Yoga and hiking, Byron bay

Arrive by lunchtime into Byron Bay and after we check into our accommodation we will have a briefing to inform for the week’s activities ahead.

Later that afternoon we arrive at the Bamboo Hut yoga school for the first of our yoga classes and for the introduction with our teacher.

After the class we take a walk on the stunning Cape Byron headland, climbing first to the famous Lighthouse and lookout before making a circuit around the headland on a path with many stairs and stunning views. Expect to see many Humpback whales passing by the Cape Byron Headland, which is the most easterly point of the Australian continent. After taking in a magnificent Byron bay sunset we head into town, having a chance to change before we head out to dinner at an excellent restaurant, loved by locals and renowned for it’s Asian-inspired vegan food;  The plant-based menu is modern Asian and dishes are matched with a diverse vegan wine list, local spirits and cocktails, and their own brewed range of craft beers, cider, kombucha and other beverages.

Overnight Lord Byron Hotel ( L,D)

We start the day with a nourishing breakfast bowl at one of Byron’s iconic cafes. Today we have a wonderful walk along the coastline between the surfer’s hangout of Lennox Head and the town of Ballina. Along the way you’ll pass coves and headlands that are rich with Aboriginal history and there are many informative signboards along the way that tell the story of the First Nations people in this area. Today’s walk is a mixture of trails, sealed paths and boardwalks and the views along the rugged coastal headlands are excellent. We will finish by the compact and neat little lighthouse in Ballina where we will take our lunch. Then we return to Byron for an afternoon session of Yoga to stretch out after our walk.

Following our class, we transfer for a short distance to the nearby town of Bangalow, nestled in the hinterland hills. On this walk, our local Indigenous guide Delta takes guests along the stunning Byron Creek, located within Bangalow Parklands, which has been regenerated this area with hundreds of native plant species that are really important to Bundjalung people. During the walk Delta points out a variety of these edible bush tucker plants, as well as plants used for natural medicine, jewellery, fibre, tools and weapons. She speaks about local indigenous history and shares traditional stories that have been passed down to her from her ancestors. There are opportunities to learn some Bundjalung language and we are sometimes lucky to see Binging the river turtle or Junbung the platypus. At the end of the walk, we enjoy tasting a variety of delicious bush tucker foods and have cup of bush tea and a biscuit. Dinner tonight will be taken at a very special vegetarian restaurant.

Overnight Lord Byron Hotel , (B,L,D)

Today is our big walk so we’ll be setting off earlier today and planning our Yoga session when we return in the afternoon.  We’ll meet our guide Christiano who’ll be taking us to explore the outstanding Gondwana Rainforests of Australia listed as a Unesco World Heritage Area. The Minyon Falls walking track offers the opportunity to experience a range of forests, pristine creeks, and a spectacular waterfall in Nightcap National Park. Winding through Nightcap escarpment, in northern NSW, this beautiful track will challenge and delight bushwalking fans in equal measure. We head back to Byron rejuvenated after a day filled with conscious talks, inspirational ideas, and live sacred instruments sessions in-between. (Approx 6 hours)

This morning we transfer to Brunswick Heads where we start a wonderful walk along the Tygarah nature reserve, following a mixture of a firetail through bushland and a walk along the shore. The beach walking is on an open and flat expanse of ocean beach that has wonderful views across the bay to the Cape Byron headland. Look out for white-bellied sea eagle sea eagles and other seabirds along this wonderful shoreline walk. Reaching teh car park at Tygarah we meet the van and transfer to town for our Yoga class and lunch

Later that afternoon we meet with our local Indigenous guide again at nearby Broken Head, where we are taken on a moderate 1.6 km (1hr 30mins) return walk while learning about significant places and hearing local history and traditional stories from an Indigenous perspective. There are opportunities to learn some Bundjalung language and about bush food, natural medicine, tools, weapons and artifacts. During the walk we often see an abundance of wildlife, such as passing Humpback Whales, pods of dolphins, wallabies and native birds.

Overnight Lord Byron Hotel, (B,L,D)

We start our final morning with a last Yoga and meditation session and reflect upon the week we’ve shared together. A late checkout gives us the chance to relax and have a last look around beautiful Byron bay before we depart. (B)

Important Note: Times and locations of yoga and meditation classes in relation to walks may vary each day according to local weather, site availability and other factors. We will deliver all elements of the itinerary but some flexibility may be required to adapt the order of the schedule on the day.

• Daily Yoga practice led by experienced local teacher
• Yoga mats for classes
• 5 day hikes with a RAW leader and additional local guides on 3 days
• Twin share accommodation at the Lord Byron in Byron Bay
• 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches and 4 restaurant Dinners and snacks
• Excellent Vegetarian food showcasing local producers and suppliers
• Waterfall and Hinterland hike led by a local guide
• Bush Tucker and Broken Head walk with Indigenous guide
• Trailhead transfers each day
• 10% GST included
• Carbon offset for your trip

• Travel insurance
• Transport to Byron Bay from your location
• Any meals not specified
• Single supplement (on request only)

The walking is quite moderate on this trip, the coastal hikes follow a mixture of well-defined paths and trails, with some beach walks taking place on broad relatively flat expanses of beach. The day that we hike to the hinterland waterfalls is a bit more demanding as we will follow narrow trails through the scrubland and requires proper footwear such as walking shoes. If you are a regular walker of reasonable fitness and used to bushwalking then you won’t find this overly difficult.

The food on this trip is fabulous and a real highlight! Meal choices are aimed at supporting you with really healthy nutritious and delicious fresh food, with an emphasis on vegetarian / vegan meals. We will be enjoying the best of local Byron producers as we explore some of Byron’s best venues for eating out in a town that is probably Australia’s foremost for conscious and healthy eating and has superb vegetarian / vegan restaurants. We will also have our lunches catered by a local supplier who specialises in organic food and supporting local growers.

You will be staying the Lord Byron Hotel in central Byron bay. The hotel is a modern light-filled building that is home to 30 rooms and three fully-furnished apartments,  Enjoy the tranquility of a property surrounded by lush foliage, a divine swimming pool and spa with wraparound decking, spacious cabana, and tennis court.

From shops, cinema and cafes on your doorstep to the glow of golden hour spent poolside, your hotel experience at The Lord Byron will complement a wonderful week of walking, yoga and relaxation.

We will be taking Yoga classes with the  Bamboo Yoga School in Byron Bay which is a boutique yoga studio based in town,  teaching a fusion of classical hatha yoga, vinyasa, yin yoga, kundalini yoga, yoga nidra and meditation.

The school has a teaching faculty of some of the best yoga teachers in Byron Shire, offering a daily schedule of classes and regular courses to meet the needs of students at all levels of fitness and experience.

Mark Purser the founder of Bamboo Yoga school will be joining us on some classes. Mark developed the school for the purpose of teaching yoga and mediation in a way that stays true to the great tradition of yoga but making it accessible and fun, applying it to the the realities of modern day life. Mark is a passionate writer and educator, who is inspired to develop learning pathways to support students of yoga to experience the life changing potential of a focussed and informed practice.

This trip provides an excellent introduction to anyone new to yoga and is suitable for all levels of experience. Even if you’re a person who has been practicing for many years you will gain benefit and enjoyment from joining this journey. Our teachers at the retreat will be guiding us through classes and address people’s questions around their practice, providing support in an informal, fun and relaxed environment. Some days we will be starting the day with yoga, or taking a class outdoors and other days we will do a class and meditation post walk which can help with any tired muscles. We will be practicing what we learn out on the trails each day, bringing a heightened awareness to our walks in nature.