Australia’s Byron Bay Is a Blast From the Hippie Past

One of the first places to catch the sunrise in Australia is Byron Bay, whose lighthouse stands on one of the most easterly points in the country. This couldn’t be more appropriate for a town that can easily be described as New Age.

Byron Bay, about an hour south of Brisbane, is a mecca for backpackers. Great surfing beaches, lots of hostel accommodations and a laid-back atmosphere make it a popular destination for independent adventurers who just want to hit the beach and relax.

Hike or ride a bike up to the lighthouse; the coastal view is breathtaking. You look down on beautiful beaches, with colorful hang gliders drifting across the green hills. In June and July or September to November, you might even spot migrating humpback whales.

One of the primary draws for young travelers is Art’s Factory Backpacker Lodge, telephone 011-61-2-6685-7709, Internet https://www.byronbay.com/artsfactory. Originally the location of a pigpen, it now has a five-acre hostel with dormitory accommodations, tents, a communal tepee and a vegetarian restaurant. Guests can sign up for drumming, yoga and didgeridoo (an aboriginal instrument) workshops and join informal talent shows.

Wander around town and you’ll see the New Age influence from aromatherapy and massage services to meditation and tarot card readings. Drive into the nearby hills and you may feel as though you’ve stepped back into the hippie era. The village of Nimbin is known for its alternative lifestyles; storefronts are painted with psychedelic colors, and one shop even hangs a 40-foot-long “joint” from its ceiling, claiming it is the “world’s largest.”

One of the bus services you can use to get from Sydney to Byron Bay is Pioneering Spirit. The trip takes three days and costs about $125. The tour includes stops in Hunter Valley for wine tasting, Booti Booti National Park to see the Green Cathedral outdoor church, Port Macquarie’s Koala Hospital, the sand dunes of Hat Head National Park (you may see wallabies, kangaroos or dolphins) and Dorrigo World Heritage Rain Forest. The tour also includes a two-hour bush walk to a waterfall, white-water rafting or a visit to a gold mine. Tour fees include two nights’ accommodation, entry fees, breakfasts and dinners, transportation and wine tastings. Tours depart from Sydney on Friday mornings.

When the bus returns from Byron Bay, Pioneering Spirit passengers can get a lift back to Sydney for $19, and they are eligible for a 50% discount on Mt. Warning day trips from Byron Bay.

Mt. Warning is a volcano that has been dormant for more than 25 million years. A coast reef created from its lava flow almost wrecked Capt. Cook’s ship Endeavour in 1770. He was the one who gave the mountain its name as a warning to other sailors. The Pioneering Spirit day trips (about an hour from Byron Bay) are $19 and include a two-hour walk (about three miles) through subtropical and temperate rain forest.

For more information, contact Pioneering Spirit, P.O. Box 1473, Byron Bay, NSW 2481, Australia; tel. 011-61-2-9233-1052, Internet https://www.users.omcs.com.au/pioneering.

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Travelers passing through Melbourne, Australia, in March can get information on a variety of budget opportunities at the Backpacker Adventure Travel Show. It will take place March 3 to 5 (the weekend before the Grand Prix) at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, a short walk or free tram ride from the city. Details will be available at local youth hostels.

Lucy Izon is a Toronto-based freelance writer. Internet https://www.izon.com.