Most visitors see Main Beach and the lighthouse, then wonder where the locals go. These are the Byron Bay hidden gems we love most: waterfalls, a tea tree lake and quiet beaches, most of them within 30 minutes of town. You can visit them on your own, or see them all in one day on our Byron Bay waterfall and hidden gems day tour.
1. Killen Falls: swim behind a waterfall
A hinterland waterfall near Tintenbar, about 30 minutes from Byron Bay, with a round swimming hole and a cave you can walk into behind the falling water. It’s at its best a day or two after rain. Read our Killen Falls guide.
2. Lake Ainsworth: the tea tree lake
A freshwater lake at Lennox Head, stained red by the tea trees around it and known for being soft on your skin and hair. The calm water is perfect for a swim or a first go at stand up paddleboarding. More in our Lake Ainsworth guide.
3. Broken Head and the Three Sisters
Instead of one long beach, Broken Head Nature Reserve is a string of small coves reached by short rainforest tracks. The Three Sisters walk, about 1.5 km return, leads to lookouts where humpback whales pass between about May and November. See our Broken Head guide.
4. Lennox Head
A relaxed village south of Byron with a headland lookout, a surf beach and good cafes. It’s an easy stop to combine with Lake Ainsworth. Read about Lennox Head.
5. The quieter beaches around Byron
Even in town there are spots most visitors miss. Our guide to the best beaches in Byron Bay, including the hidden ones has our picks, and the Cape Byron lighthouse walk is still worth doing early in the morning.
Seeing Byron’s hidden gems without a car
The town beaches and the lighthouse walk are easy on foot, but the waterfalls, the lake and Broken Head are 15 to 30 minutes’ drive away with no easy public transport. Our guide to things to do in Byron Bay without a car covers your options, and a tour with pick-up is the simplest way to see them all in a day.
Rainy day?
The hidden gems don’t disappear in the rain. We run in most weather, and the waterfall is often at its best after rain. For more ideas, see what to do on a rainy day in Byron Bay.
See them all in one day
We pick you up from your Byron Bay accommodation from 11am for a six-hour day with a small group: a swim at Killen Falls, paddleboarding on Lake Ainsworth, lunch in Lennox Head and a bush walk through Broken Head Nature Reserve to quiet beaches and the Three Sisters lookout. The order of stops changes with the weather, tides and conditions, and you’re back by 5pm at the latest.
Bring your swimmers and a camera. We’ll bring the paddleboards and the playlist.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best hidden gems near Byron Bay?
Our favourites are Killen Falls, where you can swim and walk behind the waterfall, the tea tree waters of Lake Ainsworth, and the quiet coves and Three Sisters lookout in Broken Head Nature Reserve.
Can you see Byron Bay’s hidden gems without a car?
Some, like the lighthouse walk and the town beaches, are walkable. The waterfalls, the tea tree lake and Broken Head are a 15 to 30-minute drive away, so without a car the easiest way is a tour with pick-up from your accommodation.
Is there a hidden gems tour in Byron Bay?
Yes. Behind the Bay’s small-group day tour takes in Killen Falls, Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head and Broken Head, with pick-up from your Byron Bay accommodation and paddleboards included.
Is this a good day out for solo travellers?
Yes. It’s a small, social group, and many of our guests are travelling on their own.