The best breweries and distilleries in Byron Bay (and its surrounds)

For an afternoon sipping locally crafted brews, check out these top Byron Bay breweries and distilleries.

Sprawling across a richly fertile area from coast to hinterland and brimming with fresh produce and native ingredients, Byron Bay and her neighbouring shires have inspired a collection of passionate brewers and distillers. From The Tweed to Byron and winding down to Ballina, you can sip on beautifully made beers and spirits crafted to showcase the flavours of this sub-tropical region. Here, we’ve rounded up Byron’s best breweries and distilleries to pop on your drinks list.

1. Stone & Wood

sample beers for tasting at Stone & Wood — Stone & Wood offer approachable, balanced beers. (Image: Destination NSW)

Heading to the cavernous, 31-tank brewery in Byron’s industrial estate is always a precursor to good times. Find your seat inside or grab a table in the beer garden and work your way through Stone & Wood’s hoppy options with a tasting. If you’re a certified craft beer fan, book in for the 90-minute brewery tour that kicks off fine hospitably with a welcome beer. Food is by 100 Mile Table and if you’re not a drinker, there are non-alcoholic and kid-friendly beverages on offer, too.

Address: 100 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 10am-6pm; Friday: 10am-7pm; Saturday: 12pm-7pm; Sunday: 12pm-6pm

2. Common People Brewing Co.

an aerial shot of the deck at Common People Brewing Co. — Bond over beers on the deck. (Image: Common People Brewing Co.)

All people, common and not-so, are welcome to the Taproom to settle in for a session of Common People’s brews. While the kegs flow with beers, such as the Protesters IPA, El Sabro Hazy IPA and Moonless Midnight Stout, if you’d rather have a different sort of fermented beverage, there’s a well-considered wine list on offer. No matter your tipple, it can be enjoyed with a menu of beautifully blistered pizza and other wood-fired treats. There’s often live music or community events, so check the website to see what’s coming up.

Address: 9 Dudgeons Lane, Bangalow

Opening hours: Thursday to Saturday: 12pm-9pm; Sunday: 12pm-8pm

3. Wandana Brewing Co

the calypso sour beer with sliced passionfruit and toasted organic coconut at Wandana Brewing Co — Calypso sour beer with sliced passionfruit and toasted organic coconut at Wandana Brewing Co.

This industrial-estate-located brewery gazes out across the lush pastures of outer Mullumbimby. Festoon lighting, a shaded beer garden and regular live music, not to mention innovative and delicious beer, make Wandana an easy go-to for an afternoon session. The Wandana folk are big believers that music makes their beer taste better, so they have their yeast cells vibrating with round-the-clock tunes. See if you agree with the theory by embarking on a tasting paddle that may include the Mullum Madness IPA, Roadie Pale Ale or Upzy Hazy. Rotating food trucks and a kids’ playroom also add to Wandana’s laidback appeal.

Address: 20 Manns Road, Mullumbimby

Opening hours: Wednesday 1.30pm-6.30pm; Thursday to Saturday 12.30pm-8.30pm; Sunday 12.3pm-7.30pm.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

4. Seven Mile Brewing Co.

the exterior of Seven Mile Brewing Co. Byron Bay — Step into Seven Mile Brewing Co. to taste locally brewed beers.

No coastal town is complete without its own brewery and Ballina, 30 minutes south of Byron, is no exception. Named after one of the shire’s best-known beaches, Seven Mile Brewing Co. sits right by the Ballina-Byron Gateway Airport tempting travellers the moment they disembark from their aircraft. Pop in to partake in locally brewed effervescence with beers such as the Iron Peg Aussie Pale, American Pale Ale and Hard Ginger Beer. A roster of food trucks swing by from Friday to Saturday to serve beer-adjacent bites from burgers to tacos and pizza.

Address: 188–202 Southern Cross Drive

Opening hours: Thursday: 3pm-7p; Friday to Sunday: 12pm-6pm

5. Earth Beer Company

the Earth Beer Company exterior, Byron Bay — The cellar door is nestled within a rustic barn. (Image: @jayanta_visual)

Set in a rustic barn on an avocado farm just behind the Tweed Coast town of Kingscliff, Earth Beer Company produces deliciously refreshing beer and other fermented delights. Locally minded, you won’t find these brews too far from their home, but they’re definitely worth stocking up on while here. Try the Hemp Hazy Pale, Dark Moon Brown Ale and the Rising Sun Pale and don’t miss a sip of their seasonal specials, such as the Mango Weisse or Avocado Kolsch. Sit-ins at the brewery are often accompanied by food trucks and there’s always some cool merch on-hand to take away as a holiday memento.

Address: 592 Cudgen Road, Cudgen

Opening hours: Friday and Saturday 11am-8pm; Sunday 11am-7.30pm

6. Husk Farm Distillery

the front view of Husk Farm Distillery — Sign up for long lunches at the barn-like distillery. (Image: Sally/@salsinghphotography)

It all started when a sugar cane-farming family had the novel idea to make rum from their fresh cane juice, soon enough Husk Farm Distillery became a North Coast institution. Their farm-to-bottle ethos has caught the attention of spirit drinkers far and wide, and while it may have all started with rum, the family also now produce the incredible, violet-hued Ink Gin among other tipples. Book a spot on the lawn at the beautiful barn-like distillery for a sunny afternoon of cocktails and nibbles or grab a table for a long lunch. If you’re keen to nerd out on the nitty gritty of distilling, be sure to sign up for a tour that includes a welcome drink and tastings. Or catch one of the many events, from cocktail-making classes to paddock parties and stargazing. Being a 45-minute drive north of Byron, be sure to nominate a designated driver or arrange transport.

Address: 1152 Dulguigan Road, North Tumbulgum

Opening hours: Hours change seasonally, check the website for updated times.

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7. Cape Byron Distillery

botanicals on display at Cape Byron Distillery — Find high-quality gins infused with local botanicals. (Image: Destination NSW)

You’d be hard-pressed to find an Aussie gin-drinker who hasn’t heard of Brookies Gin. If you know, you know how, so why not go along to Cape Byron Distillery and see where and how this beloved spirit is made? Just 15 minutes from town, this Byron cellar door is set on a 95-acre property and lushly encroached upon by regenerated rainforest. Here you can sit on the balcony and sample not just their flagship gin, but also their Shirl the Pearl Gin, Turkish Delight Gin, Whisky and the sweet Mac. Liqueur made from, of course, macadamias. For the full experience, though, book in for a guided tasting, rainforest and gin tour or whisky tour.

Address: 80 St Helena Road, McLeods Shoot

Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday 10.45am-6pm

8. Lord Byron Distillery

This renewable, zero-waste alcoholic enterprise is a family affair began by Brian and Helen Restall. At Lord Byron what goes in the bottle is sourced from ingredients grown locally, even the pure water, which is collected from the family’s farm. Taste the provenance in their rum, gin, limoncello and other spirits when you swing by their Banksia Drive distillery. A visit may include a tour, cocktail masterclass or a session to distil your own gin.

Address: 4 Banksia Drive, Byron Bay

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10am-5pm

Discover the best bars in Byron Bay

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

The best breweries and distilleries in Byron Bay (and its surrounds)

For an afternoon sipping locally crafted brews, check out these top Byron Bay breweries and distilleries.

1. Stone & Wood

2. Common People Brewing Co.

3. Wandana Brewing Co

4. Seven Mile Brewing Co.

5. Earth Beer Company

6. Husk Farm Distillery

7. Cape Byron Distillery

8. Lord Byron Distillery

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