The 2024 Byron Coastal Charity Walk will start at the far end of Dening Park (off Middleton Street), Byron Bay.

Participants will walk along the path and boardwalk to the Pass, following the Cape Byron Walking track from the Pass to Wategos Beach and then up the stairs to Cape Byron Lighthouse.

After reaching the Cape Byron Lighthouse walkers will follow the Lighthouse Road through the traffic control points to Tallow Beach Access area. 

At Tallow Beach Access Area, walkers will walk on to the beach at Cozy Corner and head south along Tallow Beach and Suffolk Park Beach to Broken Head. Broken Head will be the 12km finish point. Walkers will continue on to 7 Mile Beach Road, following the shared road to 7 Mile Beach – traffic control will be in place.  

Still heading south, walkers will continue on 7 Mile Beach to Lennox Head. Lennox Head SLSC will be the 24km finish point – all walkers must exit through this checkpoint and arrive before 2pm.

After the 24km finish, ongoing walkers will continue along the 7 Mile Beach exiting at the end of the beach or at Rayner Lane (from 11.30am) – traffic control will be in place. 

Participants will walk along the boardwalk to Pat Morton Lookout and then follow the bush track to Sharpes Beach via Boulders Beach. 

Walkers can take the boardwalk or beach past Flat Rock, exiting at the south end of Angels Beach. The last leg of the walk will be along the footpath to the Ballina Surf Life Saving Club – finishing the 36km Byron Coastal Charity Walk.

Participant Fees

Dening Park, Byron Bay to:

Broken Head Reserve (12km) - $60

Lennox Head SLSC (24km) - $70

Ballina SLSC (36km) - $80

Plus $250 fundraising minimum per participant

Each participant will be asked to fundraise a minimum of $250 for the Rescue Helicopter Service over and above their participant fee. You will receive your own fundraising and team page (if you are part of a team) for the walk.  

What your Participant Fee Includes: 

• Byron Coastal Charity Walk Cap

• Byron Coastal Charity Walk Medal (if requested)

• Chipped Event Bib

• National Park fee

• Fruit & Water Refill Stations

• Free Shuttle Bus from start and finish lines

• Endless encouragement & support from our Volunteers and Staff

• Safety Services including: en route medical support, timing and traffic control services

36km - 6.30am - 7.00am

24km - 7.30am - 8.00am

12km - 8.30am - 9.00am

It is expected that all participants fundraise over and above their registration fee. The purpose of the event to raise funds for our life saving service and we have set an realistic target for participants. 

We have resources available to give you the best chance of reaching your $250 goal. 

If you do not reach the target, that’s absolutely fine. Any donation amount is still going above and beyond the participant fee.

Parking options are as follows, there will be more information sent out to participants closer to the event.

Option 1 – Get dropped off at Dening Park, Byron Bay at your allocated check in time.

Option 2 – Catch the shuttle bus from Cavanbah Centre, Byron Bay from 5.30am.

Option 3 – Park in Byron Bay: see the Parking in the Byron Shire information below for alternate all day parking in Byron Bay.

Parking in the Byron Shire

Paid parking operates between 9am to 6pm, seven days a week including public holidays in the Byron Shire. You must pay to park in the following areas: Byron Bay central business district, council-operated car parks, parts of Wategos.

Council-operated car parks

Main Beach car park has 95 parking spaces

Lawson St North car park has 135 parking spaces 

Lawson St South car park has 74 parking spaces

Clarkes Beach car park has 90 parking spaces. 

Council car parks are closed to all vehicles between the hours of 1am to 5am. 

Free shuttle bus services will be available to the start line from the Cavanbah Centre.

Free shuttle bus services will be available at every finish line returning to Byron Bay – no booking is required.

Bus timetable will be available closer to the event date.

Shuttle NOT available from Ballina to Byron Bay start line to commence the walk.

Outgoing Bus Schedule

Returning Bus Schedule

What all participants should bring

• FILLED Water bottle or Hydration Pack (compulsory) 
• Day pack
• Snacks / Trail mix 
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Bag for your rubbish
• Worn in walking shoes (do not wear new shoes)
• Mobile phone
• Big smile – we will have photographers en route

Comfortable clothing that you would wear hiking. We will provide you with a cap.

We also recommend sunglasses and a generous amount of sunscreen.

Please DO NOT wear new shoes. Well-worn runners, hiking shoes or boots are great.

