beach days here have taught us a few things about what actually matters in your picnic kit:

• A sand-free blanket. Towels accumulate sand fast — a proper beach blanket made from quick-dry materials lets sand fall through and shake out cleanly.
• An umbrella with sand pegs. Byron's coastal breeze is gentle most days, but a flying umbrella ruins a picnic instantly. Sand pegs anchor it deep where sandbags slide.
• Reef-friendly sunscreen. Cape Byron Marine Park surrounds the bay — keep it clean.
• After sun oil. Even moderate sun on bare shoulders adds up. Apply when you get home for skin that recovers fast.
• Reusables. Pack out everything you bring in.

For a complete list, see our beach day packing list.

When to go

Byron's beaches are at their best from October through March, but the in-between months — April, September — can be quieter, warmer in the water than you'd expect, and free of crowds. Sunrise is a religion here; if you've never seen the sun come up over Cape Byron, put it on the list.

A final thought

There's no wrong beach in Byron. Each of these stretches offers something different — but they all reward slowing down. Lay out the blanket. Plant the umbrella. Watch the day go by. That's the Byron way.