Author Archives: Gem1

Wild Side – A Guide to Creatures You May Encounter on a Byron Bay Adventure Tour

A spontaneous brush with any wild creature is a special event. While zoos will often allow you to get up close to the animals, there is something indescribable and uplifting when you come across a creature in its real habitat. At Byron Bay Adventure Tours we believe a traveller cannot say they have truly experienced a place until they have gotten in touch with its natural wonders. From cheeky and daring to shy and elusive, the creatures we encounter on our tours are all unique, marvellous and form a vital part of experiencing Byron Bay. From forest dwellers and ocean travellers, feathers, fur and fin, let’s take a look at some of the wildlife you might meet on a Byron Bay Adventure Tour!

Australian Brush Turkey

You’ll need no introduction; there’ll be no waiting in bushes in silence to meet one of these guys. The Australian Brush Turkeys (or Bush Turkeys as they are also known) will make themselves very familiar with you from the get go. From strutting around down near the beaches looking for a stolen snack to scratching through the leaf litter in the rainforest, they are quite common in Byron Bay. But here are some things you probably won’t know. Building a huge mound of leaves and mulch, the father turkey makes a giant nest which acts as an incubator to hatch the chicks. He will carefully monitor the temperature adding or removing leaves to keep it just right until the nestling emerge. Once they hatch, the young are entirely independent and fend for themselves. Seeing them on all of our tours is pretty much a given.

An Aussie Favourite

Everybody loves a Koala – but finding one in the wild is not always an easy task. Although they sleep for between 18 and 22 hours a day, they seem to be quite adept at disappearing. They can be very elusive one day and simply be there in plain view the next. This is what makes a koala encounter so magical and fascinating. Our Mt Warning Day Walk Tour and our Overnight Escape Tour are good choices if seeing a koala is high on your list of things to do.

Lounging Lizards

Powerful, fast and extremely suited to their habitat, the Lace Monitor (more commonly known as the goanna) will pop up on many of our hinterland tours. With sharp claws, it is an expert tree climber and runner – so look above and below because you can never be sure where they will pop up. They serve a much needed purpose in the forest ecosystem, acting as clean up duty and scavenging for what they can find in trees or on the forest floor. Try our Overnight Escape Tour and you’ll get many chances to get up close to one of these ancient reptiles.

Friends with Fins

The Cape Byron Marine Reserve is a haven for sea creatures of every description, but none so keen to interact with you than the dolphin. A number of dolphin species visit the bay and they are known for their love of catching waves just as much as the surfers. Intelligent, inquisitive and full of personality – get out on the water with us and we can introduce you to them. Our Earth to Surf Tour and Ocean to Summit Tours both give you the chance to feel the fresh salt air on your face and the buzz of getting close to these delightful characters.

Hiding in Plain Sight

A master of disguise, the Tawny Frogmouth flies on silent wings and can disappear before your eyes. With plumage made to beguile onlookers into believing it’s a broken tree branch, they are often called owls but in fact belong to the nightjar family. Keep your eyes peeled day and night on any of our Byron Hinterland Tours and you might be lucky enough to catch the small movement that will be the only giveaway that they are there. If you come with us on our Overnight Escape Tour or Mt Warning Sunrise Walk Tour you might also spot one around the campsite or hear its strange unmistakable low ooh-ooh-ooh in the night.

With Byron Bay and the surrounding hinterland teeming with a mix of environments, our area and its wildlife is like nowhere else on the planet. We’ve only touched on some of the most commonly encountered animal friends on our Byron Bay Adventure Tours, but for expert bird watchers to fascinated children, the chance of meeting up with many more is guaranteed!

