Byron Bay: the vibe
Videos from people who went, played right here, with what viewers said underneath. Not part of the score.
The verdict
Mixed · 48Commenters describe Byron Bay as beautiful but past its prime, with long-time visitors and residents lamenting crowds, high prices and a lost laid-back vibe, though it still draws positive nods.
- natural beauty
- beaches and surf
- good cafes and food
- still has a good vibe
- nearby towns worth visiting
- overcrowding
- high cost and real estate prices
- commercialisation
- yuppie or wealthy feel
- locals priced out
- loss of old-school charm
- Byron was far better decades ago before it got commercial
- Crowds peak in December and January, so visit off-season
- Nearby alternatives like Yamba and Brunswick Heads feel more relaxed
- Still scenic and worth a few nights despite the changes
- Its appeal has shifted toward wealthier visitors and tourists
Read from 8 videos, 34 comments and 0 posts on 2026-11-07; the summary is written by a language model and can misread sarcasm.
7 Coastal Towns That Feel Like Byron Bay 20 Years Ago
Fit Nomads · 50K views · 2026
What viewers said
“You missed Bermagui.... It's exactly like byron but less commercialised.... Hidden gem”
♥ 1 likes
“Unfortunately nothing is like is was. I’ve been on the north coast all my life and surfing uncrowded waves pumping was the norm not the unexpected. Currently living in Sawtell where most the locals who grew up here had to move because of ho”
♥ 5 likes
“I was lucky enough to live in Byron in ‘87/88. It was unreal. I haven’t been there since 2011, and I don’t plan going back. Too many tossers. I was lucky enough to go to Yamba on a few summer holidays in the 70s. That too was unreal, especi”
♥ 5 likes
“Such a great video. From Brisbane here. I go to Pottsville and Cabarita frequently and from there, I travel down to Brunswick. Such a great part of this country and the world.”
♥ 1 likes
“Yamba is also super well known and can get very busy in the holidays. Look at the real estate prices there over the past 5-10 years”
♥ 3 likes
“So much to love here! All my local faves, Yamba, Bruns and Caba. Awesome recommendations for the other 4!”
“Great vid guys”
“Hi, I'm new to your channel and just wanted to say how fun and informative your videos are. I love the fact that you go in peak seasons as some other vloggers (JP) tend to go on the shoulder seasons which make there videos a little..... (bo”
“Unpopular opinion, but the breezy coastal Australia I first experienced when I travelled Australia 13-15 years ago feels long gone. I’m Swiss, backpacked and worked my way around Australia years ago (I’ve also got an Aussie passport through”
♥ 25 likes
“I had a nice meal at Sawtell recently, along the main drag.”
♥ 1 likes
Found with a YouTube search for the city and “digital nomad”, fetched 2026-11-07; titles, descriptions and comments belong to their authors and link to the originals.