Article by An anonymous Byron Surfer
With so many kilometres of coastline, Australia has thousands of beaches so you’d expect Byron Bay’s beaches to be pretty much the same as anywhere else right? Anyone whose spent some time on the beaches of Byron Bay will tell you, that all beaches are not made equal.
Main Beach
Starting from main beach, you have a North facing Bay which generally has a small shore break with some larger waves breaking further out. It pays to be a bit careful here if you are a body surfer, eating sand after getting is not so fun and it’s not real safe either The grassy knoll at the above the beach is a great place for a picnic, fish and chips or a barbecue and there are is newly built playground for the kids.. The sand is wide, and even on the busiest of days there is plenty of room.
Sunset on the rock wall you will find many people watching the day end, often there will be drummers and musicians, especially on Byron Market Days.
Clark's Beach
A short walk East up the beach, and you arrive at Clark’s beach. The break here is even smaller as you move into the most sheltered part of the bay. The beach itself is even wider here and there is often a filled with all sorts of creatures to explore. The two dolphin kayaking companies usually launch from this corner as it makes for the easiest progression out to sea... and the novice surfers are taken here for lessons by the many Byron Bay Surfing School operators.
The Beach cafe has been done up and serves lush eats breakfast lunch and dinner. There are showers and toilets and the parking is free (um, it ain’t no more in town folks if you’ve not been for a while) There is a little kiddie park, but it’s a bit lame with no shade and few play options.
The Pass
Continue on around and you come to the pass. Without doubt its one of the Bay’s most popular surfing spots so if its midsummer and you like a quiet wave, this is not the place to go. There is almost always a gnarly sweep about 75metres of the beach so a lot of surfers jump in off the rocks instead of paddling out. It’s common to see 2 or 3 places where waves are breaking, and the larger ones will break in all three sections providing a long right hand right.
Closer in to shore its safe and shallow waters for at least 50 metres, often more at high tide so it’s a great spot for those not confidant in the water. Expect to see lots of learner surfers in close, especially youngsters on foamies and boogie boards. It’s a very gentle break nothing like the shore dump round at main beach.
There are tables, barbecues facilities and shows at the top of the stairs. The tables at the pass are perhaps the best spot to eat a barbecue dinner whilst watching the sunset, over both the ocean and the mountain range..... a rare sight on the east coast and only possible with a North facing bay. There is some parking, but not much and you do need to pay. There is a grassy area behind the car park which is ideal for a kid’s birthday party, and there is also a short nature walk.
Wategos
Keep travelling east around the cape and you arrive at Wategos. Northwest facing, this is the playground of the rich and famous. And the poor and not very famous. Byron bay is a largely classless society, and you will find all types at Wategos. You’ll see Porsches and Ferraris parked beside Fords and Hyundais in the car park. Free undercover barbecue facilities and plenty of picnic tables make Wategos another ideal spot for an early dinner... The sun sets a bit earlier here as it’s in the shadow of a hill and if there is wind about, there is sure to be more at Wategos.
If you are a long boarder, this is the place to be as the waves are crummblers and go forever across the beach, and the paddle out to is often far indeed.
Little Wategos
The last beach this side of the cape is Little Wategos. It’s one of the best fishing spots for all types of fish.... jewfish are caught here and tailor by the bucketful when they are on. If you are looking for a fish, all around the lighthouse there are good spots but be sure to check in with the fishing shops for details as to where you can and can’t fish... Byron Bay is a marine park and some areas are off limits.
Tallow Beach
Round the cape to Tallow Beach, starting from Cosy corner and going for several miles till you get to Broken Head. I love Tallow beach (I live right beside it) but it’s a lot bigger, rougher surf as its east facing. Cosy corner usually has a good left hander, and there is an awesome rip right in the corner of the beach that surfers use to get out into the action.
Halfway to Broken head, the four legged friend are allowed on the beach, and expect to find many of them. There are two tea tree lakes as well, though one of them is a bit stinky.....
Belongil Beach and the Wreck
Click your heels together and arrive back at Main Beach and instead look left, not right. Directly out from the break wall, there is a wreck that at low tide is only 50 metres off shore and it’s fantastic to snorkel on. So many varieties of fish it’s like a wildlife show and I’ve never snorkelled there and not seen a turtle.
On the other side of the rock wall you are at the start of Belongil beach. Directly out is another wreck, and a right hand surf break, funnily enough called the Wreck. Some smart cookie decided building a rock wall to protect the caravan park from dropping into the ocean was a good idea and as a result sand that would normally deposit on Belongil beach is instead diverted out to sea. You can snorkel along the underwater sand wall. Not great for Belongil landowners whose houses will shortly be dropping into the ocean...... but the resulting sand formation does make for a good break in a spot that would otherwise have the same little shore break as main beach.
Lots of Belongil beach is dog off lead friednly so if you are a cat, don’t go here. Keep going West..... and you’ll soon be travelling North as the Bay swings around. Its many miles to Brunswick Heads but it is a doable walk. There is a nude beach along the way so if you do feel to continue past the Belongil houses... don’t forget to pack lots of extra sunscreen.
Byron Bay Surfing - Surf Spots Breakdown
Learn to Surf in Byron Bay
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