I'm a solo traveller who would usually be heading to Byron Bay in August for the Byron Writers Festival. Missed out last year through cancer treatment and this year through cancellation of the festival, but otherwise went every year for about eight years in a row. I don't drive either as a couple of disabilities prevent me from doing so. During my last two visits I stayed in a cabin at
Glen Villa Resort. It's a caravan park with plenty of affordable onsite cabins just across the old train tracks from the main part of town. Easy to walk to downtown restaurants and beaches via a footpath across the train line and past the visitor centre. The cabins are a good bet for solo or DINK travellers, with their own shower, toilet and good kitchen facilities if you want to cook there. Onsite laundry with a barbecue area in front of it. A couple of mornings a week there's a market in Butler St close by. The Sunday market in particular has plenty of good food on offer.
Byron Fresh is a good place to eat within walking distance, on the main street towards the main town beach.
Fishmongers, on Bay Lane, close to Byron Fresh, is a good bet for eat-in or takeaway seafood, and there are several other okay restaurants along that lane.
Cafe Bagus, a bit closer to the main beach, on Bay St, has nice Indonesian food at lunchtime. My favourite breakfast place is
Bay Leaf Cafe, on Marvell St. There are two okay youth hostels in town too. I've stayed at both, but personally I'd rather spend the bit extra for the greater personal space at the Glen Villa Resort. The only negative: the local council doesn't seem to care a lot for road maintenance, so take a torch when walking back at night as there were a few potholes. Once you're inside the grounds everything is well-kept. If you're a beer lover I can recommend the
Stone & Wood brewery tour, which is now running again. The tour includes generous free samples. A long walk or a short cab ride to get to and from there. Provided you time things carefully you can get a regular bus to and from Bangalow, which has some nice old shops, art galleries and eateries. There are also daily guided bus trips to and from Nimbin. The visitor centre can fill you in on what trips are on offer. Choose carefully according to your personal tastes, as some Nimbin tours are for younger people who like loud music and others are for more sedate, older people such as myself.
