Byron Bay Highlights from Gold Coast

This exciting trip from the Gold Coast to northern NSW’s beautiful Byron Bay will allow you to see both the natural and manmade beauty of this popular tourist town. See the sights, enjoy some free time and delight in some delicious tropical treats.

• Drive down the coast along beautiful coastal and hinterland routes on your way to Byron Bay
• Stroll through the peaceful Cape Byron State Conservation Area, take in the views and look out for wildlife
• Visit the Cape Byron Lighthouse, marvel at its photogenicity and see if you can spot dolphins while overlooking the phenomenal ocean vista
• Enjoy a few hours of free time to explore this extremely popular paradise location
• Taste some local and exotic tropical fruits at Tropical Fruit World, where you’ll enjoy afternoon tea

With an 8 am departure time from your Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach accommodation, you’ll meet your friendly tour guide and your fellow travellers before hopping aboard your comfortable, air conditioned coach. Your journey begins as you head down the coast towards the border, passing through gorgeous beachside suburbs and witnessing stunning coastal views along the way. After enjoying the paradisiacal stretches of sandy beach scenes in Tweed Heads, you’ll reach Byron Bay – a world famous location that’s known for its stunning natural highlights, diverse and colourful residents and stylish yet relaxed atmosphere.

While in this tourism haven, you’ll learn a little about the town’s history, including about its logging industry, its past whaling station status, gold and sand mining industry and the development of Norco – the largest dairy and meat production plant in the southern hemisphere in the past. You’ll travel through the wonderful Cape Byron State Conservation Area, which will allow you to experience the thick forest perched atop rugged cliff lands, with views through the lush scrub out to the ocean. This area is a protected coastal rainforest, which means you’re bound to spot some native Aussie wildlife during your relaxed trek.

Next, you’ll journey to Australia’s most easterly point, Cape Byron. Here, you’ll visit the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse, which was built in 1901 and is the country’s most powerful lighthouse light, at 2,200,000 cd (candela units, which measure luminosity). The lighthouse itself is a lovely sight and great for photography, with its bright white tower; however, the location of the lighthouse also makes it an ideal vantage point for whale watching. As a result, the Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre is housed within the lighthouse structure too.

After your visit to the lighthouse and hopefully, spotting a whale or two, you will have around three hours of free time to look around Byron. Why not enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the many local dining establishments or browse through the dozens of boutique stores selling colourful and unique wares? Enjoy a swim at picturesque Main Beach or do some people watching along the esplanade or the shopping strip.

Following your free time, you’ll begin your journey back to the Gold Coast, but along the way, you’ll stop at Tropical Fruit World (own expense for entry fee) for an experience like no other. After your scrumptious afternoon tea here, you can sample some amazing tropical fruits – including some rare delights – and explore the Plantation Pavilion. When you arrive back at the Gold Coast at about 4:30 pm, you’ll be returned to your original pickup location.