Short answer
For most backpackers the best Byron Bay activity is a surf lesson, and the best Byron Bay tour to build a few days around is a surf lesson plus a day out of town. For a first lesson, the Byron Bay Half-Day Surf Lesson from $79 includes pickup and all gear, and the 3-Hour Small Group Surf Lesson from $89 is at Clarkes Beach in town. To live the surf life for a few days, the Byron Bay Surf & Stay from $279 gives you a bell tent and a lesson each day. For wildlife, the Kayak with the Dolphins Tour from $99. For a day away from the beach, Behind The Bay from $119.
Prices are per person in AUD and update from our live listings.
The shortlist
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01Our top pick
Byron Bay Half-Day Surf Lesson (Oct to April)surf lesson3–4 hours
from $79
Starts: pickup from your Byron accommodation, 8:30am -
02
3-Hour Small Group Surf Lessonsurf lesson3 hours
from $89
Starts: Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay -
03
Byron Bay 2-Lesson Surf Pack (Oct to April)surf lessons2 days
from $139
Starts: return transport from Byron -
04
Byron Bay Surf & Staysurf camp stay3 days, 2 nights
from $279
Starts: surf camp, 10 minutes’ walk from town -
05
Byron Bay Surf Tour5-lesson surf course5 days
from $409
Starts: transport to the beach included -
06
Kayak with the Dolphins Toursea kayak2.5 hours
from $99
Starts: Clarks Beach -
07
Byron Bay SUP Group Lessonpaddleboard lesson2 hours
from $89
Starts: courtesy bus transfer -
08
Behind The Bay Waterfall, Lake & Coast Day Tourguided day trip6 hours
from $119
Starts: pickup and drop-off in Byron Bay -
09
Byron Bay Whale Watching Safariboat safari, June to October3 hours
from $139
Starts: Brunswick Heads -
10
Byron Bay Tandem Skydive 15,000ftskydive3 hours
from $379
Starts: transfer from your Byron accommodation
Compare them side by side
| # | Trip | Format | Length | Group and ages | From | Meet or pickup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Byron Bay Half-Day Surf Lesson (Oct to April) | surf lesson | 3 to 4 hours | 1 coach to 8 surfers, ages 15+ | $79 | pickup from your Byron accommodation, 8:30am |
| 2 | 3-Hour Small Group Surf Lesson | surf lesson | 3 hours | max 10, 2 instructors, ages 5 to 95 | $89 | Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay |
| 3 | Byron Bay 2-Lesson Surf Pack (Oct to April) | surf lessons | 2 days | max 6 per group | $139 | return transport from Byron |
| 4 | Byron Bay Surf & Stay | surf camp stay | 3 days, 2 nights | bell tent at a surf camp | $279 | surf camp, 10 minutes’ walk from town |
| 5 | Byron Bay Surf Tour | 5-lesson surf course | 5 days | ages 13+ | $409 | transport to the beach included |
| 6 | Kayak with the Dolphins Tour | sea kayak | 2.5 hours | guided group | $99 | Clarks Beach |
| 7 | Byron Bay SUP Group Lesson | paddleboard lesson | 2 hours | small group | $89 | courtesy bus transfer |
| 8 | Behind The Bay Waterfall, Lake & Coast Day Tour | guided day trip | 6 hours | guided group | $119 | pickup and drop-off in Byron Bay |
| 9 | Byron Bay Whale Watching Safari | boat safari, June to October | 3 hours | max 12 | $139 | Brunswick Heads |
| 10 | Byron Bay Tandem Skydive 15,000ft | skydive | 3 hours | tandem | $379 | transfer from your Byron accommodation |
How the formats differ: surf lessons are the core of a Byron stay, and they differ in where they run and how long you are in the water. Everything else on this list is a half-day or less, so you can stack two or three in a week.
Byron Bay Half-Day Surf Lesson (Oct to April), from $79. The van picks you up at 8:30am and drives to whichever beach between Lennox Head and Ballina has the best learner waves that morning. One coach to eight surfers, a stretch and beach lesson, then most of the session in the water, back in Byron about 3 to 4 hours after pickup.
Included: soft board, rashie, wetsuit when needed, return transport and an accredited coach. You need to swim 50 metres unaided. Ages 15 and over. Outside October to April the half-day lesson runs as an afternoon session instead of the morning.
Who it suits Complete beginners who want a proper session and do not mind a short drive.
3-Hour Small Group Surf Lesson in Byron Bay, from $89. Three hours at Clarkes Beach, which you can walk to from anywhere in town, with up to two hours of surfing. Maximum ten surfers and two instructors in the surf zone, taught by the operator’s longest-serving instructor. The operator says ages five to 95, with no swimming needed because you learn in water you can stand in. Start times move with the tide and are confirmed when you book.
Included: surfboard, wetsuit, rash shirt, sunscreen and wax, plus a rips and surf-safety briefing.
Who it suits Beginners who want to stay in town, and mixed-age groups.
- 2-Lesson Surf Pack (Oct to April), from $139. Two lessons across Byron Bay, Lennox Head and Ballina, max six per group, with pro coaching, all gear and return transport from Byron.
