What to do in Byron Bay with kids? Located on the east coast of Australia, Byron Bay is known for its fine climate. Families with kids can enjoy the various beautiful beaches, nature and the fine atmosphere in Byron Bay. In addition, you have several fun children’s activities in the area that you can do with the family. In this blog, we list the best activities you can do in Byron Bay with kids.
Best travel time Byron Bay with kids
You can visit Byron Bay with kids year-round. In the winter months of June, July and August, temperatures remain between 15 and 20 degrees. However, it may be too cold then to go swimming with kids.
The warmest months are November through March, where temperatures are around 25 degrees, and certainly in December and January, temperatures can then exceed 30 degrees. These 2 months are also the busiest months in Byron Bay, as it is high season and hotel accommodation prices are also the highest.
Most rain falls in the months of February, March and April. If you do have to pick a best travel time for Byron Bay, these are the months of October and November. Then the temperatures are already good and you are still before the big crowds of the months of December and January.
Transportation to Byron Bay
Byron Bay is on the east coast of Australia and buses run between the various cities on the east coast. Of course, it is also possible to fly from city to city. This is the fastest way to get around, but also an expensive way. The disadvantage then, of course, is that you don’t have transportation in the various cities to drive to the various sights.
Renting a car or RV can then be very easy with kids. You will have the freedom and you will not depend on public transportation. You can rent a car in Australia through Sunny Cars. We ourselves almost always rent a car through this company. You pay one fee and that includes most insurance and often the deductible.
For more information on renting a car in Australia through Sunny Cars, take a look here.
Children’s activities Byron Bay
#1 Main Beach
One of the main reasons, why families with kids travel to Byron Bay is because of the beaches. You have several family-friendly beaches in the Byron Bay area, and Main Beach is the city’s most famous beach. This is also the beach closest to the city. You can walk straight to this beach from the center and this beach is definitely family-friendly because of its many facilities.
For example, Main Beach has several lifeguards keeping an eye on people in the sea. You also have several play opportunities for kids at Main Beach. For example, at the Apex park that is located by the beach, you have a playground that is also in the shade where the kids can play. You also have restrooms, picnic tables, bbqs and enough grassy areas with trees with shade to have a great time at this beach for a whole day. Because the city is so close to this beach, you can also easily walk into town from the beach to have lunch with the family.
Another beach you can visit in Byron Bay with kids is Belongil Beach. This beach is next to Main Beach, so it is also easy to visit from the city. You can also go horseback riding along the shore at this beach with kids. You can do this with Zephyr Horses Byron Bay and this organization offers tours in small groups on the beach and in nature. If your kids love horseback riding, this can be a really fun option to do in Byron Bay.
#2 Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
You can also go see different animals in the Byron Bay area with kids. So you have Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and this animal park is located just south of Byron Bay about a 20-minute drive from downtown. Here you can view various Australian animals such as the kangaroo and koala, as well as several other small animals, including various snakes, farm animals and birds.
You can also book different tours at this animal park, where you can get even closer to certain animals. You can also go to different animal shows at the animal park. It is possible to have lunch at the zoo’s restaurant. They have a variety of dishes here such as burgers, salads and pancakes. You can also have a nice ice cream here.
Keep in mind that online reviews about the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary are not always good. The Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was formerly the Macadania Castle and since then the park did deteriorate according to many. For more information on opening hours, address and various children’s activities, take a look at Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary‘s website.
#3 Snorkeling with turtles
You can also go snorkeling near Byron Bay with kids. You can do this at Julian Rock, among others. Julian Rock is located in the Cape Byron Marine Park and here you have the chance to encounter turtles, for example. You can book tours here from Byron Bay that take about 2.5 hours. This is possible with kids as young as 7 years old. Besides the turtles, you can also spot manta rays, eagle rays and harmless leopard sharks. For more information about this tour, take a look here.
Another tour you can book in Byron Bay is to go kayaking along the coast of Byron Bay. This tour also takes about 2.5 hours and is suitable for kids ages 6 and up. You may encounter turtles and dolphins, among others, while kayaking. June through October is also the season for whales and it is possible to spot these animals at sea as well. For more information about this tour, take a look here.
As we just mentioned, it is possible to spot whales at sea from June through October. With luck, you’ll have points along the water’s edge where you can spot these big fish, but you can also go on a tour by boat. This tour also takes about 2.5 hours and especially with small kids then this can be a fine option. After all, they don’t have to take action themselves here. For more information about this tour, take a look here.
#4 Fairy Trail
You can also go on several family hikes in the Byron Bay area. One of these hikes is the Fairy Trail. You can walk this trail at the Elements of Byron resort and at 8 different spots you can encounter little fairy tale characters. You can get a map at the resort’s front desk. Along the way on this route, you’ll also come across a playground for the kids.
Another walk you can do in the Byron Bay area with kids is the Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk. This hike is back and forth a little less than 4 kilometers long, and for younger kids, the hike can be a bit strenuous due to the various stairs you have to climb. You have beautiful views of the coast here.
You can park your car at the Captain Cook Lookout, but especially in high season it can be difficult to find a parking spot here. This hike is part of the several hikes you can do in the Arakwal National Park. Most of these walks are along the Byron Bay coastline.
#5 Circus School
You can book several workshops at this Circus school for kids of different ages. It is already possible for kids as young as 1 year old to join one of the workshops. You have different parts such as workshops in the trapezes, on the trampolines and taking a ninja course. Especially for kids who like climbing and scrambling, this is a fun kids’ activity in Byron Bay. Check the Circus School website to see at what times, which workshops are held.
Another fun children’s activity in Byron Bay is to take a ride on the train. In fact, you have the first solar-powered train in Byron Bay. In total, the train ride takes 10 minutes for a one-way trip and if you take the train both out and back, you will be on the road for 25 minutes. The train connects Byron Bay to the northern beaches, and it’s definitely fun to take a ride on the train with kids.
Family-friendly restaurant Byron Bay
You have several nice family-friendly restaurants in Byron Bay. You have several restaurants in town that also offer a menu specifically for kids. We list some of these family-friendly restaurants in Byron Bay below.
The Farm Byron Bay: This family-friendly restaurant is located just outside Byron Bay a little less than a 10-minute drive from downtown. In addition to eating in the restaurant here, kids can also feed the animals on this farm. They have a special children’s menu here for both breakfast, lunch and dinner with different dishes. In addition, you will find a bakery and an ice cream parlor on this farm.
North Byron Hotel: This restaurant is located in the center of Byron Bay, and again they have a menu especially for kids. There is also a vegan option on this children’s menu for those who love it. They also have a playground located near the restaurant for kids and also a large grassy area where the kids can play.
Suffolk Park Hotel: this hotel’s restaurant is located just outside the center of Byron Bay a few minutes away by car. This hotel also has both a menu specifically for children and a playground, where kids can have fun. It is also possible for kids to play in the hotel’s garden, with parents having a view of the kids from the dining area.
Family-friendly hotel Byron Bay
You can stay in Byron Bay with kids just fine. You have several nice family-friendly hotels in Byron Bay where you can stay with the family. Below we list the top rated family-friendly hotels in Byron Bay in each price range. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget hotel: YHA Byron Bay
Mid-range hotel: Wollongbar Motel
Luxury hotel: The Lord Byron
Do the above 3 options not include suitable accommodation for you? Then check out the full list of family-friendly accommodations in Byron Bay.
