Main Beach · Clarkes · Wategos · Belongil
What to Wear to the Beach in Byron Bay
Swimmers, a real cover-up and shoes for whatever happens next
The easiest Byron Bay beach outfit is simple: swimmers, a lightweight cover-up, comfortable sandals or thongs, a proper hat and sunglasses. If you are walking into town before or afterwards, add shorts, an oversized cotton shirt or an easy dress rather than relying on swimwear alone.
That sounds obvious, but Byron’s beaches are unusually connected to the rest of the day. Main Beach is right beside town, Clarkes leads towards The Pass, Wategos can turn into a picnic or lighthouse walk, and Belongil feels more relaxed and spread out. So the best beach outfit is not just about what you wear on the sand. It is about what happens next.
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The safe choice
For most Byron Bay beach days, wear:
- Swimmers you are comfortable spending a few hours in
- An oversized cotton or linen shirt, relaxed shorts or an easy dress
- Thongs or flat sandals
- A hat with useful sun coverage
- Sunglasses
- A tote or beach bag big enough for water and a towel
If you expect to walk more than a few blocks, swap the thongs for sneakers or take a pair with you.
Beach style in Byron is more relaxed than theatrical
The quickest way to overdo Byron beach style is to treat it as a costume. You do not need crochet trousers, a giant floppy hat and layers of jewellery just because you are near the sand. A faded cotton shirt over swimmers, denim shorts, a simple tank or an old pair of sandals feels far more at home.
The local look is closer to easy, worn-in and individual than perfectly coordinated resort dressing.
What to wear to Main Beach
Main Beach is where your outfit is most likely to carry straight on into the rest of the day. Visit NSW describes it as a short stroll across the street from the town centre, its cafés and shops, which is exactly why a useful cover-up matters here.
- Swimsuit, loose white or striped shirt, denim shorts and sandals
- Bikini, relaxed linen trousers and a tank or shirt
- One-piece swimsuit, easy cotton dress and flat sandals
- Boardshorts, T-shirt, open overshirt and thongs
Think beach clothes that become café clothes in about thirty seconds.
What to wear to Clarkes Beach
Clarkes feels a little more tucked away than Main Beach while staying close to town and the walk towards The Pass. Visit NSW notes it is sheltered with generally low waves and rock pools, but lifeguards patrol only during school holidays and peak season.
A practical Clarkes outfit is light and walkable: swimmers, an oversized shirt or tank, shorts, sandals or sneakers and a hat. If you are continuing round towards The Pass, sneakers are more useful than decorative beach sandals.
What to wear to Wategos Beach
Wategos can handle a slightly more polished beach outfit, but it still does not need to feel formal. It sits on the cape headland with sheltered water, rock pools and a leafy picnic area with barbecues, and it is one of the start points for the Walgun Cape Byron walking track.
That makes it a good place for a simple swimsuit and oversized shirt, linen shorts and a tank, a relaxed cotton dress over swimmers, and flat sandals or sturdy sneakers if you are walking afterwards. If lunch is part of the plan, a proper cover-up makes the move much easier.
What to wear to Belongil Beach
Belongil is quieter and more exposed than the beaches near town: Visit NSW describes a 2.5-kilometre stretch with rougher water and lifeguards on only some sections in peak season. It is also known for its unofficially clothing-optional northern end, so pick your spot accordingly.
This is where I would keep things especially low-key: swimmers, old denim shorts, a washed cotton shirt, thongs or sandals, a sun hat and a large tote. Nothing needs to look precious.
What to wear if you are surfing
For surfing, the useful answer is functional rather than fashionable. Wear a swimsuit, rash vest or surf suit that stays in place and gives you the coverage you want. Depending on the season and water temperature, a wetsuit may also make sense. Bring something warm or dry to put on afterwards, especially outside summer.
The Pass is a right-hand point break that can suit beginners when it is gentle but gets very crowded in summer. The Wreck breaks over an old shipwreck near Belongil, and Tallow is exposed, often bigger and unpatrolled.
What to wear if you are walking to the beach
This changes the footwear answer completely. If your accommodation is ten or fifteen minutes away, or you plan to walk from town towards Clarkes, The Pass or Wategos, wear shoes that can handle the distance.
The Cape Byron walking track is a 3.7-kilometre loop with short steep hills and many steps. Try sneakers with thongs packed in your bag, sturdy flat sandals, or sport sandals with proper straps. Beach footwear does not have to mean flimsy footwear.
Swimsuit or bikini?
Either. There is no useful Byron-specific rule beyond wearing something you are comfortable swimming, lying down and walking around in.
A one-piece is especially practical if you want to throw shorts or trousers over it and keep going into town. A bikini is just as useful under a loose shirt or easy dress. Choose the swimsuit around what you are actually doing rather than trying to match a destination aesthetic.