5 Tips For Staying Fit on Holidays – Byron Bay Guide

We all know including exercise, fresh air and sunshine into our regular daily routines is one of the most important elements of staying fit, healthy and ready for all the hurdles life throws at us. So when we break out of regular routine and go travelling, away from our 24 hour gyms and personal trainers, does this mean we can’t keep up our healthy habits? Absolutely not – especially if you’re coming to Byron Bay, a place where we embrace healthy living. We’re going to show you 5 easy tips that you can include in your getaway that will leave you feeling fantastic, give you new vitality and the knowledge that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. This is the real deal and we’ve headed out into nature to work our bodies, and inspire our hearts…

1. On Top of the World: You vs. MT Warning

Standing tall and proud above you, with its feet in the Wollumbin World Heritage Area and its head often in the clouds, Mt Warning is a fitness challenge and an amazing naturescape all in one! With 1000 stairs spread over 8.8kms up and back, you’ll be working your legs, lungs and as the track steepens in the final stage of the climb, you’ll be in the midst of a total body workout. But the best thing about this 4-5 hour full body training session is that when you reach the top, the view is so magnificent, the feeling of achievement so great that the hard work melts away and all you’re left with is sound of the wind and your heart beat. Every climb is unique, so from summer to winter or from to dawn to dusk, your brushes with wildlife, the view and the whole experience will change. That’s why we offer a range of Mt Warning adventures from day trips to overnight camping and sunrise climbs, giving you total control over your climb and everything you’ll need to make it to the top. Sound great? Check out the options here.

2. Pump It Up: Pedal Powered High

Hitting the Byron hinterland rainforest on a mountain bike, expect lots of mud splattering, laughter and plenty of clean forest air. You could not find a better way to get into the wilderness, see waterfalls and cold mountain streams and get your pulse rate high, than this. You’ll feel the rush of downhill speed, get up a sweat and be cooled by the rainforest which is home to some unique creatures that sometimes like to say hello. High adrenalin and high calorie burning adventure at its best! Click here for more info.

3. Paddle Pop: Sea Kayaking

If we told you there was a way to get a low impact workout that increases your flexibility and works your whole body, especially your arms, torso and abs all while sitting down would you believe us? Join us out on the water for a sea kayaking adventure that, aside from the workout, could lead to some salt water encounters with turtles, dolphins and even whales. Earth to Surf is not a meat laden plate with a side of seafood, it’s a healthy and refreshing way to get a glimpse of Australia’s most easterly point from the sea. Gain a whole new appreciation of the beauty of the Byron Bay coastline and its marine creatures and let the salt air and spray wash away your stress.

4. A “Light” Workout: Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk

If you’re staying in Byron Bay you can’t help but notice that morning and evening there are so many locals and visitors walking and running in workout gear up and down the Lighthouse Walk and there’s a very good reason. This track offers a great combination of hill climb resistance, stairs and stopping points for stretches all with a magical view 365 days of the year. During whale season you’ll have the best vantage point to get a glimpse of these majestic ocean giants. Our Byron Bay: Big Day Out Adventure Tour will take you there followed by a “post workout” treat – a BBQ lunch.

5. Double Trouble: Ultimate Work Out Combos

There are those of us (the Byron Bay Adventure crew included) that feel a single activity is just not enough to give us the rush and the workout we are looking for. Including different types of exercise does in fact make your health regime more successful overall and so, to cater for these types, we have created some great combination tours that pair up our adventure activities and also add the amazing experience of camping out under the stars with some new found friends. Our Overnight Escape, Ocean to Summit and Bike n Hike Tours can give you this “ultimate workout” over 2 days and mixes it all up with some enjoyable down time to rest your working bodies. You are on holidays after all.

Being fit and healthy takes commitment, but as we have shown you it can also be a huge amount of fun. Byron Bay Adventure Tours are passionate about helping people enjoy healthy outdoor adventure, but we are always committed to taking the time and care to do it safely and without putting you, ourselves or the pristine environments we visit in any danger. When we drop you home after a Byron Bay Adventure Tour we want you feeling on top of the world.

Australia’s Top 5 Adventure Travel Destinations

The history of our great southern land was built on the spirit of adventure, from the vast dreaming of our indigenous peoples to its exploration and settlement by the early navigators and pioneers. This month we explore our Top 5 Australian Adventure Travel Destinations – spanning every known landscape from desert to mountains and pristine alpine regions, tropical rainforest, caves and coral reefs, to grasslands and wetlands and snow. We feel it’s our duty to give you a little inside information to help you find some excellent ways to take up the adventure challenge that is Australia.

