Where to Wander: Brokenhead Nature Reserve

A tranquil alternative to Byron’s busy beaches just 10 minutes drive from the Atlantic, this oceanside reserve, where tropical rainforest meets pristine white sand, is steeped in Aboriginal history. Pack a picnic and plant your beach towels down in one of the many little coves accessible by foot for a day of surfing, fishing, sunbathing and strolling. One of the most spectacular is White’s Beach, once a long-held local secret and still relatively under-the-radar (you’ll need to walk down a dirt track to get to it), it’s a great spot for catching waves when the northerlies are blowing. Also recommended is a venture along the Three Sisters Walking Track, a 45-minute meander through the bush to the lookout over King’s Beach, where you can spot whales and dolphins along the stunning coastal panorama of bays, rocky outcrops and dense forest. For early risers, pick up some coffee and pastries in town and head there for sunrise in solitude.