Main Beach Byron Bay is patrolled every day of the year. Easily accessed, amenities and parking are close by. Gather the family on the large grassy area overlooking Main Beach for fish and chips fromFishheads. Tasty takeaway is nearby at Street Sushi or Slice Pizzeria. There’s shade and a children’s playground, as well as entertainment on the foreshore and at The Beach Hotel for a lazy family afternoon.

Explore rock pools together at Clarkes Beach, between Main Beach and The Pass. Retreat for a play in the park or grab a cold drink, freshly brewed coffee or a tasty snack from the Beach Café kiosk, located just behind the Clarkes Beach entrance. Parking and amenities are available here and at Captain Cook Lookout, further towards The Pass.

Teach the kids how to surf in the bend of the Bay, just past Clarkes Beach and between the steps from Captain Cook Lookout and The Pass. It’s less crowded and more relaxed than The Pass and better suited to learners. Dolphins frequent the Bay and can often be seen sharing waves with the surfers. There’s also shade for a retreat from the sun and space for games on the sand. A fun family beach day! Park at or near Captain Cook Lookout.

Torakina, over the bridge at Brunswick Heads and to the left, is a safe haven for families with little ones. A grassy parkland opens onto a gorgeous beach cove between the Brunswick Heads breakwall and the rocky entrance to the river mouth. Protected by most winds, this beach is generally calm in most conditions. Watch the kids play in the sand and roll around in the foreshore while you enjoy a relaxed day by the sea. Free parking, shady park with BBQ and amenities are close by.

Dog exercise beaches are at Belongil Beach, Tallow Beach/Suffolk from Jarman Street entrance extending north to the boundary of Arakwal National Park, and Brunswick Heads from a point south of the surf club, extending one kilometre south.