So come with us as we countdown our top #5, before revealing the #1 place which holds our hearts and we know will capture yours.

5. Mole Creek Karst National Park – Tasmania

Renowned for its vast underground network of caverns, caves, natural tunnels and underground streams, Tasmania is home to more caves than anywhere else in Australia. Two of the jewels in Tasmania’s caving crown are Marakoopa and King Solomon’s caves which form part of a system of over 300 caves and sinkholes protected by the Mole Creek Karst National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage areas. A 40 minute drive west of Deloraine and 168km’s North West of Hobart, these caves act as portals to a unique world below filled with unusual creatures including the largest publicly accessible glow worm gallery in the country.

Choose your own level of adventure in this remarkable location, from a leisurely walk through the main cave systems to the action and adventure of canyoning in the “wild caves”. Canyoning is a cross between rock climbing, caving and abseiling and apart from taking you to places that would be impossible to reach on foot alone – it will charge you with a sense of accomplishment unlike any other! Be prepared to get wet and wild as you conquer the terrain and find yourself in awe of the cathedral-like caves, underground springs and waterfalls.

Words of advice: Don’t forget to take warm clothes and be prepared to rug up, even in the warmer months it can get quite cool especially as evening falls.

4. Laura, Cape York – Queensland

304km’s North West of Cairns is the Cape York Peninsula. This journey will not only take you cross country; it will transport you back thousands of years. Near the township of Laura, rising out of the wide and shimmering horizon is an escarpment that protects treasures beyond measure. Here you will discover the history and art of a culture and people whose uncounted generations made their home in this incredible landscape. It’s easy to forget about everything as you stare up at the endless sky and hear the crunch of the sand and rock beneath your feet.

The Quinkan rock art galleries of Split Rock, Yalangi and Mushroom Rock are listed among the top 10 rock art sites in the world, with some dating back more than 30,000 years. To reach these rocks you will need to so some hiking so we recommend you visit the Quinkan and Regional Cultural Centre before you embark. Here you can gather information, maps or engage the help of local guides who run tours explaining the significance and importance of these sites and stories to the local indigenous people. Adventurers, art lovers, history buffs can all be satisfied gazing at these paintings and, interestingly, despite the North Queensland heat you may notice an eerie sensation of calm and cool wash over you in this sacred place.

Words of advice: Always carry water with you and sun protection as the Cape York heat can be quite draining, even over short distances.

3. Mansfield in The High Country – Victoria

A trip to the alpine and high country regions of rural Victoria will put you in touch with a pioneering spirit, hillsides of romantic wildflowers and panoramic mountain views that will leave you awestruck. The best place to launch into everything the high country has to offer is from the rural town of Mansfield, a 2 ½ hr drive from Melbourne. White water rafting, canoeing, cycling, 4WD touring and rock climbing are all on offer. But the most authentic way to see this picturesque landscape is on horseback. The rural heritage of this region is showcased and experienced in its true essence while you’re up in the stirrups and saddle. There are a host of operators offering horse riding trails from beginners to advanced, with some even taking in historic Craig’s Hut, made famous by the 1980’s iconic movie ‘The Man from Snowy River’. Based on the poem from bush laureate Banjo Patterson, this is the gripping yarn of horsemanship and the wild brumbies of these mountain regions.

Aside from the horses you can also have a wild animal encounter by including an overnight stay at the Mansfield Zoo, a 30 acre park-like zoo with over 100 native and exotic animals. Stay bushman style in a deluxe swag with the sounds of the animals as your lullaby. From 24th October to 4th November each year Mansfield also plays host to the High Country Festival, 12 days of events celebrating the traditions and spirit of the region.

The high country also encompasses the winter time snowfields of Mt Bulla and Mt Hotham and you can get your adrenalin pumping with snowboarding, cross country and down-hill skiing. Victoria’s high country definitely earns its place on our list with year round adventure – some not for the faint hearted.

Words of advice: If you’re planning on driving to the high country during snow season make sure to include snow chains for your tyres and a 4WD is recommended for heading off the main roads.

