Beaches and lifeguard patrols
Our beaches are renowned for their natural beauty.
We manage several beaches in the Byron Shire. We also help to provide lifeguard patrols. A list of these beaches is below.
You can also find where the 3 emergency response beacons are installed, plus get some beach safety tips.
List of Byron Shire beaches
- Brunswick Heads Main Beach
- Byron Bay Main Beach
- Clarkes Beach
- South Golden Beach
- Suffolk Park Beach
- The Wreck
- Torakina Beach Reserve
- Tyagarah Beach.
Cape Byron Trust manage:
- The Pass
- Wategos
- Broken Head
- Tallow Beach.
Broken Head Beach is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Lifeguard patrols
Together with Cape Byron Headland Trust and the Australian Life Guard Service, we provide surf life saving services to the following beaches in the Byron Shire.
Lifeguard services are provided each service day from 9am to 5pm.
| Beach |
No of lifeguards |
Days per week |
Dates |
| South Golden Beach |
2 |
7 |
20 December 2023 to 29 January 2024 |
| Brunswick Heads Main Beach |
2 |
5 |
23 September to 8 October 2023
20 December 2023 to 29 January 2024
The Surf Life Saving volunteers will patrol Brunswick Heads beaches on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays during the 2022/2023 season.
|
| Clarkes Beach - Byron Bay |
2 |
7 |
23 September to 8 October 2023
20 December 2023 to 29 January 2024
|
| Byron Bay Main Beach |
2 |
5 |
All year.
Extra roving patrols will be provided during:
-
NSW Christmas from 20 December 2023 to 29 January 2024, from 9am to 6pm.
-
NSW Autumn School Holidays from 7 April 2023 to 23 April 2023.
-
QLD & NSW "Schoolies" season
-
New Year's Eve from 6pm through to 2am (an additional 2 Lifeguards).
Surf Life Saving volunteers will patrol Byron main beaches on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays during the 2023/2024 season.
|
| The Pass |
2 |
7 |
30 September to 2 October 2023
20 December 2023 to 29 January 2024
|
| Wategos |
2 |
7 |
30 September to 2 October 2023
20 December 2023 to 29 January 2024
|
| Tallow Beach |
2 |
7 |
30 September to 2 October 2023
20 December 2023 to 29 January 2024
|
| Suffolk Park |
2 |
7 |
20 December 2023 to 29 January 2024 |
| Broken Head Beach |
2 |
7 |
20 December 2023 to 29 January 2024 |
Emergency response beacons
Three new Emergency Response Beacons have been installed at the following unpatrolled beaches:
- South Head rock wall, at Brunswick Heads
- Kendall Street, Belongil Beach
- Clifford Street, Tallow Beach.
Surf Life Saving NSW identified these as blackspots for drownings.
You can use a Beacon to report an incident or emergency and to call for help.
They have an intercom that connects directly to emergency services as well as a camera so that operators can monitor the emergency and provide reassurance to the caller.
Beach safety tips
- Always swim or surf at patrolled beaches.
- Swim between the red and yellow flags.
- Never swim, surf or fish alone.
- Be aware of rip currents. Know how to spot one and how to escape from one.
- Don't swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Never run or dive in the water, even if you have checked before as water conditions can change.
- Seek advice from the lifesavers and lifeguards.
The Beach safe website provides information about.
- Features of the beaches.
- Weather.
- Conditions and hazards.
- Lifesaving Services.
Download the app Beachsafe App