A few weeks ago, when I visited Byron Bay for the first time in several years, I was understandably cautious. Given recent reports in the media about the town’s increasing popularity and the impact of the "influencer" invasion, I was worried that the charm of one of my favourite holiday towns had been spoilt.

But fortunately, I had nothing to worry about. Byron Bay may not be the hidden gem it once was, but it remains one of Australia's iconic surf towns. It wasn’t too busy, the beaches were still some of the most spectacular in the world, and I ate the best scrambled eggs EVER!

Admittedly, I might not feel the same way if I visited in January. But it would take a lot to keep me away from the bohemian paradise in NSW, and I still find it hard to believe that it was once an industrial town that only evolved into the current cosmopolitan beach resort because of some hippies in the seventies. 

What elements make Byron Bay "Byron"? 

It's not difficult to understand why celebrities flock to Byron Bay, but there is more to the town than several picturesque beaches. I think the charisma of the town is built on the town's lack of pretension despite the presence of so much money. Somehow, it continues to charm a broad range of visitors from hippies and backpackers to the elite travellers who stay in Wategos Beach and the town's many health resorts. And it has always been progressive, moving with the times - some would say it has been ahead of them in terms of health - without compromising its original charm. 

The Byron Bay experience engenders everything visitors know and love about Australia. It offers that something a bit special; a spiritual vibe that you can't put your finger on but it makes you happy. And that's not a power that is easy to replicate. 

Byron Bay asks too big a price for most buyers

The catch is the cost. Understandably, there's a price to pay for those pinch-yourself moments, and with a median house price of $2,500,000, Byron Bay is now more of a holiday destination than a place to live for most people. The marriage between the town's breathtaking topography and spirituality may look like a match made in heaven, but it has made the town exclusive and demands too big a price for most buyers. 

Which other Aussie towns offer the Byron Bay magic?

Fortunately, the Byron lifestyle isn't exclusive to NSW. It may be difficult to replicate that special feeling, but we've found some towns with similar feels that don't carry the hefty price tag.

Check them out below:

1. Byron’s bridesmaid suburbs and towns seem the obvious place to start, especially if the beach is your priority. Take Lennox Head and Brunswick Heads, where the average house prices last year were $1.5M and $1.7M respectively. Not only do they offer many similar attributes to their stylish neighbour, but they are also only spitting distance away. Further inland, Mullumbimby and Bangalow offer even better value with their median house prices of $1M and $1.6M respectively. 
2. Further south in NSW are the towns of Bellingen and Port Stephens with median house prices of $900,000 and $1M respectively. Bellingen is also famous for its thriving music scene, and Port Stephens, which is closer to Sydney, offers more of a coastal vibe with an array of stunning beaches, classy boutiques, trendy cafes and world-class restaurants, including Rick Stein’s at Bannisters.
3. For obvious reasons, Noosa is the first town in Queensland that springs to mind. The town's median house price sits at the high end at $1.7M, probably because it reflects more of the city chic side of Byron with its stylish coastal restaurants, classy main shopping drag, and stunning national park for nature enthusiasts. But further north, Port Douglas, with its median house price of $1M, replicates the hippy side of Byron with a Queensland twist. With the Daintree Rainforest and The Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep, you get everything Byron offers, without the price tag.
4. Western Australia is a market that is still booming and although it is famous worldwide for its beaches, the town of Freemantle – median house price $1.1M - is a port city with an impressive maritime history and thriving arts scene. “This environmentally friendly city is alive with mystique and charm and is overflowing with creativity,” writes a local travel guide, so it’s hardly surprising it received a World’s Greatest Places of 2022 award from Time Magazine. The Margaret River Region – median house price of $750,000 - and the traditional land of the Wadandi (Saltwater) people, is another prized spot. An eco-destination famed for its stunning landscape of natural coastline and regenerated land, it is also pretty well-known for its wine and craft beer, too.
5. In Victoria, the Great Ocean Road has an obvious allure and Lorne and Port Fairy (just past it) don't disappoint. Although the median house price in Lorne is a bit pricey at $1.8M, Port Fairy is still a steal with a median house price of $860,000.  The stylish fishing town with its popular folk festival and postcard beauty is reminiscent of some of the small towns in Cornwall in the UK. And Daylesford, further inland, with a median house price of $900,000, is only a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne and one of Byron's biggest competitors in terms of health and vitality with its natural mineral springs and spas.
6. And finally to South Australia, where the market is still on the way up and where Port Willunga – median house price $700,000 - is the place to be seen. Boasting a beach that is one of the most photographed in Australia, “Famous for its golden cliff faces, crystal clear waters and soft white sands - the type that squeaks between your toes,” it is an obvious competitor to Byron. But for the complete Byron package - beach, culture, and wine - McLaren Vale ticks every box and also comes in with a very tempting median house price of $750,000. With 30kms of coastline, a range of premium dining spots, and world-renowned cellar doors – the area is renowned for its Shiraz – it’s easy to see why it could be the next Byron Bay.

When you buy a home, you buy a lifestyle

The Aussie dream is about more than just owning a property; it is about finding a property with a lifestyle that inspires, whether that's in the bush, on the coast, or in the city. COVID taught us the importance of prioritising our mental health, which is what your chosen lifestyle enables. It brings out the best in you. 

Not all of us can afford towns with the price tag of Byron Bay, but it’s reassuring to know that those celebrity lifestyles are accessible in other places. 

We are here to help you find them.

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