Tag Archives: Minyon Falls

Picturesque swim spots around Byron Bay to cool off this Summer

Travelling to Byron Bay over the holiday period? Be prepared, Byron’s enchantment is at the peak in summer – who can argue? The bay offers a charm well beyond the tourist destination persona. A fusion of hinterland backdrops, successful artisans, unique food experiences, ethical mindsets all coming together like a breezy summer love.  It’s the perfect time to take a few of the roads less travelled and experience some of the region’s other natural beauties.  So with summer on our doorstep here’s six spots to cool off, unwind and get back to nature.

Killen Falls

Word is on the street about this picturesque spot, located about a 20minute drive from Byron Bay, off Friday Hut Road on Killen Falls Drive, Tintenbar. Tucked away in lush natural surrounds, Killen Falls is one of several waterfalls in the region and is home to one of the last standing remnants of the big scrub rainforest. The big scrub rainforest once covered the Northern Rivers, until the cedar clearers took most of this forest. Therefore the reserve holds a significant place in Northern Rivers history.

Be sure to pack a picnic, your swimmers, and decent walking shoes as the track is steep and rocky at times. We know, you know, but ensure you take any rubbish with you as being a secluded location – there are no facilities.

Image- Marissa Knight Photography

Harry Hills Beach

Brunswick Heads no longer needs an introduction – a quaint seaside village with ebbs and flows of Gold Coast days gone by. Located about 15 mins north drive of Byron Bay, you’ll find Harry Hills Beach tucked into the other side of Brunswick River. It’s here you’ll find a serene spot, with views up to the Northern Rivers Hinterland and Mt Chincogan. Calm, protected with crystal clear waters, Harry Hills Beach is perfect for families, a lazy picnic, a spot to launch that paddleboard or kayak. Access this picturesque spot by driving the long way round through Ocean Shores and New Brighton along North Head Rd and into the North Head Nature Reserve.

Image: National Parks NSW

Lake Ainsworth

Located in the beautiful seaside village of Lennox Head, Lake Ainsworth is a tea-tree stained dunal lake, located just over the sand dunes of Seven Mile Beach. This is the perfect spot for an invigorating swim, following a salty dip in the ocean. The lake’s tranquil conditions are ideal for canoeing, paddle boarding, child’s play and floating around on inflatable pleasure craft. Visit late afternoon and you’ll be rewarded with a serene sunset over the tea tree waters and native landscape. The lake is located at the northern end of Pacific Parade in Lennox Head.

Image:  Mike Greenslade

Tallows Tea Tree Lake

While we’re talking tea tree waters, it’s worth noting the hidden lake tucked away behind the dunes off Tallow Beach, ideal for swimming. Again, you can stroll off the beach after a refreshing beach swim and dive into the invigorating experience of a tea tree lake. When these tea tree plants grow alongside a lake, as they do in these two locations, their oil slips down into the water, giving the fresh water a tea stained look – the healing properties of the tea tree oil are well known and will make your skin feel revitalised! Relax under the shade of the surrounding trees while you contemplate the next location on your Byron bucket list.

Image: The Travelling Light 

 Boulders Beach, Lennox Head

Still a location most will easily drive past on their north coast holiday migration, but one that offers panoramic coastal vistas, unassuming ruggedness and rockpools for exploring. Known by the locals as a popular surfing spot, Boulders Beach is aptly named after the boulders and

stones that make up the coastline.  The beach is also part of one of the first-ever declared National Surfing Reserves. Here, you’ll beat the crowds of the more well-known beaches and is a perfect spot to venture over the headlands leading towards Lennox Head or Sharpes Beach.  To get there follow the coast road from Byron to Ballina. Watch for the signs as you go past Lennox Head, about a few minutes drive down off the road.

Minyon Falls

Located in the Nightcap National Park, Minyon Falls is a 100 drop waterfall and part a World Heritage listed area, filled with walking tracks, gorges and cascading creeks. A plunge at the bottom into the crystal, cool, pristine and non-salty waters of Minyon Falls

Waterfalls is a must – renowned for its powers of refreshment. Minyon Falls is in fact, a natural spa.

You can join us on our Big Day Out Byron Hinterland Tour(link) where you can fully immerse yourself in this magical place and let our tour leaders do the rest. Our guide will take you on the Minyon Falls Base Walk which leads from the Minyon Falls carpark and is a 2.2km  / 2hrs return walk.  The Minyon Falls Loop Walk is a 8km / 4hr round trip from the Minyon Falls Lookout or a 13km / 6hr walk from the Rummery Park camping area. This longer walk takes you a little deeper into the misty rainforest, past smaller creeks though to Repentance Creek. The falls can be reached by car in approximately 45mins from Byron – as the road to the falls is on an unsealed road, you may want to hop on one of our day or overnight tours, particularly if you are travelling alone or without a car.

Be sure to go to National Parks NSW  to check for any closures or warnings to this area.

A Perfect Ten: Byron Adventures for the 2018 Commonwealth Games

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

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:

  1. It’s close. Gold Coast Airport straddles the NSW-QLD border and its only 45 minutes from Byron Bay via the Pacific Motorway.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7.  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.
  8. Aerial Views from Cape Byron to Surfers Paradise await you at the summit of Mt Warning on our sunrise walk.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

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!

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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.

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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

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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!

Rewards of a Byron Bay Tour

What type of person goes on an adventure-filled Byron Bay tour and what are the rewards?

Stereo-typing the sort of person who goes on one of our Byron Bay tours is as difficult as the Northern Rivers region is diverse.

According to Wikipedia, “Adventure travel is a type of tourism, involving exploration or travel to a remote and possibly hostile areas. Adventure tourism maybe any tourist activity, including two of the following three components: a physical activity, a cultural exchange or interaction and engagement with nature”. Although we’d like to think we’ve omitted the hostile part, we definitely strive to fulfil the later part of this definition on all our Byron Hinterland and Byron Bay tours.

Physical activity is an obvious inclusion, but be assured we tailor our Byron Bay tours to suit the levels of fitness and age of the participants.

By far the most rewarding element of our Byron Bay tours are people connecting with this regions amazing natural attributes. Be it an ancient rainforest, majestic waterfall, fresh water creek swim or watching the migrating whales and their baby calves.

Personally we enjoy tours that encourage cultural exchange – and the Northern Rivers has as many different cultures and counter cultures, as it has picturesque landscapes.

This exposure to the different and new is a strong part of our adventure tours and we guarantee an experience that helps you get out of your comfort zone, connect with nature and interacting with some of the more colourful locals. By eliminating the need for you personally to worry about maps, a GPS, camping gear, vehicles and even food – you can sit back and concentrate on soaking up all the experiences natural and cultural we can expose you to.

So – who goes on an adventure tour? The answer is truly anyone willing to experience new things, regardless of age, fitness or gender.

This experience of the new often leads to bonding experiences within the groups and it’s not unusual for people to meet new best friends or even romantic partners – after all you all have the adventurous spirit in common.

To find out more about our adventure-filled Byron Bay tours click here.