While in Australia, we bounced between several surf spots in and around Byron Bay. Most days, we found ourselves setting up camp at Broken Head, just a 10-minute drive south from where we stayed.
The fun sandbar point break had a little something for everything in our quiver of long and short boards. And when the conditions aligned, perfectly peeling rights would grind for 100 yards down the bar. The powder white sand emphasized the crystal-clear waters, which offered playful tide pools for our little one, too.
Liv especially enjoyed walking out to the headland at low tide, picking up pebbles and poking at the sand along the way. The front-row seats to the surfers made it especially fun for Liv, who clapped every time Daddy rode by.
At sunset, there was always a small crowd of people hanging at the headland; yet, still far less than other spots in Byron. The stretch of sandy beach leading to the point had plenty of pockets for privacy, so we didn't mind the crowd at all.
Views of the surrounding coastal rainforest from the water had definitely been what made Broken Head special. It's part of a protected nature reserve that spans more than 240 acres and includes a nice coastal walk, a caravan park and other camp facilities, like restrooms, showers, pavilions and picnic areas.
A few things to note about the surf spot:
Park in the lot for a small fee. There’s some free roadside parking outside of the gate, but with a baby and all the things that come with one, well, the fee to be closer to the beach access was well-worth it.
No lifeguard on duty.
Very little shade on the beach. Bring an umbrella or plan to hang out in the grassy areas by the parking lot.
Pack food and water. The caravan park has a small convenience store, but we still packed a cooler and found some excuse to stop at Suffolk Park Bakery on the way in, for a second latte and vegan meat pies.
Lots of wild turkeys! Store those leftover meat pies or gobble every last morsel before paddling out. These birds don't hold back!
Although we mainly hung out at the beach, Broken Head is also great for whale watching, birdwatching and wandering up to the Three Sisters lookout.
Broken Head // 184 Broken Head Reserve Road, Broken Head NSW 2481, Australia // Things to note: restroom, showers, paid parking lot
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