Camping in Byron Bay allows you to immerse yourself in Byron Bay’s pristine natural environment while accessing some of the town’s best locations. With the beach or bushland right on your doorstep, wake to the sounds of the waves and the cruisy camping vibe.
Whether you’re pitching a tent, towing a caravan or camper-trailer, renting a modern onsite cabin, living it up in a safari tent, touring in a campervan or throwing a swag out under the stars, camping in Byron Bay is a relaxed and economical way to access all that Byron Bay has to offer.
Byron Bay holiday parks
Located in prime beachfront, bushland and in-town locations, each holiday park in Byron Bay holds its own appeal. There are excellent facilities across all parks, making your Byron Bay camping holiday as comfortable as possible.
For those after a full dose of Byron Bay’s vibrant township, First Sun Holiday Park is the most central of all the holiday parks, located in the heart of town on the beachfront. Facilities include two well-stocked camp kitchens, a grassed picnic area, powered and unpowered sites, ocean-view cabins (ideal for families and small groups), and a shady camping ground.
Nestled around tropical gardens and lakes 2km from the town centre, Byron Bay Tourist Village offers a family-friendly holiday atmosphere. Resort-style facilities include a swimming pool and full-sized tennis court, barbeques, and on-site café and kiosk. The park offers self-contained cabins, en-suite van sites, and powered and unpowered camping sites.
For those seeking a traditional family beach camping experience, Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park offers a quiet and tranquil experience. Located directly on the beach on the south side of town, their options include spectacular Safari Tents that enable you to enjoy all the benefits of camping without the hassle of having to actually bring it all with you.
Other holiday parks and campgrounds are located at Clarkes Beach, Broken Head, and in and around town. In peak times, Red Devils Park on Broken Head Road offers basic facilities; it also caters for pets and large motor homes. Those after an altogether different experience may be tempted by the river-mouth based fishing village of Brunswick Heads 15 minutes to the north.
Byron Bay camping supplies and services
Byron Bay is well equipped to meet all your needs for camping and travelling.
Mitre 10 Byron Bay is well stocked with camping and outdoor supplies, and provides gas bottle refills.
Byron Bay Service Station, located in the centre of town, also provides gas bottle refills, as well as fuel, maps, prepaid mobile credit, NRMA membership, vehicle accessories, tyre repairs and car servicing.
There is also a camping shop located in the Woolworths Plaza.
Byron Bay camping tips
Byron Bay’s sub-tropical climate makes camping an appealing option at any time of year: in Summer, temperatures sit between 20 and 27˚C, and in Winter they range from 11 to 19˚C. However, the rolling green hills of the hinterland and strong regional dairy industry highlight that rain is always on the cards (annually, it rains on about one of every three days, mostly during Summer and Autumn), so do be prepared for this. On-site cabins and safari tents offer great all-weather options if you want to be certain to keep your feet dry.
Booking ahead is a good idea, especially in Summer or if your visit coincides with one of Byron Bay’s many festivals. One of the busiest times of the year is the Easter long weekend. Not only do many people take advantage of the national four-day break to lap up some serious Byron time, but Byron Bay also hosts the internationally-acclaimed Bluesfest. These days Bluesfest occupies its own site at Tyagarah (10 minutes north of Byron Bay) and provides its own camping facilities during the festival. This has taken a lot of pressure off town’s campgrounds and makes Easter a great time for families to visit also.
Byron Bay ‘vanpacking’
If you’re travelling in a campervan (‘vanpacking’), Byron Bay is an almost mandatory stop on the national circuit. Staying in a campground or holiday park offers you the chance to un-pack and re-pack, get clean, meet fellow travellers, and enjoy modern facilities including camp kitchens and barbeques.
For those seeking the elusive ‘free camping’, there are free parking spots just north of Byron Bay on the Pacific Highway. Free camping in Byron Bay and the surrounding suburban areas is not permitted, with fines issued by the Byron Shire Council rangers. Some people claim to have challenged these fines, or merely left the country without paying them, but the locals – whilst welcoming of tourists – have had their patience tested over the years from excessive abuse of their goodwill. Please enjoy your stay, but respect the Bay.