My mornings in Byron always start with a wander along the beach, taking in the headland, laughing at dogs frolicking in the waves and saying hello to other blissed out folk wandering along the sand. Doesn’t matter whether it’s wintery weather or mid-summer.  Getting sand between my toes is a must, and as soon as possible. Here are the finer details of Part 1 of the highlights from my recent mid-winter weekend:

Breakfast – Top Shop

If you are keen to see more of the town than just the main strip, take a walk to the super cool Top Shop, perched on a hill, nestled alongside the ocean.  Filled with local folk fresh from the surf, families and couples, you can follow my lead and settle in with a hot coffee and a delicious serve of avocado toast on the verandah or join the crowd sprawled out on blankets on the grass.  The vibe is relaxed and friendly complimented by quick service from the friendly crew.  My friend and I found our two sunny spots on the deck were also perfect for people watching (an absolute treat in Byron!) Link to Top Shop https://www.facebook.com/TopShopByronBay/

Stone & Wood Brewery Tour

Keen to do something a little different for the day and support a local business, next stop was a tour of local brewery Stone & Wood.  Started by three clever blokes (Jamie, Ross and Brad) Stone & Wood is nestled in an industrial estate on the outskirts of Byron.  My friend and I chose to walk to the Brewery - a comfortable 20 minute stroll from town along sunny walking track runs alongside a Teatree forest. Our tour started with a ‘welcome beer’ of our choice – on the advice of the super friendly staff we settled on a lighter style brew, ‘Garden Ale’.  The tour kicked off with a history of the business, the brewing process, and then a tour of where the magic happens.  I learnt that it’s all about the hops, and that ‘Galaxy Hops’ are the bomb (well at least that’s the case for Stone & Wood).  After our brewery tour, our little group settled in to the beer garden for a ‘tasting paddle’.  Turns out a tasting paddle is a platter of beer, starting with lighter styles and moving through to heavier brews.  Absolutely delicious and a brilliant way to spend a sunny afternoon with a beer-loving mate (or two!). Link to Stone & Wood  

Dinner & drinks with a view – Balcony Bar

After enjoying the laidback atmosphere of Stone & Wood, it was time to frock up and head out to dinner.  Byron has some many amazing places to chose from, it may seem a little overwhelming at first. High on my list were great atmosphere and seafood so Balcony Bar & Oyster Co was perfect.  Dinner kicked off with oysters (of course), followed by ceviche of Kingfish, steak tartare and finally free range lamb shoulder. Drinks were just as good, kicking off with cocktails and moving through the beer and wine list which made for a long and fantastic night. Our ever friendly waiter Adam made sure our glasses were never empty for long and helped us navigate the delicious menu. My only tip would be to make sure you book a table (go for the balcony). Link to Balcony Bar & Oyster Co Well, that’s a wrap on Part 1, I’ll post Part 2 next week. Have you got a fave spot in Byron? Share in the comments below if you do. Enjoy xx