Beach and dog-friendly camping near Lennox Head
Good surf, cool cafes, and a serene coastal lake make this NSW North Coast town a great place to camp.
- Lennox Head
Popular camping styles for Lennox Head
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Dog-friendly getaways
12 top beach and dog-friendly campgrounds near Lennox Head
Beach and dog-friendly camping near Lennox Head guide
Overview
Despite its proximity to the busy NSW North Coast hub of Byron Bay to the north, the small seaside town of Lennox Head has retained a more old-school coastal town vibe. Most surfers come for Lennox's right-hand point break, but more can be found south of the headland and along Seven Mile Beach, which stretches north of town toward Broken Head. See Lennox from above on a tandem hang glide, or take a dip in Lake Ainsworth, a huge tea-tree-stained lake at the northern end of town, where you can also camp.
Where to go
Lennox Head
Lennox Head has limited campgrounds, but options do exist with a selection of cabins and campsites (powered and unpowered) for caravans and tents, and just steps from the beach as well as Lake Ainsworth. More campsites can be found about 10 minutes’ drive south of town at Skennars Head, a good base for the three-kilometre Coastal Walk from Sharpes Beach to Pat Morton Lookout on Lennox’s headland. You can also make the 14.5-kilometre trek along the coastline from Lennox Head south to Ballina.
Byron Bay
The perennially popular surf town of Byron Bay, 20 minutes north of Lennox Head, has five holiday parks and a number of private sites among its camping options. In town, campgrounds can offer doorstep access to the Cape Byron Walking Track leading to Byron Bay’s heritage lighthouse.
Ballina
Just 10 minutes south of Lennox Head, on the northern fringe of Ballina, campers can find scenic beachfront campgrounds with spacious unpowered tent sites, hot showers, and barbecue facilities. More than half a dozen campgrounds and holiday parks also sit further south in Ballina, the closest (and among the most scenic) at Shaws Bay. Camp near the lifeguard-patrolled Shelly Beach for a day on the water.
When to go
It’s warm enough to swim year-round at Lennox Head, though you’ll want a steamer (wetsuit) for surfing during the colder months from late May through August. The town is at its busiest during the summer and Easter school holidays, so visit outside these periods for a more low-key holiday. The waters of Lake Ainsworth can sometimes be affected by blue-green algae, so be sure to check official advice before jumping in.
Know before you go
- Several shuttle services make the 20-minute journey from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport to Lennox Head. Public buses run between Byron Bay, Lennox Head, and Ballina.
- Lennox Head has supermarkets, cafes, several restaurants, a pub, and a surf shop on the main street, where you can rent boards.
- Free camping is not allowed in the Ballina and Byron shires.
