The light and relaxed coastal town of Lennox Head is world famous for its surf spots, while also offering a family-friendly swimming lake and sophisticated café and shopping strip. The town is host to numerous surfing contests, along with a popular monthly market.
Getting There
Lennox Head is located 21 km south of Byron Bay, just north of Ballina. It’s a 25-minute coastal drive and is also accessible by local bus services.
Around Town
The main street, Ballina Street, runs parallel to the southern end of Seven Mile Beach. The most revered surfing is at Lennox Point, just south of the town.
A large, modern, beachfront playground is located in Ross Park, on the corner of Ballina Street and Rayner Lane (opposite the Post Office).
The Lennox Hotel, overlooking Seven Mile Beach, is a popular location for a casual drink or quality dining.
Pat Morton Lookout
on the headland you can take in spectacular views north to the town, along Seven Mile Beach, and beyond to Broken Head and Byron Bay. You can also watch for whales during annual whale migration from May to October, and see some exhilarating surfing on Lennox Point. The headland is also a popular place for hang gliders and paragliders who launch from its 65m cliff.
Aboriginal Significance
Lennox Head is part of the Bundjalung nation.A large Boraring, where initiation ceremonies were performed, is located in town and demonstrates the significance of the area to the Bundjalung people. Visitors are welcome to view the Bora ring but are asked not to walk in or through it. The Bora ring is located in Gibbon Street, in an area marked ‘Lennox Head Aboriginal Area’, almost opposite the Lennox Head Bowls Club.
Family-Friendly Lake Ainsworth
The freshwater Lake Ainsworth and its shady banks, located just back from the beach on Pacific Parade, is a popular family destination for picnics, swimming and canoeing. The calm waters are stained brown from the tannins in the tea-trees that surround the lake, and are perfectly safe for swimming.
Lennox Heads Beaches
For calm, family-friendly swimming, you’re best to head to Lake Ainsworth or back to the protected beaches of Byron Bay. But if you’re looking for world-class surfing beaches, Lennox Head is your answer, with the area now recognised as a ‘National Surfing Reserve’.
Seven Mile Beach, which runs from Broken Head to Lennox Head, is an unprotected surf beach with strong currents and frequent rips. On weekends and public holidays from September to April areas are patrolled by the Surf Life Saving Club.
Lennox Point is where the big boys and girlscome to surf. First surfed in the 1950s, the Point is renowned for its long, powerful, right-hand point break.
Just southof Lennox Point, Boulders (named after the basalt rocks that have eroded to form the beach) is also suited to the experienced surfer.
Flat Rock can provide suitable conditions for novice surfers, with usually gentle waves and a sandy beach.
Markets and Festivals
Lennox Head Lakeside Market is held on the 2nd and 5th Sunday of the month at Lake Ainsworth. Offering a vibrant display of local art and craft, food, produce, music and more, the markets are a well-established local attraction.
The All Girl Surf Showdown isthe largest all-female surf competition in Australasia. It is held annually in June on the Queen’s birthday long weekend.
The Rusty Gromfest, held in July each year, showcases Australian and internationalsurfers aged 16 years and under.The event is regarded as the original and best gathering of great young surfers, with past winners including Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Julian Wilson, Joel Parkinson and Sally Fitzgibbons.
The Lennox Masters Surf Classic is held biannually in April.