A string of gorgeous beaches dot the east coast of Australia, each with their own personality and virtues, as well as devotees who will expound upon their personal favorite. While I would be delighted to spend a few months (years?) conducting a thorough survey of each one, it’s hard to imagine any of them could top Byron Bay.
Jelly fish are a seasonal concern - consider bringing or renting a wetsuit
Perfect crescents of golden sand frame warm waters in every color from turquoise to jade. A charming beach town with fresh love ore restaurants galore and a shoes/shirts-are-optional policy firmly in place. Some might find the abundance of macrame and tie-dye skews a bit boho for them, but I fell in love with the place.
We stayed at the Wake Up: Byron Bay hostel, a short walk down the beach from town. I’ve stayed at my fair share of hostels, from grotty to uber-stylish, but none of them ever prompted me to ask if there was a way to contact the interior decorator before. The hostel, across the street from the beach, lends out surf boards, stand-up paddle boards and beach cruiser bicycles for free. It was also clean, friendly, and next to a restaurant that serves amazing pizza. If I was not legally obligated to leave Australia, I would probably still be there.
