Byron Bay v Coffs Harbour
#1
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,603
Byron Bay v Coffs Harbour
Which is better location when considering:
- Accessibility to regional transport
- Fishing/diving (spots and amenities)
- Beaches
- Access to Cafes and Resturants with decent food. Pete's Pie Van not applicable.
- Accessibility to regional transport
- Fishing/diving (spots and amenities)
- Beaches
- Access to Cafes and Resturants with decent food. Pete's Pie Van not applicable.
#2
Re: Byron Bay v Coffs Harbour
not too sure on any answers, but I prefered CH when I was there, BB is just too touristy, hippy, backpackers for me.... they all seen to want to go to nimbin and smoke some pot and act like tools...... free spirit and that kind of stuff......
but some will come around and answer your questions
but some will come around and answer your questions
#3
Re: Byron Bay v Coffs Harbour
Byron is a wealthier area by far than Coffs Harbour and the cafes/restaurants/shops/real estate prices in Byron reflect that. Some shops in Byron could be lifted from Paddington in Sydney - whereas the shops in Coffs remind me more of Penrith.
Accessability - both have regional airports (Ballina for Byron), but Byron is closer to the Gold Coast and Brisbane so not so remote as Coffs in other respects.
Both areas have good beaches. No idea about fishing and diving.
Both areas are full of tourists. Byron does still have a bit of a hippy vibe but there are increasing numbers of rich southerners moving up there so it's changing. It's also loved a bit too much - so busy that cars are banned in town on NYE, for example.
Coffs is good for a holiday with the kids whereas Byron is more for grown-ups.
Accessability - both have regional airports (Ballina for Byron), but Byron is closer to the Gold Coast and Brisbane so not so remote as Coffs in other respects.
Both areas have good beaches. No idea about fishing and diving.
Both areas are full of tourists. Byron does still have a bit of a hippy vibe but there are increasing numbers of rich southerners moving up there so it's changing. It's also loved a bit too much - so busy that cars are banned in town on NYE, for example.
Coffs is good for a holiday with the kids whereas Byron is more for grown-ups.
#4
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 246
Re: Byron Bay v Coffs Harbour
Got 10 million dollars ? - then choose byron.
#5
Re: Byron Bay v Coffs Harbour
We did a NSW coast driving holiday last year. I was sure I would love Byron Bay, but there was too much tie dye and mung bean tea for my tastes.
I was expecting something quite stylish and sophisticated like Wimbledon Village maybe, but I got Khao San road. I didn't think there was anything grown up about it, just a load of aging hippies that need to have a bath and start dressing more age appropriately.
We only drove through Coffs Harbour, we stayed at Port Macquarie, we preferred that to BB.
I was expecting something quite stylish and sophisticated like Wimbledon Village maybe, but I got Khao San road. I didn't think there was anything grown up about it, just a load of aging hippies that need to have a bath and start dressing more age appropriately.
We only drove through Coffs Harbour, we stayed at Port Macquarie, we preferred that to BB.
#6
Re: Byron Bay v Coffs Harbour
I can't say I really notice many hippies in Byron Bay, except at the Byron market when it's on...they've long since departed for less commercialised spots in the Hinterland I think (Mullum, Bangalow etc). I have good friends living up the coast in Tyagarah which is absolutely stunning and they won't go to Byron on a Saturday night it's that rough. Having been there on one in November I'd tend to agree. The local paper was running a story about the previous Saturday night where on one small stretch of the main street there were no less than 12 separate assaults. No hippies involved here...just packs of young guys who are drunk and everywhere.
During the day it's absolutely fine though. Love the beach at Wategos.
Plenty of great places to live, nearby, but not actually in Byron. Anywhere north of Byron can probably be at the GC airport in pretty close to half an hour.
During the day it's absolutely fine though. Love the beach at Wategos.
Plenty of great places to live, nearby, but not actually in Byron. Anywhere north of Byron can probably be at the GC airport in pretty close to half an hour.
#7
Re: Byron Bay v Coffs Harbour
I was in Byron last night at the great northern hotel watching a band, usually get down once a month at least for a night out either with the missus or the mates and very rarely see the kind of trouble you get in most Aussie cities. I wouldnt dream of going out around Coolangatta because of the drunken louts.
Most backpackers/tourists head for the beach hotel and there overpriced drinks then hit the nightclubs n kebab shops...leaving the northern pub, Byron brewery and the many great restaurants for the locals
as for hippies you will see more in the town of Bellingen just outside Coffs than Byron theses days.
Byron is just too expensive for a crusty dole bludging feral hippie, the ones you see in town banging a djembe drum are usually yuppie tourists who have paid hundreds of bucks for there dreads.
Most backpackers/tourists head for the beach hotel and there overpriced drinks then hit the nightclubs n kebab shops...leaving the northern pub, Byron brewery and the many great restaurants for the locals
as for hippies you will see more in the town of Bellingen just outside Coffs than Byron theses days.
Byron is just too expensive for a crusty dole bludging feral hippie, the ones you see in town banging a djembe drum are usually yuppie tourists who have paid hundreds of bucks for there dreads.
#8
Re: Byron Bay v Coffs Harbour
The mean street of Byron
Records show that in February it was the fourth-worst suburb in New South Wales for alcohol-related violence.
Police superintendent Stuart Wilkins says in the town's main street alone there were more than 130 assaults over a nine-month period last year.
He says it's a terrible situation that must be addressed.
"The majority of people are well-behaved in Byron, and I don't want to alarm people and say 'look, don't go to Byron because it's such a violent place'," Supt Wilkins said.
"But at two oclock in the morning, or between 11 and three, you have a far greater chance of being assaulted in Byron Bay by someone who's affected by alcohol then pretty much anywhere else in the state.
Police superintendent Stuart Wilkins says in the town's main street alone there were more than 130 assaults over a nine-month period last year.
He says it's a terrible situation that must be addressed.
"The majority of people are well-behaved in Byron, and I don't want to alarm people and say 'look, don't go to Byron because it's such a violent place'," Supt Wilkins said.
"But at two oclock in the morning, or between 11 and three, you have a far greater chance of being assaulted in Byron Bay by someone who's affected by alcohol then pretty much anywhere else in the state.
#9
Re: Byron Bay v Coffs Harbour
I live bang in the middle between Cooly and Byron and like almost everyone else on this stretch of coast choose Byron over Cooly for a safe night out.
i certainly dont agree with supt Wilkins on it been the most dangerous place in the state after dark....but then again you dont see many police in Byron so maybe they are stretched to the max and cant cope with the amount of visitors and he is just venting his frustation