 Byron Bay with sugar cane burning in the distance Byron Bay is a town in the state of New South Wales on the eastern most point of the mainland of Australia. The population of the Byron Shire Local Government Area is in excess of 30,000 people (ABS estimate 2003).
Byron Bay is located about 800 km north of Sydney and 200 km south of Brisbane. Cape Byron, a headland adjacent to the town, is the eastern-most point of the continent of Australia. The Cape Byron Lighthouse was opened in 1901, and is one of the most powerful beacons in Australia. The town has several beautiful beaches and it is a resort popular with both domestic and international tourists and is a favourite town for backpackers who travel along the Australian coast.
The town has a laid back and friendly atmosphere where recreational drug use is accepted and a part of town life. There are many pubs and bars, and many alternative lifestyle events including yoga retreats, pagan gatherings and all night dance raves. At Easter it hosts the East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival, the largest blues festival in Australia. During the winter months (June-August in the southern hemisphere), whales swim past Byron Bay making it a favourite destination for wildlife lovers. Most common are the Humpback whales but many other species are also to be found making their annual sojourn to the north.
Julian Rocks, only two kilometers off shore offers some of the best SCUBA Diving Australia has to offer. With tropical and temperate currents converging it is one of the top spots to dive with leopard sharks in summer and grey nurse sharks in winter. Three different species of sea turtles can be encountered on a single dive.
There is a very strong community feeling in Byron and resistance to capitalism's inroads has been strong. An attempt to open a franchise of McDonalds failed.
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