Author Archives: Gem1

Byron Bay Healthy Holiday – From Head to Toe

2. Body Movin’

The easiest way to work out is when you don’t realise you’re doing it. You can improve your fitness and decrease stress levels without ever setting a foot inside the hotel gym. Try adding some of these enjoyable, but highly effective Byron Bay activities to your break away.

Kayaking. A perfect low impact workout to increase fitness and improve strength and flexibility. You think you’re enjoying ocean spray, sunshine and getting close to dolphins and turtles but actually you’ll be working your arms, shoulders, chest, torso and legs. Get paddling with our Earth To Surf Adventure Tour or Ocean to Summit Adventure Tour.
Mountain Biking. While your body is busy burning 600-1000 calories per hour you’ll only be noticing the awesome adrenalin hit and marvelling at the beauty of hidden forest tracks. The ultimate “office body” combat for your legs, thighs and butt, so do yourself and your body a favour and book our Bike ‘n Hike Adventure Tour.
Hiking. Exploring the lush hinterland rainforest or getting to the top of Mt Warning won’t just connect you with nature, recharge your energy levels and still your mind, it will also deliver a whole body workout and a huge sense of achievement. We have a range of great hiking tours. Click here to view.
Walking. You won’t notice you’ve walked 1.5 hours along the Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk as you marvel at the migrating humpback whales (between June – early November), dolphins, sea turtles and perhaps some sharks. You’ll also be rewarded with incredible district and ocean views! Our Big Day Out Byron Bay Tour can take you there!

3. Heart to Heart

Slowing down to spend meaningful time with friends, family and your partner doesn’t just make us happy. Studies show that having great connections and getting together with other people reduces the risk of many health problems such as heart disease and even dementia. So gather a group of old friends or make some new ones on a guided adventure tour like our Big Day Out Byron Bay Tour.

4. Food for Thought

Eating fresh healthy food can super charge your body and heal you from the outside in. It can be super tasty too. Use the momentum of being on holidays to focus on what you put into your body and try these simple ways to avoid over indulging.

Explore Byron Bay’s fresh local produce from the markets
Eat breakfast! Take advantage of having the time to include a healthy start to your day and try to continue this habit once your holiday is over
Try staying in self-contained accommodation to allow you to prepare some meals yourself and avoid eating out every night
Allow yourself some treats. Extreme deprivation will only lead to binging out in the worst way
Get busy. Don’t revolve your days around meals
Moderate your drinking. By all means have a drink but moderation is the key

5. Put Your Feet Up

Schedule in some time to do nothing. Both your brain and your body need a chance to unwind and be at peace. Having rest days also helps you gain maximum benefit from your exercise.

Feeling inspired? It’s just so easy to have a fun-filled but rejuvenating Byron Bay holiday that feeds your body, mind and spirit. No extreme measures, no deprivation – just balance and whole lot of adventure. Come and join us for some unforgettable tours, which just happen to be healthy for you too!

5 Fascinating Facts about Climbing Mount Warning

Mount Warning or Wollumbin, as it was originally named by the Bundjalung people (who were the traditional custodians of the land), stands 1156m above sea level looking down over the primal Gondwana rainforest and its inhabitants. This famous icon of the Tweed/Byron area has been listed in the ‘Top 10 Australian Mountains to Climb’ by Australian Geographic, has been climbed by thousands of people and even acted as a warning to Captain James Cook over 200 years ago on his voyage along the East Coast of Australia (prompting him to name it Mount Warning to alert future sea travellers of the dangerous offshore reefs). However we’ve compiled this list of things you may not have heard about Mount Warning and the surrounding Mount Warning National Park, with the aim of inspiring you to visit (or revisit) this wondrous and ancient part of Australia!

1. Hello Sunshine

While you may know that Cape Byron is Australia’s most easterly point, did you know that Mount Warning is the first place in Australia to be touched by the sun each morning! A climb to Mount Warning’s summit to watch the dawn is a must-do climb for anyone with an adventurous spirit!

2. Step Up

The trail to the summit has over 1000 steps and is equivalent to climbing a 30 storey building. There is approximately 8.8 kilometres of track to complete the trip up and back down the mountain.

3. Incredible Diversity

The mountain provides a home to an unimaginable range of plants, animals, fungi and insects – with more than 200 species found nowhere else on earth! The mountain itself has 4 distinct environments – subtropical rainforest, temperate rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and heath shrub land. As you ascend the mountain the weather can change considerably and temperatures can noticeably drop as you approach the peak.

4. Crowd Pleaser

Over 100,000 people climb Mount Warning every year. As you can imagine, that amount of traffic could have a serious impact on the environment. That is why all visitors are asked to only leave their footprints on the mountain, so that future generations may continue to enjoy this remarkable natural wonder.

5. Did I Just Hear a…

Throughout the climb you may hear strange noises coming from the bush including camera shutters, chainsaws, car alarms and even what sounds like people talking. This can be a little unsettling, but you’ve just encountered a ‘Albert’s Lyrebird’. This vulnerable species has the bizarre talent of mimicking and producing a wide range of sounds and noises.

There is an indescribable feeling of satisfaction and achievement that Mount Warning bestows on all who take on the challenge and succeed. Here at Bryon Bay Adventure Tours we have the honour of helping and witnessing so many wonderful people from all walks of life make this journey and gain new appreciation for the magnificence of this World Heritage listed area. Whether it’s for the wildlife, the landscape, the physical challenge or you can simply feel the mountain calling you – then come with us!

Our tours can get you there, bring you home and have the best time in between. Book Now.

