Tallow Beach

Four kilometres of near-empty sand stretching south from Cape Byron to the edge of Arakwal National Park. Tallow is the beach locals retreat to when the Main Beach car park fills up before 9am in January. No kiosk, no patrolled swimming flags most of the year, no tour buses. Just a long, exposed stretch of Pacific coastline backed by she-oaks and banksia scrub. The surf here runs heavier than Belongil and the rips are real, so read the water before you commit. Walk north toward the Cape and the crowds thin fast. Early mornings in winter, you'll often have a kilometre of beach entirely to yourself. Bring everything you need.