Byron Bay is surrounded by a mix of hinterland villages and coastal towns worth building a day trip around.

• Bangalow – boutique shopping, markets and long lunches in a heritage main street.
• Newrybar – a one-street hinterland village built around good coffee and cool shops.
• Lennox Head – a laid-back surf village on Seven Mile Beach.
• Brunswick Heads – a quiet fishing village at the mouth of the Brunswick River.
• Mullumbimby – Byron's arty, earthy alter ego in the Brunswick Valley.
• Ballina – river cruises, beaches and the iconic Big Prawn.
• Murwillumbah – hinterland art and rainforest hikes near Wollumbin National Park.
• Nimbin – a proudly counterculture village in the Nightcap Ranges.

Yes, Ballina is an easy day trip from Byron Bay, sitting an easy 30-minute drive south at the mouth of the Richmond River.

• Take the obligatory photo at the Big Prawn.
• Kayak North Creek or take a Richmond River cruise.
• Browse the galleries and weekend markets.
• Eat straight-off-the-trawler seafood at the Ballina Fishermen's Co-op.

Yes, several nearby destinations suit families particularly well, combining easy activities with places to cool off and let kids run around.

• Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens near Mullumbimby, with gardens, geodes and a labyrinth to explore
• Brunswick Heads, where the calm river is ideal for kayaking with kids
• Ballina's beaches and parks, including North Creek for family-friendly kayaking
• Waterfalls and walking trails in the Byron hinterland, including Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park

Arakwal National Park and Nightcap National Park are both excellent options close to Byron Bay, offering coastal walks, rainforest trails and opportunities to experience the region's natural beauty.

• Arakwal National Park – right on Byron's doorstep, with coastal walking tracks and beach access.
• Nightcap National Park – a World Heritage-listed rainforest about 45 minutes inland, home to Minyon Falls and Protesters Falls.

A car is the most convenient way to explore the Northern Rivers, providing easy access to beaches, waterfalls, hinterland villages and national parks that are difficult to reach by public transport.

• Some towns, like Ballina, Bangalow and Nimbin, are served by regional bus routes, but services are limited and infrequent.
• Hinterland villages such as Newrybar and Mullumbimby, and national parks like Nightcap, are best reached with your own transport.
• See how to get around North Coast NSW for public transport and driving options.

The Byron hinterland is dotted with beautiful waterfalls, from dramatic lookouts to secluded swimming holes.

• Killen Falls – tumbles into a swimming hole inside the last pocket of Big Scrub rainforest, 20 minutes from Ballina.
• Minyon Falls – plunges 100 metres within Nightcap National Park, with walking tracks down to the base.
• Protesters Falls – an easy rainforest walk in World Heritage-listed Nightcap National Park, and the site of Australia's first successful anti-logging protest (but no swimming here).
• Unicorn Falls – a hidden swimming hole in Mt Jerusalem National Park near Uki, about an hour from Byron Bay.

For sweeping coastal views, head to one of these standout lookouts around Byron Bay.

• Cape Byron Lighthouse – sits at the most easterly point of mainland Australia, with views over ocean and hinterland alike.
• Minyon Falls lookout – looks out over the falls and valley below.
• Three Sisters Walking Track – leads to a lookout over secluded beaches and rainforest in Broken Head Nature Reserve.
• Pat Morton Lookout – a favourite at Lennox Head for spotting dolphins, surfers and paragliders, and whales from May to October.

As the most easterly point of mainland Australia, Byron Bay is one of the first places on the continent to see the sun each day. These are the best spots to catch it:

• Cape Byron Lighthouse – and the surrounding headland reserve draw crowds of early risers for the first sunrise on the mainland.
• Wategos Beach – a sheltered spot to watch the sky change colour, often with dolphins in the waves.
• Wander Byron – runs guided sunrise walking tours up to the lighthouse.
• Byron Bay Ballooning & Balloon Aloft Byron Bay – offering sunrise hot air balloon flights over the hinterland, finished with a champagne breakfast.

Byron Bay is surrounded by national parks and reserves, from coastal headlands to rainforest hinterland.

• Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area – protects the headland and lighthouse right on Byron's doorstep.
• Arakwal National Park – co-managed with the local Arakwal Aboriginal community, and home to migratory birds.
• Nightcap National Park – part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area, with waterfalls and glow worms.
• Broken Head Nature Reserve – walking trails to secluded beaches and rainforest.
• Bundjalung National Park – beaches, walking trails and canoeing further south near Evans Head.

Byron Bay has plenty of outdoor activities that are easy and fun for the whole family.

• Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary – a wheelchair-accessible park with kangaroo feeding and keeper talks.
• The Farm Byron Bay – daily free animal feeding sessions on a working farm.
• Lake Ainsworth – a calm, freshwater lake at Lennox Head that's perfect for swimming.
• Wategos Beach – calm, rock-pooled waters that are ideal for young families.
• Ballina Byron Bike Hire – bikes for the whole family to explore the coast together.
• Unicorn Falls – a short, flat walk to a swimming hole in the hinterland.