The Byron Bay hinterland is the green, rolling country behind the coast: rainforest creeks, waterfalls and swimming holes, all within a short drive of town. Our Byron Bay waterfall and hidden gems day tour takes you into the hinterland and back down to the coast in one easy day, with pick-up from your accommodation.
Our hinterland tour at a glance
- Pick-up: from your Byron Bay accommodation, from 11am (Wake Up! Byron Bay guests at 10:45am)
- Back by: 5pm
- Stops: Killen Falls, Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head and Broken Head Nature Reserve
- Included: transport, a local guide and stand up paddleboards
- Price: $139, or save 10% when you book direct on our website with code BTB26
- Group: a small, social group, great for solo travellers
Where we go
Killen Falls is on every tour. The order of the other stops changes with the weather and tides.
Killen Falls
Every tour includes a swim at Killen Falls, a hinterland waterfall near Tintenbar. Emigrant Creek drops into a round swimming hole, and you can walk into the cave behind the falling water.
Lake Ainsworth
Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head is the tea tree lake. The tea trees stain the water red, and it’s known for being soft on your skin and hair. Its calm water is one of the easiest places near Byron Bay to try stand up paddleboarding, and we bring the boards.
Lennox Head
A relaxed coastal village for lunch, with views from the headland at Lennox Head. Lunch isn’t included, but our guests get 10% off at a local cafe, or you’re welcome to bring your own.
Broken Head Nature Reserve
We walk through Broken Head to quiet beaches and the Three Sisters lookout, where we regularly see dolphins, and humpback whales between about May and November. Wildlife is never guaranteed.
Hinterland tour or drive yourself?
If you have a car and want to spend all day at one waterfall, driving yourself works well. Go early, as the car parks are small and fill quickly on warm days. If you don’t have a car, are travelling solo, or want to see the waterfalls, the tea tree lake and the hidden beaches in one day without worrying about directions or parking, a tour is the easiest way.
Book your hinterland 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.
Planning something for a group? We also run private hinterland tours for groups of up to 40.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Byron Bay hinterland from town?
The green hinterland starts just a few minutes out of town. Killen Falls, near Tintenbar, is about a 30-minute drive south-west of Byron Bay, and Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head is about 25 minutes away.
Can you visit the Byron Bay hinterland without a car?
There’s no easy public transport out to the falls and lakes. Without a car, the simplest way is a guided tour with pick-up from your accommodation, like ours.
Can you swim at the hinterland waterfalls?
Yes. Killen Falls has a swimming hole at its base and a cave you can walk into behind the water. After heavy rain the flow gets much stronger, so always check conditions before you swim.
What should I bring on a hinterland tour?
Swimmers, a towel, comfortable shoes with good grip, a water bottle and a camera. Lunch isn’t included: we stop at a local cafe in Lennox Head where our guests get 10% off, or you can bring your own.
When is the best time to visit the hinterland?
Any time of year. Summer is best for swimming, and the waterfalls are at their most impressive a day or two after rain, once the water has cleared.