Whites Beach, Byron Bay: Location, swimming & when to visit

Whites Beach, Byron Bay, is a small, secluded but unmistakably beautiful beach in the Broken Head Nature Reserve. Come at low tide to explore the caves rather than swim.

Where is Whites Beach, Byron Bay?

Whites Beach is in the Broken Head Nature Reserve, south of Byron Bay. It is the first beach north of Seven Mile Beach.

From Byron Bay, it’s an 11km drive to Whites Beach. This Northern Rivers beach is about halfway down the coast to Lennox Head. Access is via Seven Mile Road.

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Why visit Whites Beach, Byron Bay?

Whites Beach is a relatively small but beautiful beach. It’s about 350 metres long at low tide, and surrounded by cliffs.

Those cliffs are covered in rainforest, and the sand is white. All combined, Whites Beach makes for a tremendous photo.

What’s more, Whites Beach is still a little bit of a secret beach. It’s not exactly hidden, but the drive down, then the steep walk to the beach, require a level of effort that most travellers are not prepared to put in.

8 amazing Byron Bay experiences worth booking today

Experience the region’s glorious natural landscapes from above – on a hot air balloon ride.
Go kayaking with dolphins – and get much closer to them than on a boat tour 🐬.
Learn to surf – on a half day surf lesson 🏄‍♀️.
Discover the local secrets – let a guide show you the hidden beaches and waterfalls 🏖️.
Go on a three habitat wildlife safari – spotting koalas, kangaroos and flying foxes 🐨🦘.
See glowworms light up the World Heritage-listed rainforest.
Explore the Byron Bay hinterland – including the rainforest walk to Minyon Falls.
Taste craft beers and spirits – on a tour of Byron’s breweries and distilleries 🍻.
Also try… Skydives | Sea-kayaking | Whale-watching.

Can I swim at Whites Beach?

Swimming at Whites Beach is not advised. There are fearsome rips here, and no lifeguard patrols.

People do swim here, but do so at their own risk.

Surfers also come to Whites Head, but while the waves are usually of a decent size, the breaks can be sloppy and inconsistent.

If you can do just one thing in Byron Bay, make it kayaking with dolphins. The scenery’s beautiful, and you can get much closer to the dolphins than you would on a boat tour. BOOK HERE.