Tallows

Beach

On the south side of Cape Byron Tallows Beach (NSW 16) curves gently to the south for 6.5 km to Broken Head. This beach when viewed from the 100 m high cape is one of the most photographed in the country. It is backed by the Byron Bay Recreation Reserve... Read more

On the south side of Cape Byron Tallows Beach (NSW 16) curves gently to the south for 6.5 km to Broken Head. This beach when viewed from the 100 m high cape is one of the most photographed in the country. It is backed by the Byron Bay Recreation Reserve in the north, then Arakwal National Park which extends to the mouth of Tallow Creek, followed by Suffolk Park township and caravan park in the centre and the Broken Head caravan park and Nature Reserve in the south (Fig. 4.17). The beach is well exposed resulting in a higher energy double bar system, with persistent rips spaced approximately every 250 m and cutting across the inner attached bar, then a continuous longshore trough and rip-prone outer bar. Bathers should swim at the three patrolled areas at Tallows, Suffolk Park and Broken Head. The slightly sheltered Broken Head usually has the lower waves, but even here pulses of sand moving slowly around Broken Head produce a variable beach and surf zone that can at times result in a northerly skewed bar and trough.

Swimming

Rips dominate this potentially hazardous beach so stay between the flags in the patrolled areas. If swimming elsewhere stay on the attached inner bar and avoid the rip holes, side currents and longshore trough.

Surfing

Tallows down under Cape Byron is protected from summer northeasterlies and is a popular summer beach break, also called Cosy Corner. Suffolk Park has variable beach breaks, which work best in offshore winds. Broken Head in the south can produce a barrelling right-hander when the bars are right, and always worth a look when the swell is running. You can also camp right behind the beach.

Fishing

Cosy Corner at the north end is sheltered during northeast winds, with the beach offering many large gutters where tailor, whiting, mulloway, bream and dart are caught, while Broken Head is fished for blackfish and drummer.