AESM Vol 31, ISSUE 4 2022

Location:<br />

Byron Bay is located in the Northern<br />

Rivers of New South Wales, about 2 hours<br />

south of Brisbane, just across the border.<br />

You can fly into the Gold Coast airport<br />

and hire a car to get yourself down there,<br />

or you can fly directly in Ballina regional<br />

airport from all major capital cities. This<br />

will bring you closer to Byron, but you’ll<br />

still have to hire a car to get from the<br />

Ballina airport to Byron as it’s about a 30<br />

minute drive.<br />

If you live in New South Wales, and you<br />

have the time and inclination, a road trip<br />

to Byron Bay is one of the best ways to<br />

get there as you can drive through the<br />

sprawling greenery of Central New South<br />

Wales to get there, visiting all the major<br />

tourist attractions along the way (we’re<br />

looking at you, Big Banana). Either way,<br />

we definitely recommend having a car<br />

in Byron, because you’ll want to explore<br />

other places around the location like<br />

Brunswick Heads or Bangalow for their<br />

famous markets, and you’ll find it much<br />

easier with four wheels underneath you.<br />

Places to Stay:<br />

Byron has absolutely zero shortage<br />

of places to stay. From camping to<br />

ultimate luxury, you’ll find every type<br />

of accommodation you can think of<br />

in between. We, of course, have kept<br />

to our three major options. Budget,<br />

intermediate and luxury for some great<br />

recommendations. But, if you’re looking<br />

for something outside the box, Byron has<br />

some excellent accommodation so get<br />

googling and find that special place to<br />

stay.<br />

First up for us is the Arts Factory Lodge.<br />

This place is an absolute Byron Bay<br />

institution and, if you’re on a budget, (or<br />

even if you’re not) the Arts Factory is the<br />

place to be.<br />

While it definitely caters more to the<br />

backpacker market, there are a variety<br />

of different accommodation types within<br />

the Arts Factory. So if you’re a couple<br />

looking for an intimate double you can<br />

get this here while still experiencing the<br />

fun and atmosphere that the Arts Factory<br />

provides.<br />

Set on 5 acres, there’s pools, lakes, an<br />

outdoor cinema and the Buddha Day Spa.<br />

Accommodation options include mixed<br />

dorms, teepees and private double rooms<br />

and start from about $50 per person per<br />

night.