| About 180 kilometres south of Brisbane and 800 | | | | south and the Minjunbal in the north. Aboriginal people |
| kilometres north of Sydney, the Byron Bay area is | | | | lived in and visited the Byron Bay area for over |
| Australia's eastern-most mainland coastal region. | | | | 20,000 years. They knew the area as Walgun (The |
| Byron Bay enjoys a mild sub-tropical climate, with | | | | Shoulder), a place of plenty with sheltered sandy |
| summer temperatures averaging 25 to 30 degrees | | | | beaches, abundant seafood, wildlife and rainforest |
| Celsius and average winter temperatures only slightly | | | | fruits, and permanent clean spring water. |
| lower at 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. The area's | | | | Unfortunately, many coastal Aboriginal sites have |
| economy is based mainly on tourism and agriculture, | | | | been lost to sandmining and development, but the |
| with an estimated 1.7 million tourists visiting each year. | | | | remaining sites provide strong evidence of a vibrant |
| Thriving small businesses focus on alternative, cultural | | | | and versatile culture that thrived in an abundant |
| and knowledge industries, and the area is home to a | | | | natural environment. Middens, ceremonial Bora rings, |
| steadily growing population of writers, artists and | | | | burial sites and specially marked trees have all been |
| filmmakers.The town of Byron Bay is renowned for | | | | recorded in the area. The surviving midden and camp |
| the rich diversity of its weekend markets, | | | | site at Cape Byron's Palm Valley is definitely the |
| restaurants, shops and fashion outlets. The Byron | | | | oldest of its type in the region at over 1,000 years |
| Bay area including the hilly hinterland is also known as | | | | old.Cape Byron is one of Byron Bay's main natural |
| something of a mecca for alternative lifestylers who | | | | attractions, and is located just 3 km from the Byron |
| have enriched the local culture and economy with an | | | | Bay Post Office. Cape Byron has a well-deserved |
| enormous variety of small alternative food, art, craft, | | | | international reputation as one of the most beautiful |
| health and natural therapy industries. An area of | | | | locations in the world, boasting lush rainforest, rocky |
| spectacular natural beauty and glorious beaches, | | | | cliff faces, magnificent views of the Byron Bay |
| outdoor activities abound in Byron Bay, ranging from | | | | hinterland and ocean, and excellent vantage points |
| bushwalking and climbing in the nearby hills to surfing, | | | | for watching whales and dolphins from the Cape |
| diving, snorkelling, whale watching, gliding, hang-gliding, | | | | Byron headland. At least two hours should be allowed |
| horse riding and bike riding.The north coast of New | | | | for a comfortable walk around Cape Byron's 5km |
| South Wales is the traditional country of the | | | | walking trail. The trail passes through coastal heath, |
| Bunjalung people. Two sub-groups of the Bunjalung | | | | littoral rainforest, banksia forest and many beautiful |
| frequented the Byron Bay area, the Arakwal in the | | | | vantage points. |