I was recently up in Byron having a think week. There were storms, floods, cyclones and blackouts. And so I did a fair bit of thinking. And fretting. It was a challenging week. I’m a control freak. Storms and cyclones get in my way.
But while I fretted, I happened upon some new happenings in Byron and so I’ve been inspired to update my Bryon Guide. Clip ‘n keep it for your next holiday, or pass it to a mate. Below are some of the highlights…
Image via alexfrings.com
If you’re visiting as a group or family, you’ll love this place…
I used to ride and run past this place most days. Byron Bay Beach Houses is on the Lighthouse Road, just opposite the Captain Cook Lookout (where I would park to surf The Pass). I stayed in the Havana house, set back from the road and backing onto rainforest. It’s a languid, beachy, breezy family home with two big loungerooms, with generous couches and generous cushions and lots of light and air, four bedrooms (to sleep 10), a pool, barbeque areas and two decks. You getting the picture? Breezy, big and great for entertaining.
I invited a bunch of friends over for an indoor picnic (yep, the storms, the floods), mostly because I wanted to put the kitchen to use. Which is big. Breezy. Fully stocked with good gear.
Is it a good location? Yep. Possibly the best. You’re across the road from the beach and a ten minute walk into town. The place is generously equipped with beach gear and towels. Arrive. Unpack. Set up the Connect Four and the barbeque kit.
If you’re a couple or solo, you’ll enjoy this joint…
I’ve mentioned Atlantic Guesthouse in the original Byron Guide. My friends stayed in the Silver Bullet van once, which is cute and quirky, but small. This trip I stayed in their “lodge”. I don’t think they call it a lodge. But it works like this: hotel-size rooms with balconies that feel more like a bedroom in a designer Byron home; own bathrooms; communal kitchen and eating area and deck downstairs; communal gardens; stand-up paddleboards and books and DVDs to borrow.
The lodges are also part of the Art Park artists residency program (artists come to stay in Bryon and do art at Art Park and stay at Atlantic; their art then displays around the property and is for sale). All of which adds a lovely creative vibe to the place. I love the feel here. Fresh and whimsical.
Is it a good location? Yep. In the middle of town, across the road from Targa restaurant (a local’s favourite).
If you’re after a quirky bar/cafe/wholefood restaurant, you’ll dig this…
OK, the boys who used to make great coffee at The Top Shop have opened a joint just out of town called The Roadhouse. At night it’s a whisky bar and they churn out simple risottos and slow cooked stuff. By day they do organic coffee made with organic milk, fermented turmeric and ginger kombucha, avocado and coconut water smoothies that come in recycled jars, a pumpkin, homemade fermented labna, spec and herbs breakfast with sauerkraut…you get the picture, right? They’re totally Sally Fallon’ed up!
Fermented ginger turmeric kombucha tea
A Breakfast of Organic Wholefood Champions: fermented labna, pumpkin, homegrown herbs and sauerkraut with organic milk coffee and turmeric kombucha…
Everything in the place is organic and mostly local. There are herb gardens outside. And a fireplace. Love it. Give Liam and Dwayne a kiss from me (cute, 20-something surfer boys).
If you’re after a raw bar, you’ll be refreshed by this…
I’ve mentioned my mate Jemma’s Naked Treaties in the Guide. She’s now opened a great place on one of the main drags (down from Targa). It’s astonishingly fresh and healthy. Her smoothies are meals. Try the “I am abundant”…a chocolaty, green, coconutty dream. Say Hi to Jemma from me if you’re in there. She radiates raw good health.
Feel free to add your tips below. And check out my full Byron guide here.
Ooh, The Roadhouse sounds really good!
We were in Byron Bay a couple years back and loved “The Balcony”, not sure if it’s still there but the cocktails & the atmosphere were pretty great!
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Love this, thanks Sarah! Saw your snaps of The Roadhouse on Instagram and had already screen grabbed to remind me on my next trip down. Love the idea of a think week. Going to have one myself in Bali in June and cannot wait!
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Great to know – they’re all places I’d love to try! The Roadhouse sounds triffic.
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Sarah, looks fabulous. Have tagged your blogs for our first visit to Byron later this year. I was wondering if you could recommend accommodation a bit more reasonably priced for a family of 4. All recommendations so far are quite pricey… I have recommended your blog to so many people – love it!
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March 7th, 2013 at 11:40 am
Judy, we stayed at the Oasis resort – one of those good ol’ fashioned resorts where the married couple owner/operators can be seen doing everything from greeting guests at reception to skimming leaves from the pool. It had two tennis courts, a few barbeques and even a games room. The 2 bedroom apartment was clean and modern.
Have fun!
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March 7th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Judy The Byron Bay beach Houses sleep up to 20 – two villas with 10 in each OR for four in off peak. We can close off a few rooms and offer a better price. We do amazing specials – really worth enlisting on our FB page.
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Spell check! Bryon hehe
I miss living in Byron so much. I miss strolling up to Top Shop after my morning swims and I miss cycling around. I miss the Autumn clean air free of tourists and the beautiful warm water temperature. I miss Heart & Halo cafe with their yummy vege treats.
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This post makes me miss Byron!
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March 7th, 2013 at 11:41 am
Me too. I’d move there tomorrow if I could!
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Hi Sarah, thank you sooo much for your Byron Guide. We’ve been going up there for years, but when we were up there in January, we discovered so many new places and things to do thanks to your guide. Hello Top Shop!! Must have driven past it a hundred times in the last decade and never went in.
