A relaxing escape to Byron Bay

Friday, February 12, 2021

When I first dreamt of my honeymoon, I visualised an adventurous world trip covering plenty of countries and ticking off tonnes of bucket list items. Alas, with coronavirus, it was not meant to be. Then we tried to book a trip to Tasmania, hoping instead for an interstate adventure. But with a Christmas outbreak in our state, that too was not meant to be.

But as they say, third time's a charm! We headed to blissful Byron Bay for our honeymoon and got lucky that the beautiful Elements of Byron Bay resort was somehow available at such short notice. Given the influx of local Australian travel this year, I still am surprised we managed to secure a booking. Although, not the trip I had originally hoped for, our little getaway in this beautiful coastal town was the perfect way to unwind after a hectic 12 months. 

Below is everything we got upto!

MUST DO WHEN IN BYRON

Sunrise at the Byron Bay Lighthouse - If there is one thing you must do in Byron, its catching the sunrise at the Lighthouse. Yes a sunset is nice but sunrise at the most easterly point of mainland Australia? Trust me, it's worth it! You can walk it or take the car straight to the lighthouse carpark. Both are fine options but if taking the car, make sure to get there early as the parking gets full. And do not forget snacks!

WHERE TO STAY

Elements of Byron - If you want to do Luxury in Byron, then nothing can beat Elements of Byron. The resort specialises in individual villas, with some connected to the beach, which is where we caught this beautiful sunset. Start your day with a dip in the lagoon pool and some brekky from the kiosk or end your evening with a relaxing dip in the heated spa followed by pizzas by the poolside firepit. If the pool is not your thing then take a walk at the connected Belongil beach followed by drinks and pizza by the beach or a more leisurely dinner at the Azure Bar and Grill. 

Other Areas to Explore in Byron

Crystal castle - With crystals being all the rage now and COVID having us all down and out, the peace and serenity in this place is wonderful to experience. Reserve a couple of hours to walk around in peace and then grab some lunch at their Lotus Cafe. I walked away feeling very recharged, and with a beautiful new citrine crystal cluster in my hand.


Bangalow - Just 20 min drive from Byron, this town is great for a change of scenery. The well preserved town is full of artisan shops, boutiques, antiques and art. We stopped by  Red Ginger, a gorgeous Asian takeaway store serving some delicious yum cha dumplings.
 

Nimbin - There are several cute towns just 15 mins from Byron but this town about 1 hour away is in a league of its own. If you think Byron is a hippy town then wait till you see Nimbin. Be ready to be bombarded by Bob Marley posters, rainbow coloured shops, peace signs and slogans like "overgrow the government". You'll find all sorts of hemp products from hemp clothes to hats to ice cream. It's a whole lot of strange but packed into a very short street. There isn't exactly much to do but the fact that such a town exists in Australia and all the hemp shops share the street with the police station is an experience in itself. Besides, it'll make you curious and get you googling the fascinating history of this town. On a side note, Nimbin is also regarded as the Anti-Vaxx capital of Australia... so make of that what you will.



Solar Train - If you're a bit of a tech nerd, then check out the world's first ever solar powered train! Its a 1949 heritage train, beautifully restored to run between Byron town centre and North Beach Station. Its a short trip and a fun way into the town.

Shop till you drop! - There are plenty of unique, local boutiques and nothing makes for a better souvenir than indulging in some local fashion. Think flowy dresses and skirts, lots of linens and never-ending bikini and surf shops. From Spell & the Gypsy Collective to Kivari, all the boutiques are gorgeous with their interiors and make for a fun day of shopping. 

Catch a sunset - Byron is all about beaches and relaxing so don't forget to catch one to end a tiring day of shoppingThe colourful skies at twilight are the perfect backdrop to an evening stroll. We caught ours at the Main Beach.

WHERE TO EAT 

The Farm - As the name suggests, it's a fully functional farm where you can wander the paddocks, and then experience paddock to plate dining at the resident restaurant Three Blue Ducks or try our their bakery items and produce store.  There's also a gelateria and a florist right on site as well macadamia fields to explore and some conveniently placed nut crackers for you to try out. Like us, stop by at the restaurant or cafe for lunch, then grab a gelato shake from the gelateria and go on to explore the fields and greet the animals, then proceed to end your visit with some local made items from their produce store! 


Miss Margarita - A vibrant, casual Mexican eatery in the heart of the Byron Town Centre, this place was packed with people every time we passed it. The food was delicious but my absolute favourite was the virgin pina colada, the best pina colada I've ever had. 


No Bones - A plant based menu serving all sorts of vegan dishes that were all bang on in flavour. Our favourite was the vegan calamari and vegan prawns. If you're vegan or vegetarian, do not miss out on a moody dinner here.

O sushi - Japanese but with plenty of options for vegetarians. My veg sushi platter was some of the best veg sushi I've ever had! Roasted red pepper on sushi? Never would have thought it'll go so well. The ramen was packed with flavour too and noodles cooked to al dente perfection however the soup was a little too salty for me. 


Folk Byron Bay - A hipster, organic, vegetarian cafe with the cutest location. We indulged in a pumpkin burrito and haloumi and egg breakfast platter along with some yummy drinks.


I was quite disappointed and disheartened when driving into Byron but I must say, it was a very nice escape away from reality and truly helped me wind down. We didn't get to some activities since they were booked out and didn't explore more iconic places like the famous Killen falls as we spent way too much time lazing around at our resort's pool. But it was a great holiday and I can see why Byron is becoming such a hot spot of local and international travel!

You Might Also Like

0 comments