Location
Byron Bay is based in northern New South Wales about 170 km south of Brisbane & 790km north of Sydney.

History
Captain James Cook sailed up the coast in 1770 & as he past the most easterly point of Australia he decided to name it Cape Byron after Vice-Admiral John Byron who was the grandfather of the famous 19th century poet Lord Byron.
The town of Byron itself was originally called Cavaba which is thought to be from the Aboriginal term of 'meeting place'. But in 1828 Captain HJ Rous renamed it to Byron Bay.
European timber cutters settled in the area in the 1840s and from then on the town had a slow change to a whaling station & then a dairy town - both now long gone. Today the town is a popular destination for international travellers & Australians that want a break from city life

The world famous Byron Bay is a very popular & safe tourist destination with international travellers and Australians alike. It's only a 10 minute drive from Lennox Head and is renowned for it's surfing beaches, beautiful scenery and great nightlife - you can see bands play for free every night in one of the many famous bars or nightclubs.

Cape Byron is Australia's most easterly point located on the far north coast of New South Wales. It is close to the Gold Coast and Brisbane which are just over the Queensland border.

There is always plenty to do in the Byron Bay region; there's the local markets every Sunday filled with colourful stalls that sell everything from gifts & clothing to food and plants. There are many cafes and restaurants for all tastes and budgets and a huge range of activities from surfing, SCUBA diving, kayaking, sky diving to climbing mountains or a relaxing yoga lesson. See our business directory for more details.

Byron Bay also hosts international events such as the famous Blues & Roots festival and Splendour in the Grass - attracting some of the worlds best musicians and bands. Headliners in recent events include, REM, James Brown, Jack Jonson, Powder Finger, More Chiba, John Butler Trio & Ben Harper. See the events calendar for more details
As well as the great bands, famous visitors to Byron Bay include superstars like Nicole Kidman, Russel Crowe, Richard Branson, Cameron Diaz, Meg Ryan & Tom Cruise, all coming to enjoy Byron Bay's famous lifestyle. 

Overlooking the picturesque seaside town of Byron Bay is the Cape Byron Lighthouse. The historic lighthouse was built in 1901 and has one of the most powerful beams in the southern hemisphere- it flashes every 15 seconds over a range of 27 nautical miles.
There is a wonderful coastal walking trail from the town to the lighthouse (about 5km) - this is a must for all visitors. Once you get to the top of the Cape you will be treated to breathtaking views over Byron Bay and Julian Rocks Marine Reserve. There's also a chance to spot the local dolphins or a special treat is the migrating Humpback whales from June to October.