Where to actually photograph Byron Bay (without queuing for 40 minutes)

The famous spots are crowded. The better ones are 100m away.

By Byron Bay Backpackers editorial team

The most-photographed locations in Byron are also the most queued. The Cape Byron lighthouse, the "Byron Bay" sign at Main Beach, Wategos beach overlook — all involve a 20-40 minute wait for the photo at peak times. The alternatives that get 90% of the same image with 10% of the wait:

Lighthouse: skip the famous lighthouse pose and walk 50m up the path to the Captain Cook Lookout. Same lighthouse, different angle, no queue.

Main Beach: photographed best from the southern end (Clarkes Beach end), looking back toward the cape headland. The middle of Main Beach with the "Byron Bay" lifeguard tower is what everyone shoots; the southern angle is better.

Wategos: avoid the famous overlook above the bay. Drive 5 minutes further to The Pass car park overlook — same headland setting, different framing, almost no tourists.

Tallow Beach: the empty 7km stretch south of the cape is the closest Byron has to a "deserted" beach photo. Most backpackers never make it down here. The middle section (accessed from the headland walking track or via Suffolk Park) is dramatic and almost always empty.

Belongil at sunrise: easier than the lighthouse, equally beautiful, almost no crowd.

The Pass: surf shots from the cliff (not the beach) are dramatically better. Same vantage point most pros use.

Bring an actual camera if you have one. iPhone shots are fine; mirrorless is better.