Good quality socks are really important too.

Because you are walking on the sand you could consider gators, however these are not essential.

LOTS of sand – 70% of the walk is on the beach. 
Make sure you do some training on the beach before the walk.

If you are completing the 24km or 36km distances it is essential that you train beforehand.

Four to six weeks prior to the event we recommend the following weekly activity:

• 3 x 5km walks
• 1 x walk longer than 10km

Make sure your walks include steps and/or hills plus walking on the beach or a bush track. There’s no better training regime than walking close to home during the week and then heading out for an adventure on the weekend.

If you are attempting 36km for the first time we recommend you try a 20-25km walk before our event. 

For those attempting the 12km length we recommend 3 x 5km walks per week including a walk with steps.

All participants will face the 285 steps up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse. They are tough. Make sure you are prepared. 

ALL participants must bring their own FILLED water bottle or hydration pack. 

Water refill stations will be at the following locations

Start – Dening Park, Byron Bay (but please have your water bottle already full)

Tallow Beach Reserve 

Safety Vehicle - Tallow Beach

Broken Head 

Safety Vehicle - 7 Mile Beach

Lennox SLSC 

Boulder Beach 

Sharpes Beach

Ballina Finish Line

Start Line - Dening Park, Byron Bay - Public + Portaloos

The Pass - Public 

Watego Beach - Public 

Cape Byron Lighthouse - Public 

Tallow Beach Car Park - Public 

Broken Head - Public + Portaloos

** THERE ARE NO TOILETS FOR 12kms between Broken Head & Lennox Head 

Lennox Head SLSC - Public + Portaloos

Pat Morton Lookout - 1 Public 

Boulder Beach Car Park - Portaloos

Sharpes Beach - Portaloos

Ballina SLSC - Public

We recommend that you bring snacks for your walk.

Food for Purchase

Byron Bay – lots of cafes and juice bars close to the start line – we will also have a coffee cart

Broken Head Finish Point: TBA 

Lennox Head SLSC Kiosk

Ballina SLSC Kiosk

Fruit &/or Lolly Stations (Free)

Tallow Beach Reserve 

Broken Head

Lennox SLSC 

Boulder Beach 

Sharpes Beach

Ballina Finish Line

All injuries must be called through to the Safety Coordinator – a mobile number will be given prior to the event and printed on your participant bib. 
Please have a fellow walker stay with you until our Roaming Safety Coordinators reach you. 

First Aid locations can also be found en route at:

Cape Byron Lighthouse - St John Ambulance

Tallow Beach - Roaming Safety Vehicle 

Broken Head - St John Ambulance 

7 Mile Beach - Roaming Safety Vehicle & SLSC 

Lennox SLSC - Surf Life Saving Club / St John Ambulance

Boulder Beach - St John Ambulance

Sharpes Beach - St John Ambulance


Blisters are the most common injury on our walk. 

We will have podiatry services at St John Ambulance at the finish lines. Make sure you get your feet checked if you are having any problems.

All participants who choose to finish before their nominated finish line must 

• Call the Safety Coordinator – a mobile number will be given prior to the event and printed on your participant bib. 
• Hand in their bib to the timing staff

We have set the ages to reflect the standard ability required to safely participate in the event, the event is not suitable for children under the age of 12.

Exposure to the elements for babies in arms or toddlers is a high risk at this event, and the terrain is not suitable for strollers. Get your kids to cheer you over the finish line instead.

We are walking through National Parks & on beaches which have restricted areas for animals – this includes dogs, horses, cats and goats. Please leave all your furry friends at home or with a loved one for the day.

Thank you for your support, you can make a donation on our Byron Coastal Charity Walk event home page

Yes, we will have event photographers en route and send out the photo links after the event.

The 2024 Byron Coastal Charity Walk will start in Byron Bay and finish in Ballina. 

Look for accommodation in 

• Byron Bay
• Suffolk Park
• Belongil
• Ewingsdale
• Bangalow
• Lennox Head
• Ballina

Surrounding neighbourhoods which would only be 30 minutes away are

• Brunswick Heads
• Ocean Shores
• Mullumbimby
• Alstonville / Wollongbar

We do not have preferred accommodation suppliers. 

There sure are! Watch this space for more details.

For other enquiries or assistance please contact the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service on 1800 155 155 Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm or fill out the enquiry form below.