2. Kangaroo Island – South Australia

Wild, windswept and rugged in parts and calm and serene in others, Kangaroo Island is an adventure and nature lover’s paradise. From sand boarding down giant dunes, game fishing, helicopter rides, quad biking through scenic bush or encounters with seals and penguins – you can get a dose of whatever you are chasing on this stunning island.

Kangaroo Island is a fantastic family adventure destination that can be as relaxed or as high octane as you like with something for everyone. There are a multitude of accommodation options for staying on the island from luxury to the more spirited camping adventure and by staying on the island you’ll give yourself time to take in all that’s on offer. The island also boasts some of the country’s best gourmet delights including seafood, honey, cheeses and wines. With this in mind, those who like adventuring of the culinary kind can try following the farm gate and cellar door trails.

Words of advice: Kangaroo Island runs by its own set of unique seasons so check local guides to find out what time of year is best for the adventure you have in mind.

Images: Dean Wiles

1. Byron Bay – New South Wales

The most easterly point of mainland Australia, and our home, we believe that Byron Bay is the ultimate Australian adventure destination. Backpackers, celebrities and adventure enthusiasts are all drawn to Byron Bay’s stunning natural beauty. From our world-famous beaches, lush green hinterland, subtropical rainforest and quaint villages and hamlets. The unique culture and lifestyle of “the Bay” (as it’s affectionately known by locals) is also part of the allure along with eating out – which is a joy unto itself. Click here to read our Top 10 Healthy Byron Bay Eating Spots.

Adrenalin junkies are well catered for here in Byron Bay. You can take to the skies with joy flights available in hot air balloons, gliders, helicopters and even the indescribable experience of a flight in a gyrocopter. If you love the water then Byron has you covered with everything from surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, paddle boarding and, our personal favourite, sea kayaking. During May to October the best place to be is in a sea kayak, getting up close to the migrating humpback whales. These ocean giants are guaranteed to thrill even the most hardened adventurers.

Here at Byron Bay Adventure Tours we live and breathe adventure, and whilst many things are apparent on first glance, it takes the knowledge of locals to reveal many of the region’s true natural wonders. This is particularly true of the hinterland where the right information can reveal breathtaking waterfalls hidden amongst the forest, brilliant trails for mountain biking, bring you face to face with the native wildlife or take you to the highest point in the region to bask in the first sun rays to hit mainland Australia.

Words of advice: Local guides with local knowledge can often be the key to an extra special experience including places you may never have heard of before. Our tours also offer a hassle-free way to enjoy mountain biking, camping and sea kayaking without bringing any equipment with you on holidays. To view our Byron Bay Adventure Tour itineraries click here.

Refuel with these Top 10 Healthy Byron Bay Eating Spots

One of the challenges of travelling is often the inability to find good healthy food without having to prepare it all yourself. What’s wonderful about a stay in Byron Bay is that the region’s bountiful organic produce and a health conscious culture means that there is a veritable rainbow of delicious and nourishing food on offer. Whether you’re looking for organic food cafes, super foods, gluten free delights, raw food delicacies or carefully produced slow creations – Byron Bay has it all! Especially great for recharging those blissfully weary bodies after a Byron Bay Adventure Tour! We’ve complied the essential Top 10 guide of the best local eateries for refueling your body.

1. Naked Treaties Raw Food Bar in Marvell Street.

This is a raw and organic food heaven! Their blissful range of desserts (try their raw vegan cheesecakes), cold pressed coffee and amazing savouries will give you a feel-good boost. This place is more than an eatery it’s a philosophy. Delivering healthy doses of good vibes with their food, owner Jemma and her team pride themselves on using local or ethically sourced fair trade produce and super foods from around the world and making them zing. Tip: If you’re on a healthy holiday ask about their 1 day cleanse, perfect for detoxing or replenishing.

2. O Sushi in Jonson Street.

If you feel like the clean healthy flavours of authentic Japanese cuisine, then this is your place. Multi award-winners, their reputation for absolute freshness and gourmet sushi makes them worthy of a visit. Tip: For picnic perfection they can create amazing sushi platters to take away, just phone in your order 24 hours ahead.

