Located just under the New South Wales/Queensland border, this premier resort town is known for its spectacular beaches, surfing and the laid-back lifestyle of the locals, but I want to focus on the many great Byron Bay camping locations, from those right near the famous Byron Lighthouse to locations slightly outside of town.
Whilst sunny all year round, the best time to visit is between October to December, where temperatures are warm without being humid. Byron Bay has a fun, laid back atmosphere and attracts tourists from all walks of life.
If spectacular the sun and sand aren’t tempting enough, the regular presence of bottlenosed dolphins playing in the sparkling water should guarantee you pay this town a visit. The restaurants In Byron Bay take full advantage of the top quality produce available in the Ballina region. Byron Bay also plays host to one of Australia’s biggest summer festivals, Falls festival, a collection of some of the best international and local music talent.
There is a lot to see and do in Byron Bay and the Ballina coast in this part of New South Wales, and one of the best ways to experience it all is by campervan. The convenience of travelling with a portable bed and kitchen not only allows you the freedom to travel the wild coastal roads around Byron Bay, the town has also plenty of caravan and camping spots that will ensure your night’s sleep is safe and secure.
Whether it’s swimming and surfing, dining out at bars and restaurants, or appreciating the amazing wildlife native to the area, you will always find something to do in Byron Bay. Here are our top three picks for Byron Bay camping:
North Coast Holiday Park
Centrally located with walking distance to some of Australia’s most iconic beaches such as Main Beach, The Pass and Wategoes Beach, North Coast Holiday Park have good sized campsites. The park does have a playground and is listed as family friendly, so be prepared during NSW school holiday to share your accommodation with children.
In addition, the holiday park is clean and well maintained with quality laundry facilities and a night’s stay will set you back from $44AUD per night.
Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park
If you’re looking for something a little off the beaten track, Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park is in a location second to none for a Byron Bay holiday. A five minute drive south of Byron Bay, the park is situated in natural bush land enabling you to fully relax away from any hint of civilization.
Once you have parked your campervan, a twenty metre stroll down a well-worn track will lead you straight out onto Tallow Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Australia. The BBQ area is open and easily accessible ensuring you are able to cook a quick dinner before heading out to fishing, clubbing, or a scenic walk up to the iconic Byron Bay lighthouse for a great view.
From just $38AUD per night, this holiday park offers outstanding value at a budget conscious price.
Reflections Holiday Park Clarkes Beach
The primary reason to stay here is location, location, location. It is literally right there on the beach right there on Cape Byron with amazing views, but close enough to walk easily into town. Some of Australia’s most iconic beaches, including Main Beach, The Pass and Wategoes Beach are all within walking distance of the park.
You can book a cabin here or a powered or unpowered site. There are a number of cabin options, which can sleep anywhere from 2 people to up to 8 people, though they are a bit pricey. Rates for those cabins run from about $200AUD up to $600AUD, but are a really good option for small groups.
Prices for the powered caravan sites are around $80AUD per night and the unpowered locations are around $65AUD per day as well. From our experiences here, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly and we thought the bathrooms were maintained in a clean and thoughtful manner.
Unfortunately, you are not permitted to bring your dog to stay at Clarkes Beach.
Red Devils’ Camping Ground
Red Devil Park is situated only 2.5km from the Byron Bay Centre, offering a ideal and serene stay in Byron Bay. They are close to Tallow Beach and shops either in Suffolk Park It is about a mile and a half from the city center, so only about a 5 minute car or bus ride into Byron proper.
They have both powered unpowered sites for camping, caravan & campervan travelers. Prices run from $15AUS to $35AUS, so it is one of the more affordable options in the area.
The camping area is managed by the Byron Bay Rugby League Club, so if you are a sports lover, this might be the choice for you.
Ingenia Holidays Byron Bay
This camping spot is right across the street from Red Devil Park, but a little closer to the beach, just south of Arakwal National Park and Tallow Beach. This is one of Byron Bay’s largest accommodation providers with 155 camp site and 70 cabins and outstanding modern amenities and facilities to match.
Cabins can sleep 2 to 6 people and run from $160AUS to $300AUS per night. Unpowered and powered sites are $45AUS and $55AUS respectively. Additionally, they an onsite café, a wellness centre, a tourism booking agency and also have bikes for hire.
Broken Head Holiday Parks
This is the furthest park to the south of Byron that we are going to highlight. It is located right next to Broken Head Nature Reserve however, so has that nature highlight right at its doorstep. The Three Sisters walking track is one of the hikes in that park that I’d highly recommend. It is only about a mile long, and it is an easy difficulty hike, but the sights are wonderful.
Like most of the other locations, they have cabins and both unpowered and powered sites. Prices start at $160AUS for the cabins and $35AUS to $40AUS for unpowered and powered sites.
If you are willing to go to about a 30 minute drive south of Byron, you can also check into booking at Camp Drewe or Reflections Holiday Parks Lennox Head.
#1 Byron Bay Camping Spot: First Sun Holiday Park
First Sun Holiday Park offers the most expensive accommodation of the three, starting from $70AUD per night, but the deluxe location is the closest to the restaurants and bars in Byron Bay. In addition, whilst this park can be a little lively at night, it ensures you don’t miss out on anything the nightlife has to offer. They also have the option of waterfront sites available, and watching the waves crash onto the beach straight from your window is an amazing experience and well worth the extra cost.
First Sun also offers Wi-Fi access and the picnic area is open and clean with well stocked camp kitchens. The staff are friendly, and there is security patrolling the area at night so you can feel secure leaving your camper to head off to dinner. It is my choice from all the parks for the place I look forward most to camping at again and although it is a bit further than Reflections Holiday Park Clarkes Beach, you can still easily walk to the Cape Byron State Conservation Area, which is one of the best national parks in all of Australia.
Wherever you stay in Byron Bay, you won’t be far from spectacular beaches, amazing cuisine and the chance to immerse yourself in local art and culture. Byron Bay is a unique town, which has retained a sense of individuality and character and is not to be missed.
If I were to rate Byron Bay versus some of the best places to camp in New Zealand, I’d have to still say I prefer the NZ spots, but Byron Bay is so damn beautiful and there are so many accommodation options available there as well.