- Byron Bay Surf & Stay (3D/2N), from $279. Two nights in a teepee-style bell tent at a surf camp 10 minutes’ walk from town, with a pool, hammocks, table tennis, pool table, volleyball and a community kitchen. One lesson a day (8:30am) with gear included. No lesson runs on arrival day.
- Byron Bay Surf Tour, from $409. Five consecutive 3 to 4 hour lessons with Surfing Australia-certified instructors, progressing from the pop-up to riding unbroken waves on your own. The school picks the beginner beach each day from more than 10 locations. Ages 13 and up; boards, wetsuits and transport included.
Who they suit The Surf & Stay for people who want accommodation and lessons in one booking; the 5-day course for anyone who wants to leave able to surf unaided. How the Surf & Stay compares with every other Byron surf camp on price is in the cheapest surf camp in Byron Bay.
Kayak with the Dolphins Tour, from $99. Sea kayak from Clarks Beach along the Cape to Wategos, where Byron’s resident dolphins hang out, with kayak surfing on the way back. If you do not see a dolphin (or a whale, in whale season), you can come again for free. All safety gear, wetsuits and helmets are included, and tour photos are shared free online.
Who it suits Active travellers who want a dolphin sighting with a guarantee.
Behind The Bay Waterfall, Lake & Coast Day Tour, from $119. Six hours out of Byron with pickup and drop-off: swim at Killen Falls, walk the Lennox Head headland, stand-up paddleboard on tea-tree Lake Ainsworth, then a forest trail to the lookouts and beaches of Broken Head. Whales show off Seven Mile Beach in season. The guide, board and national park fees are included. Lunch is not.
Who it suits Anyone who has had enough of surf and wants the hinterland and coast in one day.
- Byron Bay SUP Group Lesson, 2 Hours, from $89. A small-group stand-up paddleboard lesson in calm, protected water in Cape Byron Marine Park, with a courtesy bus transfer of about 15 minutes. Dolphins and turtles regularly pass.
- Byron Bay Whale Watching Safari, from $139. Whale season only, June to October. A maximum of 12 aboard the Apollo 2 from Brunswick Heads, with a marine naturalist, live whale song by hydrophone, free professional photos and a sighting guarantee or free return. Transport to Brunswick Heads is not included.
- Byron Bay Tandem Skydive 15,000ft, from $379. Up to 60 seconds of freefall with Cape Byron, the lighthouse and the surf beaches below. Byron accommodation transfers, a 3-month Australian Parachute Federation membership, the compulsory personal accident insurance and a certificate are included. Video and photo packages are extra.
- Three Bundjalung cultural walks, each from $75: the Cape Byron Aboriginal Cultural Walk (about 90 minutes, led by an Arakwal Bundjalung woman, finishing with native bush food and bush tea), the Broken Head Aboriginal Cultural Walk and the Bangalow Bush Tucker Walk.
How we ranked them
We sell every tour on this page, and we ranked them on four things:
- Live price from our listings.
- What is included: gear, transport, photos and park fees.
- Group style: group size, age limits and where the activity runs.
- Operator ratings, only where we hold a verified figure for that operator. We hold none for these Byron Bay trips, so none are shown.
Which one is right for you
- First surf, with a pickupThe Half-Day Surf Lesson.
- First surf, in townThe 3-Hour Small Group Surf Lesson at Clarkes Beach.
- Want to leave a surferThe 5-day Byron Bay Surf Tour.
- Want a bed and lessons in oneSurf & Stay.
- DolphinsKayak with the Dolphins. Whales, between June and October: the Whale Watching Safari.
- A day off the beachBehind The Bay.
- Something to scream aboutThe tandem skydive.
For the rest of the trip, see the Byron Bay backpacker guide, and every Byron Bay activity we sell, sorted by price, is on Byron Bay tour prices.
FAQs
What is the best thing to do in Byron Bay as a backpacker?
Take a surf lesson. The Half-Day Surf Lesson is from $79 and includes pickup, a board, a rashie and a wetsuit. The 3-Hour Small Group Surf Lesson at Clarkes Beach is from $89.
How much does a surf lesson in Byron Bay cost?
From $79 for the half-day lesson, $89 for the 3-hour small-group lesson and $409 for the 5-day surf course. All include the board and wetsuit.
Can I stay overnight at a surf camp?
Yes. The Byron Bay Surf & Stay is from $279 for 3 days and 2 nights in a bell tent at a surf camp, with one lesson each day and gear included.
Can I see whales in Byron Bay?
Yes, in season. The Whale Watching Safari runs June to October, with a sighting guarantee or free return. The Behind The Bay day tour also notes whales off Seven Mile Beach in season.
Can I swim with dolphins in Byron Bay?
We do not sell a swim with dolphins. The Kayak with the Dolphins tour takes you out by sea kayak to where Byron’s resident dolphins spend time, with a see-a-dolphin-or-return-free guarantee.
What is the best Byron Bay day trip?
Behind The Bay: six hours with pickup, Killen Falls, the Lennox Head headland, paddleboarding on Lake Ainsworth and the Broken Head lookouts, from $119.
Do I need to know how to swim for a surf lesson?
The Half-Day Surf Lesson needs you to swim 50 metres unaided. The 3-Hour Small Group Surf Lesson says no swimming is needed, because you are taught in water shallow enough to stand in.
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