FAQs

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.  

See how your fundraising makes a difference here.

What your Participant Fee Includes: 

• Byron Coast Charity Walk Cap

• Byron Coast Charity Walk Medal

• 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

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. 

See our fundraising tips and downloadable resources here.

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

See how your fundraising makes a difference here.

The safety of our participants, volunteers and staff are our priority.
Below are some of the procedures that we have in place to keep you safe and well. 

2023 Event will be limited as follows 

• 36km – 800 participants
• 24km – 400 participants
• 12km – 200 participants

Start Times

We will be starting participants in waves, with numbers determined by NSW Health restrictions at the time of the event. If there are no restrictions we will be hosting waves according to walk length. 

Start times will be staggered to allow participants to register and move to the start area before the next wave comes in. You can commence your walk anytime within the allocated half hour period.

Checkpoint Procedures

Water refill and fruit stations will be manned by volunteers. All fruit will be whole pieces and snacks will be wrapped.

Hand sanitiser will be at all checkpoints with designated entry and exit points.

Cancellation of Event

If event is cancelled due to COVID registration and fundraising monies will be automatically transferred to the new date.
 
If participants cannot attend the new date they will be given the option to donate their participant fee to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service or receive a full refund. All fundraising monies will be retained by the Rescue Helicopter Service if registration is cancelled.

Be sure to visit the Coastal Charity Walk Facebook page for regular updates or further information about the event www.facebook.com/coastalcharitywalk 

The 2023 Byron Coast 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 Coast Charity Walk.

You can view a map of the route on this website.

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

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.

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

Click here to view the bus timetable.

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. 

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.

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

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 and St John Ambulance at finish lines. Make sure you get your feet checked if you are having any problems.

Find more information on blister prevention here.

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 here

Find out more about being a an event volunteer here

Thank you for your support, you can find out more about becoming an event sponsor here

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

The 2022 Byron Coast 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. 

 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:

There sure are!

Every participant to register before midnight on 28 April will receive a pair of Archies thongs, premium Arch Support Footwear. The thongs will be distributed at each finish line, Participants need to be there on the day of the walk at their registered finish line to receive a pair of thongs, as they will not be posted. Thong colours and sizes cannot be guaranteed.

Our highest individual and team fundraisers are also in the running to win great prizes including:

• Byron Coast Charity Walk merchandise packs consisting of a backpack, drink bottle and beach towel.
• Skincare and sun care packs from We are feel good inc.
• Garmin Venu SQ2

Keep an eye on your emails plus our Facebook and Instagram pages for opportunities to win prizes in the lead up to the event.

Competition T&Cs: Open to Australian residents aged 13+. Winners must be registered in the Byron Coast Charity Walk. Winners will be chosen from a random draw. Prizes are not redeemable for cash. Winners will be notified via email and on the Byron Coast Charity Walk Facebook and Instagram page. Staff members of WRHS are not eligible to win.

Social Media competitions are in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram. Competition opening and closing dates apply as noted on the competition posts.

36km - 6.30am - 7.00am

24km - 7.30am - 8.00am

12km - 8.30am - 9.00am

The route link can be found here! Familiarise yourself with the walk route before Saturday 29th April!