Marine Life of Byron Bay: Up close and Personal

Looking for things to do in Byron Bay? A sea kayak is a great way to explore the Cape Byron Marine Reserve, which is a unique haven for local wildlife and marine creatures who thrive in our clean temperate waters. The area is home to over 500 species of fish, corals, sharks, rays and many marine birds. Many are permanent residents and can be found here year round, however between June and November each year the waters along the coast and in the Bay itself, play host to some of the ocean’s largest nomads the magnificent Humpback Whale.

For locals and visitors to Byron Bay the opportunity to have close encounters with most of these amazing creatures is simply a matter of having an adventurous spirit, a little curiosity and the right guide. Most people are surprised and delighted to find these creatures are just as curious to find out about us. Here are some of the most popular and the most interesting inhabitants of the Reserve:

Green Turtle
These endangered, mainly solitary ocean travellers graze on seagrass however the juvenile green turtles will eat jellyfish, crabs and sponges. They are marine reptiles and are often seen and encountered when coming up for air.

White Spotted Eagle Ray

Graceful and elegant the White Spotted Eagle Rays glide through the water gently flapping their “wings” which can reach up to 3.5 metres across. Sifting through the sediment on the ocean floor they feed on crustaceans and molluscs.

Sun Coral
Bringing a vibrant splash of colour to the ocean floor is the Sun Coral, which mostly extend their tentacles at night to capture phyto-plankton floating on the current. They will sometimes emerge during the day. This gorgeous soft coral is a favourite of aquarium enthusiasts.

Humpback Whale
Once a commercial whaling port, Byron Bay now provides a refuge along the migration path of the Humpback Whale, from Antarctica to its breeding grounds further north and on the return trip. Luckily for us this allows close contact for those who get out on the water. Hauntingly beautiful, the song of these gentle giants is both loved and revered.

Bottlenose Dolphin
Eternally popular, inquisitive, friendly and highly intelligent the Bottlenose Dolphin is probably the most commonly encountered ocean resident of the Bay. Dolphins have 100 teeth but after catching their fishy prey swallow them whole. The clicks, squeals and whistles can be heard under the water and above.

It’s impossible to truly convey the wonder of the Cape Byron Marine Reserve and its diverse and unique inhabitants. Our ‘Earth to Surf’ full day Byron Bay tour or our overnight ‘Ocean to Summit Adventure’ Byron Bay tour, which both include a Byron hinterland tour plus a spectacular sea kayaking tour in Byron Bay, is a great way to get up close and personal with the local marine life!

Call us today or click here to book online.

NEW Bike n’ Hike Adventure Tour

It’s exhilarating, it’s heart pounding, it’s inspirational and you’ll feel on top of the world after you’ve completed the latest must-do activity in Byron Bay – the brand new Bike n’ Hike Adventure Tour.

For anyone who loves the outdoors, the thrill and excitement of mountain biking and the overwhelming satisfaction of hiking up a mountain at dawn – then this tour is for you. Two of Byron’s most trusted adventure tour companies, Byron Bay Adventure Tours and Mountain Bike Tours Byron Bay, have joined forces to combine their skills and local knowledge to create this unique overnight adventure.

The Bike n’ Hike Adventure Tour kicks off with a 3 hour mountain bike ride through the secluded fire trails of The Nightcap Nation Park and Minyon Falls in the Byron Hinterland. Cycle through this ancient rainforest landscape experiencing single track trails, exhilarating downhills, log jumps and more. The ride finishes with a well-earned swim in the crystal clear waters of the falls and a delicious picnic lunch before heading off to your overnight camp site at the base ofMount Warning.

On arriving at base camp, you’ll really appreciate the chance to relax and take in the wildness surroundings, go for a swim or chat about the days adventures around the camp fire. After an evening of good food, then it’s off to bed in preparation for the early predawn climb to the summit of ‘Wollumbin the Cloud Catcher’, better known as Mount Warning. The quiet hush over the forest just before dawn will be your companion as you climb to the top of Mount Warning in time for the sunrise. And what an experience! But don’t take our word for it, here is just a sample of the enthusiastic responses we’ve received from customers:

“What can I say? One of the best tours yet. Our guide was super friendly and our summit walk to see the first sun light on the east coast was well worth the long track up Mount Warning. Highly recommended.”

“Climbing Mount Warning was such an experience. Armed with our flash lights we made our way to the top and what a gift to behold.”

Once you’ve descended Mount Warning, our guides will return you to Byron Bay on a high that will stay with you long after you leave!

This is one of the best value, all-encompassing Byron Bay Hinterland tours available and is great for visitors and locals alike. With no need to pack up the car or unload masses of camping, hiking and biking gear, this tour offers all the adventure without any of the hassle.

All that’s left to do is have fun and enjoy the ride. Are you up for the challenge?

Mount Warning Reopens!

After 8 months of being closed to the public, the Mount Warning walking track was reopened last week. The summit track had to be rebuilt after being severely damaged by tropical cyclone Oswald in January this year.

Mount Warning really does have something for everyone, whether it’s getting out into the bush, the excitement of seeing a koala in the wild or the challenge of walking the 4.5km track to experience 360 degree panoramic views from the top! The walking track climbs through dense ancient rainforest and rewards hikers with a diverse range of flora and fauna. Every footstep on Mount Warning is like travelling back through hundreds of millions of years.

Byron Bay Adventure Tours provides full day or overnight Mount Warning experiences.

CLICK HERE to read more about our Mount Warning Sunrise Walk.

CLICK HERE to read more about our Mount Warning Day Walk.

Take a walk on the wild side today!