Things to do in Byron Bay
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Twisted Sista
Bounteous baked goods include huge muffins, cheesy casseroles and overstuffed sandwiches on beautiful bread. Outdoor tables add to the slightly happy hungover vibe.
reviewed
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Balcony
The eponymous architectural feature here wraps around the building and gives you tremendous views of the passing Byron parade and the always-clogged traffic circle. The food is Mediterranean fusion, with global influences. The drink list is long.
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Night Vision Walks
See nocturnal animals in their natural habitat.
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Byron Orion
Orion's open door policy stops passers by in their tracks. It could be the delicious red vinyl walls and supper cocktails, but we're pretty sure it's the hot and spicy scents courtesy of Gujurauti beef, rogan josh, and vindaloo. Breakfast is decidedly Australian free range eggs.
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Dish
Ivy-clad walls and floor-to-ceiling glass create an atrium atmosphere at this dishy restaurant. The equally sophisticated cuisine includes pan-roasted eye fillet with potato, onion and bacon croquette.
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Mary Ryan's
Snuggled up to the ABC bookshop, this literary cafe provides coffee drinkers with a caffeine high. Speaking of high, the ceilings are, leaving plenty of wall space for artworks.
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Pass Café
One of the best cafes in Byron with a super outdoor deck surrounded by trees and birdlife. The fare includes avocado on toast and fresh squeezed juices.
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Circus Arts
About 2km west of town; Type A characters may find the juggling classes useful.
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Mongers
Tucked behind the Beach Hotel, this fish-and-chips joint issues forth to tables of devotees. It's a narrow, back-alley space but the quality is all high-street.
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Lighthouse
The 1901 lighthouse is Australia’s most easterly and powerful.
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Relax Haven
Flotation tanks (one hour $35) and massage (one hour $45). Female therapists.
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Byron Farmers Market
Great for picking up delicious local produce.
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Mountain Bike Tours
Environmentally friendly bike tours.
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Earth 'n' Sea Pizza & Pasta
Mind-blowing pizzas.
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Espressohead
Tucked away behind Woolworths; locals flock to this place for its excellent coffees. See if you can count the number of dodgy vans for sale on the bulletin board.
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Gosea Kayaks
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Diving & Snorkelling
A number of dive outfits in Byron Bay take advantage of the town's close proximity to the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve. About 3km off shore, this reserve has been rated one of Australia's top ten dive sites, with over 600 species of fish plus whales, dolphins and turtles. Outfits with good reputations include Dive Byron Bay and Sundive.
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Railway Friendly Bar
This indoor-outdoor pub, aka 'The Rails', draws everyone from grey pensioners and lobster-red British tourists to acid-soaked hippies and high-on-life earth mothers. Its cosy interior is the old railway station. The front beer garden, conducive to boozy afternoons, has live music every night. The pub grub is excellent, so too the St Arnou beer on tap.
reviewed
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Buddha Bar & Restaurant
Once fed, the young and funky mingle on leather lounges beneath wickedly low lighting in Byron's sultriest drinking hole. The global soundtrack traipses from hip hop to Latino, with jazz and electronic pitstops along the way. DJ's and acoustic sets also get a go.
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Orgasmic
Plop your bum on a cube cushion at this alley eatery that's one step above a stall. Takeaways include big mezze plates, ideal for quick picnics.
reviewed
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Cardamom Pod
Fusing flavours from the sub-continent with an Aussie twist, this teeny gem serves excellent salads, curries and samosas at a handful of tables. The whole menu is vegetarian and you can vacuum your tofu and pumpkin salad here or get it to go.
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Fins
Tucked behind the boisterous Beach Hotel pub, this elegant sibling serves fish tagines, Mauritian seafood sambals and Tiger Abalone. The marine mains are touted as the best on the coast and celeb chefs pop in to prepare degustation nights.
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Cocomangas
Byron's oldest club. Mondays is backpacker night.
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Fresh
Top spot for breakfast with excellent pancakes. At night, sit at open-air tables and chow down on a menu running the gamut of light (salads) or heavy (braised beef cheek) dishes. People-watching is half the appeal.
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Casa Pepe
It’s strictly vegetarian, but this cosy restaurant is worthy of all dietary persuasions. Happy patrons sit in the sheltered courtyard and tuck into pizzas, pies, soups and tofu burgers for lunch and smart pastas for dinner.
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