Cape Byron Lighthouse
Wheelchair access: medium
Toilets are wheelchair accessible.
Perched high on the Cape with 360 degree views, the Cape Byron Lighthouse is a great location to picnic while enjoying one of the most spectacular views along the east coast.
The Cape Cafe can provide for all your picnic needs; or bring your own and set up at a picnic table. There's plenty of room to spread your rug out on the grassy lawns.
You can visit the lighthouse museum or take a tour of the lighthouse while you're there.
Opening hours: 8.00am - sunset
Facilities: amenities block, picnic tables, lookout
Palm Valley
Wheelchair access: easy
Toilets have wheelchair access
Palm Valley, or the Pass as it is known by locals, is a great spot to join friends for breakfast, lunch or dinner. There are two large, grassy picnic areas with tables, barbecues and a shelter.
With a number of food options here your picnic should satisfy all tastes. You can bring your own food and make use of the barbecues. If you don't want to cook on site, bring a picnic hamper or get some takeaway from the Pass Cafe and set up at a picnic table overlooking the Pass beach.
Enjoy a swim, a surf, a walk along the beach, play some beach games, or just sit back and watch the goannas, water dragons and the variety of birdlife.
Facilities: amenities block, picnic tables, gas/electric barbecues (free), carpark, cold showers
Tallow Beach
Wheelchair access: medium
Toilets have wheelchair access
Located at the southern end of Cape Byron, Tallow Beach picnic area has large open grassy spaces where you can spread the picnic rug out and relax for the whole day.
If you're feeling energetic, take a walk north along Tallow Beach to Cosy Corner, or all the way south to Broken Head Nature Reserve.
Rips dominate this potentially dangerous beach so look out for hazards to yourself and people in your care and familiarise yourself with beach safety.
Facilities: amenities block, picnic tables, carpark, cold showers
Fees: $2 per hour ticket parking. Byron Shire Council coupon parking stickers are also accepted, or you can buy an NPWS Annual Pass.
Wategos Beach
Wheelchair access: easy
Wheelchair accessible toilet facilities are available.
You’ll adore the peaceful beauty of this sheltered beach on the northern side of Cape Byron. Protected by the headland from the wilder waters beyond, it’s a fabulous spot to picnic and play. The local bottlenose dolphins use it for recreation as well, showing off their silky surfing skills on the incoming waves.
You can cook up your lunch on one of the free beachside barbecues and enjoy your picnic on the beach or at one of the picnic tables.
After you’ve cooled off and refueled you’ll be ready to tackle the steep steps at the beach’s end up to Cape Byron and the lighthouse.
Activities: walking, paddling, snorkelling, surfing, swimming, picnicking, playing and socialising
Getting there: Wategos Beach is 2km east of the Byron Bay town centre. To get there follow Lawson Street (which becomes Lighthouse Road) and look for the signs to Wategos Beach
Road access: Sealed road - 2WD vehicles.
Facilities: amenities block, picnic tables, gas/electric barbecues (free), cold showers, carpark, drinking water, flush toilets, trackhead/access point