3. The Conscious Cafe in Woolworths Plaza Jonson Street.

Famous amongst bloggers and health food fans, this local’s favourite spot offers some of the best raw, vegetarian and organic food to be found anywhere. Earthy and vibrant, you’ll feast your eyes and then your taste buds with their bounty of smoothies, juices, salads, raw crepes and so much more. Made with 100% organic ingredients the food will leave you feeling satisfied and bursting with health!

4. Heart and Halo Good Food Bar in Middleton Street.

Possibly the best value vegetarian feast in Byron Bay! The food here is wholesome and down to earth with a distinctively Indian and Hari Krishna influence. The dishes will fill your belly and, as their name suggests, warm your heart. Unpretentious and delicious, the owners of this place truly believe in sharing the feelings of home that are created when you eat healing and healthy food made with love. Curries, vegetable dishes, soups and lentils are amongst the fare perfect for the end of an adventure-filled day.

5. Red Hot and Green in Lawson Arcade.

Looking for vegetarian and seafood perfection with spicy Thai and Asian flavours and a great atmosphere? Then head up the arcade to this little gem. Tempura calamari, red and green curries and green papaya salad are among the sizzling selection on offer and you’ll always get generous servings of fresh vegetables.

6. Fig Tree Restaurant on Sunrise Lane Ewingsdale.

Experiencing this fine dining restaurant (just a short drive from town) is a uniquely Byron affair with all meals accompanied by their stunning hilltop view of Byron Bay. The menu is a hand-picked celebration of produce from their abundant garden and local organic farmers. We’re warning you it’s easy to fall in love with this place and you may decide you need to stay on in their very own accommodation.

7. Tree House on Belongil in Childe Street.

Everything here is about feeling good. From the laid back atmosphere to the menu to the amazing live music. Drop in early for brekky or from midday on for mezze platters, tapas, woodfired pizzas and the daily specials. Recharge your batteries and get into the groove, you won’t be disappointed.

8. The Top Shop in Carlyle Street.

You’ll need to get out of the main block to find this hill top gem. Originally a corner store and milkbar, this eatery is now known for its love of good coffee, moreish food and is popular with visitors and locals alike. If you love a great burger then this is your place especially the haloumi burger and their famous brekky burger. Of course you could simply grab a juice, find a spot on the grass out the front and watch the people come and go.

9. Orient Express in Fletcher Street.

Inspired by a traditional Chinese tea house, come here to feast on a sumptuous selection of Asian dishes. Start with the house special pickled vegetable salad and let the journey lead from there. Cleanse your body with Vietnamese Pho, indulge in Peking duck pancakes or choose from their selection of delicious curries. The service here is also excellent.

10. Byron Bay Farmers Market on Butler Street Reserve.

Every Thursday from 8-11 the top local producers of organic fruit, vegies and a host of products and delicacies are on display. Release the hunter gatherer within and fill your basket to the brim with produce, cheeses and locally grown coffee. It’s a colourful and fun morning with entertainment, locals catching up on the weekly news and a warm and welcoming feeling.

Byron Bay Winter Wanderlust

As the summer crowds thin and the temperatures begin to ease, Byron Bay reveals a whole new side! Winter is the perfect time to enjoy clear starry nights by the camp fire (not to mention mugs of hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows!), the magic of the humpback whale migration, forest mountain biking, daytime rainforest hikes and leisurely strolls through the streets of the regions many pretty hinterland towns. If you’ve never considered Byron Bay in the wintertime, then read on to find out why we love this time of year!

On a Byron Hinterland High!

Winter is the perfect time to explore the Byron hinterland and the cooler months lend themselves perfectly to our new full day Byron and Beyond Tour! After a visit to the Byron Bay lighthouse to watch the humpback whales glide past Australia’s easternmost tip, our tour heads bush with our first hinterland stop being Crystal Castle. Breathe in the fresh air, while strolling around the stunning Shambhala Gardens, including towering pillars of amethysts, enormous Ganesh and Lakshmi statues and the southern hemisphere’s only Kalachakra World Peace Stupa (an amazing project that was personally blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama).

