Suffolk Park Beach

Drive south from Byron Bay along Broken Head Road — it's about ten minutes by car. Free street parking is available on Alcorn Street near the surf club and rarely fills up outside peak school holidays. There is also a ferry connection operated by Ballina Shire Council, a five-minute crossing for those coming from that direction. No entry fee applies.

Walking south from the beach connects you directly to Tallow Beach, and from there Arakwal National Park — a national park bordering the coastline — is accessible on foot, roughly one kilometre away. Broken Head Nature Reserve, about two kilometres south by car, offers hidden coves and rock platform snorkelling worth the short drive. For a view that puts the whole coastline in perspective, Eric Wright Lookout is 4.3 kilometres away, and Cape Byron Lighthouse — Australia's most easterly — sits six kilometres north and is visible from the beach on a clear day.

There are no restaurants or cafés at the beach itself, so bring your own supplies. The nearest dining options are back towards Byron Bay: Light Years is 4.5 kilometres away, and Ember Steakhouse, Tokyo Doll, and O-sushi are all within five kilometres if you want a proper meal after a beach day.

The Park Hotel is the closest option at just 0.5 kilometres from the beach — convenient if you want to walk back after sunset. The Byron at Byron is 1.3 kilometres away and suits those wanting a more resort-style stay while keeping the local-beach feel. Further afield, Beach Hotel and Resort and Waves are both around five kilometres away in the Byron Bay direction.

Shoot early morning when the white sand is unmarked and the blue water catches the low eastern light — the residential backdrop disappears and you get a clean coastal frame. For a wider perspective, the beach's southern end looking back toward the Cape Byron Lighthouse on the horizon makes a strong long-exposure shot at dusk.

Surf Life Saving patrols operate on weekends and school holidays only — always check that flags are up and swim between them when patrol is active. Rip currents are present along sections of the beach; if flags are absent, treat the water with serious caution and stay out if you're unsure. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash outside patrol hours — check local signage on arrival for current restrictions. Wheelchair accessibility has not been confirmed, so visitors with mobility needs should contact local council before making the trip.