Byron

Byron Family

From circus skills and farm workshops to story time, art and wildlife programs, families around Byron can find practical ways to play, learn and spend time together. Local and regional services also offer early-parenting guidance, school-age care, youth support, therapy and respectful help during difficult periods.

🎪 Classes, workshops and holiday adventures

Circus Arts Byron Bay

Children and teenagers can develop circus skills through term classes for ages 1–16. Options include Tiny Circus for children aged 1–5, along with school-holiday programs and circus parties. Bookings are required. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and spectators are welcome, although they cannot enter class areas during sessions for safety reasons.

Farm Kids at The Farm Byron Bay

At Ewingsdale, near Byron Bay, Farm Kids gives children hands-on experience with farm animals, gardens, cooking, craft and food-growing. Mini Farmers term programs are offered for ages 5–12, while listed school-holiday workshops cater for children aged five and over. Families need to book ahead for these activities.

Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary School Holiday Programs

The sanctuary at Knockrow runs holiday activities focused on wildlife and conservation. Puggles Kids Club is for primary-school children aged 5–8, while Wildlife Guardians is designed for ages 8–12. Keeper for a Day is another school-holiday option. Each program requires its own booking, so check the chosen activity’s details before making plans.

Byron Bay Contemporary Artspace

Young artists can join small-group after-school art clubs or attend Mini Mavericks workshops during the school holidays. Current offerings include workshops for ages 5–8 and 7–10. Individual tutorials are also available for HSC Visual Arts and International Baccalaureate students. Courses and places can change, making an availability check useful before booking.

📚 Early-years play, borrowing and school-age care

Byron Shire Toy Library

Families can borrow toys through branches at Suffolk Park and Ocean Shores rather than buying every item children want to explore. The online catalogue helps members search the collection and renew loans. Membership choices include family, concession, grandparent and short-term holiday options, each with its own borrowing limits.

Richmond Tweed Regional Library – Byron Shire branches

Regular children’s story time sessions are offered through Byron Shire libraries. Families can use branches in Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads and Mullumbimby, while a mobile library reaches smaller communities in the shire. Wider children’s services include early-years programs, Story Dogs and a summer reading challenge. Consult the events calendar for current dates and booking requirements.

Play Tunes

Play Tunes brings children under five together with parents, grandparents or carers for music and singing in Mullumbimby. A qualified leader facilitates the group at Pioneer Hall during school terms. Enquiries and bookings go through Mullumbimby District Neighbourhood Centre or the facilitator, and a suggested donation applies.

Northern Rivers Children’s Services – Outside School Hours Care

School-aged children can access after-school care at Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads and Bangalow public schools. Vacation care is also offered at these locations. Enrolment and booking conditions apply, and the provider publishes holiday-program details and the relevant coordinator contacts for families arranging care.

🌱 Parenting, development and family wellbeing

Byron Central Hospital Ambulatory Care Unit – Child and Family Health Clinic

Child and Family Health Nurses work with families from birth until children turn five. Support includes developmental screening, clinic or home visits, and information about feeding, growth, sleep and settling, parenting, immunisation, dental care, child safety and community services. No referral is needed, but appointments are essential.

Byron Central Hospital Ambulatory Care Unit – Early Bird Parenting Group

Parents of babies aged two weeks to six months can attend this open group facilitated by a Child and Family Health Nurse. Conversations cover feeding, sleep and settling, infant development and early parenting experiences. The official information lists Thursday sessions from 10 am to noon; confirm the current arrangements before attending.

Byron Central Hospital Ambulatory Care Unit – Child and Family Therapy Team

Children from birth to 18 years can receive assessment and therapy for physical, sensory, communication, developmental and feeding concerns. Occupational therapists, speech pathologists and physiotherapists work with children, parents and education settings. KidScreen provides weekly screening, intake and monitoring for younger children who have not yet started school.

The Family Centre – Parenting Courses

Parents and carers living in Byron, Ballina and Tweed shires can take part in face-to-face or online courses covering positive parenting, communication, conflict, emotions, child development and relationship skills. Check the current schedule and registration process directly with the provider.

Sunshine Speech & Allied Health

Based in Ballina and serving Byron Bay and surrounding Northern Rivers communities, this allied health provider works with children, adolescents and adults. Available services include speech therapy, occupational therapy, hearing screening and group programs supporting communication, regulation, independence and participation, with collaboration involving families and educators.

🤝 Children, teenagers and families needing extra support

Byron Central Hospital Ambulatory Care Unit – Child and Family Counselling

This free service provides assessment and therapy for Byron Shire children aged 0–12 and their families, including help with behaviour, stress, anxiety and mood-related concerns. Families may refer themselves, while parents, carers, teachers, GPs and health professionals can also make referrals. Where possible, practitioners may work with schools and preschools.

Byron Youth Service

Young people aged 12–24 can seek individual assistance, referrals, wellbeing support and youth-culture programs. Support may address difficulties at home or school, housing insecurity, unemployment, gender identity, youth justice or court matters. In addition to its Byron Bay presence, the organisation undertakes outreach across Byron Shire.

The Family Centre – Child and Family Services

Byron Shire residents who are part of a family with a dependent child or young person aged 0–12 can access this no-cost service. An assessment interview is the starting point, followed by agreed goals and a support plan where appropriate. Byron Bay appointments are available at the provider’s Byron Colab location by appointment only.

The Family Centre – Youth and Family Services

This no-cost option supports Byron Shire residents aged 12–17 and their parents or carers. Workers can meet with young people and families separately or together, helping with relationships, parenting skills, service information and connections to further assistance. Meetings may occur at centres, schools, homes or another agreed location.

Northern Rivers Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service

Women and children experiencing domestic or family violence can receive free information, referrals and court support from this regional service, including assistance at Byron Bay on designated ADVO list days. Specialist support is available for Aboriginal women, and the service also assists women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

✅ Before you book or attend

• Check ages and eligibility: programs have different age ranges, residency rules and family circumstances.
• Confirm bookings: holiday activities, care programs, health appointments and courses may require advance enrolment or registration.
• Ask about access: contact the provider if your child needs adjustments, communication support, mobility access or help participating safely.
• Review current costs and schedules: fees, donations, borrowing limits, session times and holiday timetables can vary.
• Clarify supervision: ask whether an adult stays, observes from a designated area or leaves a child with program staff.

✨ If you run a family-focused business, service, activity or community group serving Byron and surrounding communities, you are warmly invited to add your details or update your existing listing so local families can find accurate, practical information.

⚠️ Accuracy Note: We do our best to keep this information useful and up to date, however details can change over time. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or out of date, please let us know and we will review it. Local business owners and community leaders can also help keep local information accurate by logging in and creating or managing their own listing and useful content on byron.nsw.guide.