Tag Archives: Climb Mount Warning

A Perfect Ten: Byron Adventures for the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Sunrise views from Cape Byron to Surfers Paradise with Byron Bay Adventure Tours

Just across the border, Byron Bay is the perfect short break for visitors to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. As you drive south across the QLD-NSW state border, the contrast between the Gold Coast’s urbanised glitz and glamour and Northern Rivers NSW’s low-rise landscape and laidback vibe is visually striking.

High-rise buildings and traffic lights give way to meandering country roads, fertile farms, ancient rainforests, verdant pastures, spectacularly beautiful coastline and perfectly formed towns and villages with a human scale. Seeing Mt Warning (Wollumbin) loom into silhouetted view signals that you are in a place where nature really dominates the landscape, its jagged peak catching clouds and standing sentinel over a cornucopia of biodiversity shaped over millennia.

Taking place from 4-15 April 2018 in venues across the Gold Coast, the XXI Commonwealth Games will see 70 nations and territories competing in 23 sporting events. Here’s ten reasons why visiting Byron Bay and surrounds pre or post the Commonwealth Games:

It’s close. Gold Coast Airport straddles the NSW-QLD border and its only 45 minutes from Byron Bay via the Pacific Motorway.
Blissful weather. The sub-tropical climate in autumn is just heaven on a stick. Crisp, cool evenings and warm sunny days reward visitors to the Northern Rivers outside of peak season.
Blues, Roots, Soul and Rock n Roll. The 29th annual Byron Bay Bluesfest takes place over the Easter weekend, just two days before the start of the Commonwealth Games. Its the perfect opportunity to combine sporting and cultural events into a once in a lifetime holiday experience.
Day and overnight trips for any size group. From couples, to families to an entire sporting team, Byron Bay Adventure Tours can accommodate almost any size group on nature-based, eco-certified adventures into Byron Bay’s iconic coastal and hinterland attractions and places of interest.
A breathe of fresh air away from the crowds. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, escaping to Byron and beyond for a few days offers space to breathe away from what will be an extremely busy two weeks on the Gold Coast.
Get Physical. All that sporting prowess is bound to inspire spectators to get physical. Byron Bay Adventure Tours specialise in active, nature-based adventure. Our tours combine sightseeing with adventure sports like bushwalking and mountain-biking along beaches and through National Parks, hiking to the summit of Mt Warning, kayaking with dolphins, yoga and learning to surf. Check out our Earth to Surf Adventure combining a bushwalk to the base of Minyon Falls and kayaking with dolphins.
Align your Chakra. A visit and delicious lunch at the iconic Crystal Castle is included in our great value Byron & Beyond Tour. Walk in the exquisite natural surroundings, contemplate life and unwind among the crystals and statues of eastern deities. You can join daily workshops and experiences, including the Music of the Plants experience.
Aerial Views from Cape Byron to Surfers Paradise await you at the summit of Mt Warning on our sunrise walk.
Market culture. From Byron’s weekly farmers market to the North Coast’s oldest continually operating craft market at the beautiful village of The Channon, there’s a vibrant community market within a short drive of Byron Bay on any given weekend. Artists, farmers, craftspeople, purveyors of second hand treasure and producers of a bounty of food gather to sell their wares in Byron, The Channon, Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads and Bangalow, among many other villages.
Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit –Whether you seek therapeutic treatment for a sporting injury through Reike, massage, Bowen or acupuncture therapy, or the flowing connection of movement and breath through yoga, if you need healing, there’s someone to heal you in Byron and beyond. Daily poolside yoga is a great way to start the day in Byron Bay.

For a perfect ten score of nature-based and cultural experiences during the Commonwealth Games, Byron Bay Adventures Tours have got you covered.

Weekend Adventure in Byron Bay

It’s “The weekend” Heya!!! – two days more precious than gold, the shining light at the end of the work week. But does your two day holiday just seem to disappear without you having done much at all? For those of you who yearn for an action-filled weekend, we’re about to give you 3 incredible ways to break free and get two big days of adventure, adrenalin and fun! You’re going to get the best of the beach AND the Byron hinterland including overnight accommodation, meals and a once in a lifetime experience for less than an average Saturday night out.

Waterfall Dreaming & The Village of Rainbows – The Overnight Escape Adventure Tour

Top weekend for: Mixing rainforests, 4WDing and rock pool swims with some café cool and market delights. Feel free to bring a guitar for the camp fire and be ready to laugh, chat and eat. This weekend escape is chilled out with loads of local culture and village life, finished off with the best of Byron’s beaches and hinterland. You’ll go home having seen loads, but feeling relaxed and refreshed. Check out the detailed itinerary here.

Rock & Roll Action – Bike n’ Hike Adventure Tour

Top weekend for: Unleashing your inner action hero, because this isn’t an average weekend – it’s a nature and adrenalin lovers double-shot. Get the freedom of the forest and the natural highs of rugged mountain biking fun at Minyon Falls followed by a Mount Warning sunrise climb. Break up all the action with hearty BBQ’s and fresh water rock pool swims. Your starry evening is spent listening to the forest sounds and relaxing before your pre-dawn hike up Mount Warning to bask in the first sunrays to hit Australia. These 2 days will work your body, refresh your mind and completely wash away your every day stress. Check it out further here.

