The Byron Bay solar train: useful or novelty? A short verdict

It runs 3 km between Elements resort and the town centre. We tested it.

By Byron Bay Backpackers editorial team

The Byron Bay Train (byronbaytrain.com.au) operates a 3 km segment of the old NSW TrainLink line that was decommissioned in 2004. The current service runs solar-powered, mostly tourists, $4 one-way, between Elements Byron resort at the north end and the town centre near the bus interchange.

Verdict: novelty more than transport. If you're staying at Elements, it's useful — saves you the 35-minute walk or a $15 Uber to town. If you're staying anywhere else, you'll never use it. The train runs roughly hourly. Times are on their website.

The historical detail: this is the only operational segment of the original Casino-Murwillumbah line. The full Byron-Mullumbimby-Bangalow rail link was discontinued mid-2000s — the rest is now the Northern Rivers Rail Trail (16 km cycling/walking path between Murwillumbah and Crabbes Creek, with extensions in progress).

For arriving travellers: don't plan around the solar train. Take the Byron Easy Bus from Ballina or the Greyhound from Brisbane/Sydney. See our airport + transport guide for the actual options.