Byron Bay is small, but a missed bus because you walked to the wrong corner is still a very real thing. The good news is that JOEY has one pickup point in town, and if you’re staying at one of the central hostels, it’s a short walk away. Here’s exactly where it is, what to look for, and how to get there from each of the main Byron backpackers.
The JOEY bus stop in Byron Bay is the Byron Bay Bus Interchange at 52 Butler Street, beside the old railway station (GPS: approximately -28.6445, 153.6116). Most central hostels are between 5 and 20 minutes’ walk from it. Northbound buses to Surfers Paradise, Brisbane and Noosa leave at 10:10am AEDT, so aim to be at the stop 15 minutes early.
The interchange is a purpose built bus station just off Butler Street, in the rail corridor next to the old Byron Bay railway station. It has covered waiting areas, bike racks and toilets, and it’s where the big coaches pull in too, so don’t panic if you see a few different buses. Look for the colourful JOEY bus with the JOEY TRAVEL sign on the front. If you’re unsure, ask the driver before you load your bag.
Some older booking sites and travel blogs still list the Byron pickup as “Bay Street” or a stop on Jonson Street. Ignore those. Buses moved to the interchange on Butler Street when it opened, and it’s the address you’ll find on JOEY’s own route pages and in your booking. When in doubt, search “Byron Bay Bus Interchange” in Google Maps and follow the pin.
WakeUp is out at Belongil Beach, a fair way north of the town centre, so this is the one hostel on this list where walking isn’t really the move. The hostel has a free shuttle that leaves from the interchange every 30 minutes so it’s very easy to get to. If you’re looking for alternative routes budget around 25 minutes on foot, or book a taxi or rideshare the night before, especially if you’ve got an early bus or a heavy pack. If you do walk, head south along Childe Street and into town, then follow Jonson Street towards the old railway station and on to the interchange on Butler Street.
Aquarius is one of the closest hostels to the interchange, roughly an 8 minute walk with a backpack. Head out onto Lawson Street, make your way over to Jonson Street, and follow it towards the old railway station. The interchange sits on the Butler Street side of the rail corridor, right beside the station. It’s flat the whole way, so you won’t need a lift, even at 8am with a hangover.
Drifter sits right in the town centre, just off Jonson Street, so it’s one of the closest stays to the interchange at around 8 minutes on foot. Head out to Jonson Street and follow it towards the old railway station, where the interchange sits just behind on Butler Street. It’s an easy, flat walk, so there’s no excuse for cutting it fine even on a slow morning
Cape Byron sits close to Main Beach and is a short walk from the interchange, around 10 minutes at a normal pace. Walk to Jonson Street, head towards the railway station, and you’ll find the interchange on Butler Street beside it. Heading off after a big night at the pool? Set an alarm and pack your bag the evening before so you’re not doing the sprint.
The YHA on Carlyle Street is right in the middle of town and about a 10 minute walk from the interchange. Walk out to Jonson Street, turn towards the railway station and keep going until you reach the station building. The bus interchange is just behind it on Butler Street. You’ll pass cafes and shops on the way, which is dangerous if you left yourself no time for a coffee, so leave a little buffer.
Arts Factory is the furthest of the popular hostels from the interchange, so plan for 15 to 20 minutes on foot. The hostel sometimes runs a shuttle bus to and from reception so make sure to check with reception. Follow Skinners Shoot Road back towards town and on to Butler Street, where you’ll find the interchange. If you have a big pack or you’re running late, a taxi or rideshare is the safer bet, because the 10:10am AEDT departure doesn’t wait around. Build in extra time either way.
Arrive at the interchange 15 minutes before your departure. JOEY’s terms are clear that passengers need to be at the pickup location at the scheduled time, and drivers don’t come looking for you, so a missed bus means a forfeited trip. Check your booking in the JOEY app the night before, pack before you go to bed, and drop your Byron Bay Bus Interchange pin in Google Maps so you can see your walking time from your exact hostel door. If your plans change, you can move your booking for free up to the day before.
From the Byron Bay Bus Interchange, JOEY runs daily services north through Surfers Paradise and Brisbane to Noosa, with selected trips to Rainbow Beach. The northbound bus leaves at 10:10am AEDT and arrives in Noosa mid afternoon, with a short stop in Brisbane along the way. You can travel straight through or hop off at any stop and pick up the next bus when you’re ready.
Check out all of our stops on our route page and buy your JOEY pass now.
At the Byron Bay Bus Interchange, 52 Butler Street, beside the old railway station.
Check all of our bus stops and route maps here
Read this helpful blog on all our different JOEY stops.
The daily northbound bus leaves the Byron Bay Bus Interchange at 10:10am AEDT. Always check your booking in the JOEY app in case of changes.
No. Older listings sometimes mention Bay Street or Jonson Street, but JOEY picks up from the Byron Bay Bus Interchange on Butler Street.
Most central hostels, including Aquarius, Byron Bay YHA and YHA Cape Byron, are roughly 8 to 12 minutes’ walk. Arts Factory is further out at around 15 to 20 minutes.
Aim to be at the interchange at least 15 minutes before departure. If you’re not at the stop at the scheduled time, you forfeit your trip.
Yes, check out our packages page for our 8, 11 and 11 day PREMIUM packages that all include a stop in Byron Bay
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