The best beach cover-ups
The most useful cover-up is one that works as normal clothing: an oversized cotton shirt, a light linen shirt, relaxed drawstring shorts, a simple cotton dress, a sarong or loose trousers over swimmers. A shirt is especially useful because it adds shoulder coverage, works for lunch and rolls into a beach bag.
Do you need a sarong?
No, but a sarong is one of the more useful things you can bring. It works as a cover-up, towel substitute, picnic layer or extra sun protection. If you never wear one at home, Byron does not suddenly require it. A decorative beach cover-up is fine too, but a shirt usually works harder.
What shoes work best?
| Shoe | Best for |
|---|---|
| Thongs | Simple beach access and short distances |
| Flat sandals | Days when lunch or town is part of the plan |
| Sneakers | Days when walking is a big part of the plan |
| Heels | Somewhere else |
Little Wategos is reached by a steep path with many stairs and is unpatrolled, so proper footwear makes far more sense there than delicate sandals.
Fabrics and colours
Keep fabrics light and washable: cotton, linen, lightweight denim and quick-drying technical fabrics all have a place. Good beach clothes cope with sunscreen, salt, sweat, sand, being thrown into a bag and being worn more than once. This is not the day for anything that needs constant adjusting.
For colour, anything goes. White, washed blue, olive, black, rust, faded red and earthy neutrals all sit naturally against the coast. You do not need head-to-toe beige. An old striped shirt, bright swimsuit or vintage tee gives the outfit more personality than a perfectly matched resort set.
What to bring for sun protection
Sun protection matters more than styling. Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water and a cover-up with enough fabric to be useful. Visit NSW advises swimming between the flags at Main Beach and always wearing a hat and sunscreen, and Cancer Council Australia recommends sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above.
A lightweight long-sleeved shirt is one of the best things in your beach bag because it gives you an easy option when you have had enough sun.
What to wear if the weather turns
Byron weather is not permanently blue sky. If rain or wind is forecast, add a light rain shell, a dry shirt or T-shirt, a light knit or sweatshirt outside summer, and sneakers if conditions are messy.
Spring, autumn and winter beach visits especially can start warm and end much cooler than expected. See what to wear in Byron Bay in spring.
What not to wear to the beach in Byron Bay
Anything precious
Do not wear anything you are afraid of getting sandy.
Too many accessories
Salt water and tiny jewellery collections are not natural allies.
Uncomfortable sandals
Not if you are walking.
Costume boho
Beach style is not a costume.
Skimpy sun coverage
Bring a proper hat and a shirt.
Swimwear alone
Not if your day includes cafés, shops or lunch.
Three easy Byron beach outfits
| Day | Outfit | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Main Beach and lunch | One-piece swimsuit, loose cotton shirt, denim shorts, flat sandals | Easy on the sand, and comfortable walking straight into town |
| Wategos and a walk | Swimmers, tank, relaxed shorts, sneakers, hat | Pack sandals in your bag for the beach itself |
| Belongil afternoon | Bikini or swimsuit, washed oversized shirt, loose shorts, thongs | Simple, slightly undone and comfortable until late afternoon |
The Byron beach rule worth remembering
The best Byron beach outfit should look like you expect to actually go to the beach.
Wear swimmers you can swim in, shoes you can walk in and a cover-up that lets you stop for coffee or lunch without changing. Keep the styling easy. Bring something with texture or personality if that is your thing, but skip the idea that every outfit needs to announce where you are.
For more, see our Byron Bay guide and Byron Bay packing list.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear thongs around Byron Bay?
Yes. They are completely normal for the beach and casual daytime use. If you are walking a long way, sneakers or sturdier sandals are more comfortable.
Do I need a beach cover-up?
It is worth bringing one, especially at Main Beach, which is a short stroll from the town centre’s cafés and shops. An oversized shirt or simple dress is more useful than a decorative resort cover-up.
What should I wear to Wategos Beach?
Swimmers, a light shirt or dress, a hat and flat shoes. If you are walking the Cape Byron track afterwards, choose sneakers or secure sandals: the loop has steep hills and many steps.
Can I wear normal clothes over my swimmers?
Yes, and in Byron that often works better than dedicated beachwear. Denim shorts, linen trousers, oversized shirts and cotton dresses all make practical cover-ups.
What should men wear to the beach in Byron Bay?
Boardshorts or swim shorts with a T-shirt, tank or lightweight shirt cover most beach days. Add thongs for simple beach access or sneakers if you expect to walk.
Is Byron Bay beach style very boho?
Not necessarily. You will see natural fabrics and creative styling, but also plain T-shirts, surfwear, denim, sneakers and very simple outfits. Relaxed is more useful than trying to look recognisably bohemian.
Ruby Lawson is part of the What to Wear writing team, covering Byron Bay’s relaxed, creative dress codes.