We also decided to stay a few nights in the hinterland which our surf-loving family have never done, and discovered a whole new world of roadside stalls and macadamia groves and sneaky local swimming holes. I wrote all about it here if you’re interested, including details about the cottage we rented – http://bumparella.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/the-other-byron.html. I couldn’t believe how much natural beauty lay beyond Bangalow.
Also discovered Harvest at Newrybar for the first time. Thank God I hadn’t started the IQS program yet
Yum!!
Thanks gorgeous xx
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Hi Sarah,
I loved reading your Byron guide. The Roadhouse is a great new Byron cafe!
You probably didnt get a chance to make it to colourful Mullumbimby (about 10-15mins north of Byron) in all the rain but another great place to visit especially for all you foodies is The Source Bulk Foods. This cool bulk food shop has over 300 products available – you can stock up on nuts, grains, snacks, confectionery, oils, health foods, spices etc etc. About half the products are organic and many are sourced locally.
Mullum is a great town, the way Byron used to be and well worth a visit.
The Source is on Stuart St which is just off the main drag (near Mitre 10 and next door to Edens Landing Fruit & Veg – the busiest little organic shop in town!)
The Source Bulk Foods just opened in Sydney also and is well worth the visit. The store is twice as big and has a huge range of products all in bulk!! Its at 262 Darling St, Balmain.
http://www.facebook.com/TheSourceBulkFoods
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There’s a great place to have a meal (very kid friendly and everyone friendly really) opposite Belongil Beach called the Treehouse. (http://www.treehouseonbelongil.com/) It burnt down last year but should be opening again soon after a long refurbishment. They have simple food (pizzas) and live music…very nice vibe.
Also there is an apartment smack-bang in the middle of town (just near Atlantic and Targa, but closer to Naked Treaties and St Elmos) tucked away in a little lane, so it’s very private called The Flat (http://www.aflatinbyron.com.au/). Great for families and has a nice little back garden with a big concrete couch that sits about 10 people. Only a block or 2 to the beach and one block over from the main street.
Also highly recommend a cafe in Mullum called Rock’n'roll who do great coffee, great asian inspired food for breakfast, lunch and 3 – 4 nights a week they’re open for dinner. They are also tucked away in a little lane off the main drag, between the bakery and a giftware/florist.
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When I’m in Byron I love staying at Gaia Retreat and Spa. The healthy food, spa treatments and wonderful staff make visiting Bryon a real treat.
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Hi Sarah,
Your Byron guide is fantastic, such a great resource. I have just moved up here to improve my health and wellbeing, and i find your tips very helpful. I have just finished the IIN course as well – brilliant stuff. Congratulations on your book – i’ve recommended it to several friends who are keen to quit sugar but a bit scared to start.
Another great place is The Conscious Cafe (www.consciouscafe.com.au) – great for people who want to try raw food as well as gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, sugar-free alternatives. The best part is it has a library of fabulous information and handouts about nutrition and healthy living (plus an emphasis on ‘primary food’) – Joshua would love it.
Keep up the great work – its so inspiring.
Cheers and thanks, bec
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We are just driving bk from Byron now. Was so refreshing. I fell in love w mullumbimby. You must go for the egg kurosawa At the rock & roll coffee company. Was so amazing. Loved stocking up at The source bulk foods. The op shops are true op shops unlike the heart of Byron. We stayed in byron at cavvanbah which is great for couples and we took the room w the outdoor Bali bath. Loved sitting outside in the tub, coconut in hand and looking up at the stars!
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Hi Sarah,
Great new additions to the Byron guide – I live here and think i need a “think month”!! Amazed at how many places you seem to get to!
Have heard great things about the Roadhouse, clearly need to drop in and enjoy the food, oh and say hi to your cute 20 something surfer dudes
Just so you know i think today is the first day it hasn’t rained at our place (we are in Brooklet) – touch wood – since all the storms……sun is out – yay!
And there is a mowin’ to be done! x
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Wonderful to fill in the details of my “desires”! Thanks so much
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I would like the recipe for this turmeric tea
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Perfectly timed update – we arrived in byron on thurs, just as your email hit my inbox
In a quick 4 day stay we had brekkies at The Roadhouse (my #1 highlight), Dip (great GF corn fritters) and Bayleaf. I pigged out at Naked Treaties – I am powerful, I am chilled, Jaffa ganache, & 2 long blacks with almond milk… and had dinners at St Elmos, The Balcony & another place that I won’t recommend… can’t get everything right! I love the food in Byron – so many ppl making an effort and cooking with love & environmental sensitivity. I should also mention CrossfitBB, if you’re into that sort of thing Nick, Joe & their members will make you welcome and WORK YOU HARD! PS we stayed at “plan b” cottage – gorgeous.
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Hi Sarah,
I recently bought and read and loved your I Quit Sugar book. Thank you for writing it.
Regarding insomnia, do you use blue light blocking glasses in the evening? Is there a brand you recommend? Not many of them are able to fit over prescription glasses so I was wondering if you found a pair that does.
Thank you
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I am planning a break in Byron Bay in July to unwind after a conference in Sydney. I don’t like flying (the flights to and from Perthwill be enough) so will catch the train, staying overnight somewhere along the way. Can you recommend a half way stay, plus budget accommodation for a solo person in Byron? Would rather spend my money on eating out at some of those places you recommend than on fancy accommodation!
Thanks!
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Hi Sarah,
I’m reading this post makes me want to move to Byron! However, as I am a Sydney sider, what cafes/restaurants would you recommend for their food?
Thanks!
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