There’s no shortage of beautiful places to see around Byron Bay. I mean, we all know that. But did you know that exploring on foot gives you access some of the best places available?

The greater Byron area has a wealth of natural treasures that are just waiting to be explored, from dramatic sun-drenched coastlines to subtropical remnant rainforests.

Not sure where to start?

Here are 5 of the best walks to tick off your list.

1. Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk

When considering the best walks around Byron Bay it’s impossible not to include the Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk. It’s a classic. Not only do you get stunning panoramic vistas from the lighthouse itself, you also get the cool shade of coastal rainforest, beautiful beaches to have a quick dip and lots of cafes to stop and treat yourself.

It’s the kind of walk you could take a half a day over and experience some of the best of what Byron has to offer in one impressive loop.

The walk has lots of steps and some steep sections so while it’s ideal for taking young kids on your back it’s not a good walk for a stroller.

2. Big Scrub Loop

The Big Scrub rainforest once covered northeastern NSW and was the largest area of subtropical rainforest in Australia, covering a whopping 900 square kilometres. Less than 1% of the Big Scrub remains today. However significant remnants of lowland subtropical and littoral rainforest (one of the rarest types in Australia) still exist.

One such rare remnant sits in the Rocky Creek Dam area of Nightcap National Park and has a beautiful walking trail that loops its way through it.

The old-growth forest is stunningly beautiful and rich with life so if you want to hear and see the forest wildlife it’s not a bad idea to do the walk slowly and quietly.

3. Shaws Bay in Ballina

Shaws Bay is at the mouth of the Richmond River in Ballina. The North Wall of the river creates the bay and offers a fabulous vantage point up the Richmond River. It’s an expansive walk with lots of variety. Perfect for a family walk, the beautiful river beaches offer gentle resting spots and a nice place for a dip on a hot day.

4. Brummies Lookout

The majestic Wollumbin or Mt Warning is the most outstanding feature in the area. Wollumbin is the remnant core of the Tweed volcano, which formed around 23 million years ago when the whole area was a volcanic hotbed. It’s visible from several places in the Byron and Tweed areas, including Cape Byron.

One of the more unique views of Wollumbin is from Brummies Lookout in Wollumbin National Park which offers vast and rare views of the sheer western cliff face of Wollumbin.

5. Norries Head Loop

Cabarita Beach is a coastal gem. The quaint little town has beautiful beaches and one of the best restaurants in the area – Paper Daisy. It’s an easy place to explore on foot and the locals have put great effort into creating beautiful walking areas. The Norries Head Loop takes you out to Norries Headland, a perfect place to do some whale spotting during whale season.

Want to explore further? Check out the Byron Trails guidebook for a complete guide to the best of the natural gems in the area.