Deep Blue Meets Lush Green – Ocean to Summit Adventure Tour

Top weekend for: Replacing the sounds of traffic and hustling crowds with lapping water and the rainforest. This tour begins with an ocean kayak on arguably the most beautiful bay in the world, Byron Bay. Be totally swept away by your encounters with dolphins, turtles and migrating whales (during the winter months), before heading to the base of Mount Warning where we set-up camp for the night. Unwind and relax around the campfire while you enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner and toast marshmallows. The next morning, take to the walking track for a two hour (4.5km) climb up Mount Warning reaching the summit as the sun starts to rise over the easternmost point of Australia. Two worlds, two days, one amazing weekend. Want more information? See here.

Don’t let another weekend go past in a blur. The memories and friends you’ll collect on a weekend Byron Bay Adventure Tour will remain with your for a long time to come. Getting here is pretty easy too, with affordable flights available to Ballina/Byron Gateway Airport from Sydney and Melbourne and buses from the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Of course a long weekend will buy you enough time to road trip it in, which will only add to the adventure! Our expert crew will take care of all the gear, overnight accommodation and transport during your tour, so you only need pack light. But don’t forget to bring your sense of adventure, spirit and willingness to have fun!

Booking a Tour vs. Going it Alone: Why it Pays to Book a Tour

If you’ve decided to read this article then you’re probably in one of two mindsets – firstly you’re considering the option of booking a tour on your next Byron Bay getaway or you’ve already booked yourself into what sounds like an amazing tour but you’re still a little unsure. Either way, we understand and we’re here to help.

We know that tours can be thought of as “not for real travellers”, for people who enjoy buses or worse still only for twenty-something party goers (think Euro party tours…eeeek). The reality is that a GREAT guided tour (and we place a lot of emphasis on the word GREAT because quality really does make a difference) will add so much to experiencing your chosen destination and often leave you with a deeper appreciation of a place than if you had explored it on your own.

Don’t get us wrong, finding things for yourself is a fun and an exciting part of travel, but a guide who has all the inside information can save you hours of research time, hidden expenses and the hassle of packing mountains of camping gear and equipment. It’s also the snippets of local-only knowledge that will have you looking at your destination through a whole new set of eyes.

Here are our top 5 reasons why it pays to book a tour (especially with Byron Bay Adventure Tours!) instead of flying solo:

1. YOUR TIME IS PRECIOUS

Getting a little help to get the most out of your precious holiday in Byron Bay is the same as using your dishwasher at home. You could do it all yourself but WHY?? An expert, experienced guide will have done their job thousands of times over and know what combination of activities and landmarks work well together. They know the quickest roads and short cuts to get you there, and often have special access levels to cut through queues and other time wasting obstacles. Here at Byron Bay Adventure Tours we have spent many years perfecting our tours creating combinations of activities to suit all tastes and abilities. We want you to get most out of every minute and leave Byron Bay knowing you’ve haven’t wasted a second.

2. LIGHTEN THE LOAD

Tents, mountain bikes, kayaks, life jackets, head lights, safety gear, sleeping bags and food. Whew! Try bringing all that on a plane. Booking a Byron Bay Adventure Tour means you can have the use of top quality gear without having to bring it with you, hire it or carry it. Sound good? – It is. If you’re backpacking, camper vanning or only taking a short break, the burden of loads of equipment or purchasing gear you may only use once is something you just don’t need. So leave that concern for your friendly and helpful tour operator who should gladly (like we do) provide you with everything you’ll need to be paddling, riding or camping out and then say goodbye to it when you’re done. It’s so much easier and leaves space in your pack for the souvenirs and special finds you’ll pick up on your adventures!

3. SAFETY FIRST

You may not want to think about it, but when you’re travelling there are plenty of things that can and do go wrong. It’s an unfortunate fact that every year thousands of travellers get themselves into trouble, get injured or take unnecessary risks by simply misjudging their timing or experience (especially when venturing into nature). When you choose an accredited tour company, like we are, you’re not only getting a great experience but you’re also getting the reassurance and peace of mind that your safety and well-being is at the top of the priority list.

4. BUILD FRIENDSHIPS

Regardless of whether you’re travelling with a group or on your own, meeting people is part of what makes travel such an alluring pursuit. When you have the freedom of not having to worry about the details, a tour can be a fantastic way to get to know other travellers and also meet the locals. Sharing the sheer adrenalin of mountain biking in the rainforests of Minyon Falls, flying over the most easterly point of Australia in a Gyrocopter or making it to the summit of Mt Warning at dawn, you can’t help but form friendships with those you are with. It’s part of being human and brings people together.

5. R.E.S.P.E.C.T

It’s a beautiful thing to get close to nature. Exploring a regions natural wonders with an accredited eco-tourism operator is an ethical way of doing so. As a fully eco-certified tour operator, we know what it means to tread lightly and leave as little impact on our World Heritage Areas, National Parks and Marine Reserves – which are home to some of the rarest plants and creatures on earth. If you believe in protecting our planet for future generations to enjoy, make travel choices that reflect this and go home with a clean and green conscience.

There’s one thing that we will always come back to when talking about adventure tours, and that’s finding the good ones. Experience, friendliness and local knowledge are all essential but you’ll be able to tell the best from the rest by what fellow travellers have had to say. As tour guides we not only love our beautiful Byron Bay home, but also love what we do and we put our hearts and souls into making each and every trip full of incredible and unforgettable moments. Every person who comes with us, from team building day trips to world travellers to families to couples, are given our best EVERY TIME.

Like to see what your fellow traveller thinks about Byron Bay Adventure Tours? Click here to read our TripAdvisor reviews.

To book your Byron Bay Adventure Tour today, click here.

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.

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.