From here we take you on a journey through rippling valleys of macadamia, pecan and coffee plantations and mountain-tops covered in lush sub-tropical rainforests. We’ll visit the rural area ofEltham, including a beautiful old farmhouse pantry for a home cooked lunch, as well as Bangalow, an arty and chic village that is much-loved by locals and visitors. From rainforests to farmlands to oceans and more, you’ll be surprised at what’s around the next corner on the Byron and Beyond Tour.

Adventure Temperature

Getting adventurous in Byron Bay during winter is the ultimate way to warm up! Cool crisp mornings leading into clear and glorious sunny days, with average temperatures hovering around 22 degrees. The Nightcap and Border Ranges National Parks conceals hundreds of walking trails for exploration and if you’ve ever contemplated making the odyssey to the peak of Mt Warning, especially if you have kids in tow, then winter is an excellent time to climb. But with shorter days you’ll need good planning and an early start to make sure you don’t end up coming down in the dark. One fantastic way to do this is by camping overnight at the foot of the mountain before you climb. Nothing beats spending a night around a cosy camp fire star gazing, followed by a morning bush walk to soak up the first sun rays to touch Australia. We have a range of Mt Warning Tours to suit everyone including our Mt Warning Sunrise Walk, Mt Warning Day Walk andThe Overnight Escape Tour.

Somewhat different to the feeling of Mt Warning is the ancient landscape around Minyon Falls. Even travelling along the high mountain road into this National Park will spark something in you that it hard to find anywhere else. Looking out from the top of the falls you will see a view spread before you that’s been locked in time including ancient palms, dramatic escarpments and age-old rock pools. Hike, explore and enjoy a hot BBQ lunch with our Big Day Out Hinterland Tour including the cascading Minyon Falls, as well as a visit to the historic town of Bangalow.

The forest trails around Minyon Falls and Rummery Park are also well known as ideal terrain for both beginner and experienced mountain bikers and will get you into the thick of it without feeling the heat. If you’re travelling light then no problems, all equipment including superior quality front-suspension bikes are provided on our Bike ‘n Hike Adventure Tour! Why ignore the outdoors this winter? LIVE IT! You won’t regret it.

Winter Whales

Byron Bay welcomes visitors all year round from every country and walk of life, but none are more special than the humpback whales that stop and play on their yearly migration. Timing your Byron Bay visit to coincide with these immense creatures can lead to some incredible encounters. Soak up the sun and ocean views as we take you to some of the best whale spotting vantage pointson one of our many tours including our Byron and Beyond Tour, Big Day Out Byron Bay Tour or The Overnight Escape Tour.

But for travellers with an affinity for the ocean and who dream of having the chance of an up close encounter with these remarkable creatures – then a sea kayak adventure out on the Bay is a must-do! Our Earth to Surf Adventure Tour or Ocean to Summit Adventure Tour both include kayaking with our tour partner Go Sea Kayak Byron Bay. The township of Byron Bay and its residents adore the whales and you’ll find them celebrated in galleries around towns by artists and photographers so after your whale watching experiences be sure to take a piece of Byron Bay home with you.

Double Up!

If you’re planning your first trip to Byron Bay, or you’re heading back to uncover more of its secrets, then you may find it difficult to decide on what to do and see. Tossing up between climbing Mt Warning or mountain biking? Kayaking and seeing the hinterland? Then our best advice is – don’t. Take two bites of the cherry and get the best insider information by having locals show you around in a way that gets the best out of every minute.

Pick from a number of tours that offer a range of experiences including the Byron and Beyond Tour, The Overnight Escape Tour, Earth to Surf Adventure Tour, Bike ‘n Hike Adventure Tour andOcean to Summit Adventure Tour. We’ve put the best of our knowledge together to show visitors what makes this part of the world unlike any other. Because here at Byron Bay Adventure Tours we have a real romance with the wildlife, scenery and landscape of this area, especially in winter.

We look forward to sharing it with you soon.