Wategos lawn
Cape Byron State Conservation Area
Overview
Wategos lawn is the quintessential Byron Bay wedding venue. Set up your marquee on the grass and enjoy a beautiful ceremony with a shimmering backdrop of white sand and turquoise waters.
- Venue is suitable for
- Wedding ceremonies
- Capacity
- Maximum people: 100
- Facilities
- Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, carpark, drinking water, toilets, outside shower
- Fees
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Contact the Byron Bay office for venue hire fees.
- Availability
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Available for hire 7 days a week. The best time is September to May.
Venue not available for exclusive hire - Bookings
- Bookings are required. To make a booking or for more information contact the Byron Bay area office.
Less than 2km from the town centre, this pretty lawn overlooks Wategos Beach, one of Cape Byron’s iconic surf spots. Facing north and sheltered from prevailing winds, this stretch of soft green grass is the perfect place for your marquee.
You and your guests will revel in stunning views of pristine sand, surf, and the sparkling Pacific waters. If you're lucky, you may even see bottlenose dolphins frolicking in the surf.
If you'd like to linger in this famous surf town, why not spoil yourself with comfortable beachside accommodation? Try the award-winning Imeson Cottage, or choose from Mildenhall Cottage, Thomson Cottage, and Partridge Cottage and Geoffs Shed.
Stay at
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/venues/wategos-lawn/local-alerts
Park info
- in Cape Byron State Conservation Area in the North Coast region
- Cape Byron State Conservation Area is open all hours, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
- Cape Byron Lighthouse lawn is open 8am to sunset.
- The Maritime Museum in the former Lighthouse Keeper’s office at the base of the lighthouse is open 10am to 4pm daily.
- Opening before 8am for events or disabled access can be arranged by prior notice – contact NPWS Byron Bay office during business hours 02 6639 8300.
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Park entry fees:
Cape Byron Lighthouse lawn and Information Centre: $10 per vehicle per hour/$4 per hour motorcycles. Maximum 1 hour per vehicle per calendar day, including all NPWS annual passholders.
Captain Cook lookout, Cosy Corner, and The Pass: $5 per vehicle/motorcycle per hour. Tap and pay card or phone payments accepted at pay machines. Cash and credit cards accepted at Cape Byron Information Centre.
Coach entry: $30 per coach up to 30 seats; $57 per coach 31 to 43 seats; $94 per coach 44 seats and over.
Buy annual pass.
Venue info
All the practical information you need to know about Wategos lawn.
Getting there and parking
From Byron Bay town centre:
- Take Lawson Street (which becomes Lighthouse Road) for about 1.5km
- Stay left to continue along Palm Valley Drive for about 500m
- Turn left onto Marine Parade
- Continue for another 150m to paid council parking
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Paid council parking is available at Wategos Beach along Marine Parade. This includes 1 council-owned accessible parking spot at the western end of Marine Parade.
Facilities
All rubbish must be taken with you when you leave. Please leave the area clean and tidy. If significant cleaning is required there may be a fee.
Toilets
There are accessible flush toilets at the picnic area next to the lawn.
- Flush toilets
Picnic tables
There are 5 picnic tables at the picnic area near the lawn.
Barbecue facilities
Carpark
Drinking water
Outside shower
There's an outdoor beach shower at the picnic area next to the lawn.
Step-free access
- Wategos lawn is a step-free grassy area, with some slight slopes.
- Concrete Marine Parade runs along Wategos Beach, past the lawn, and there's a paved pathway from Marine Parade that goes past the nearby picnic tables and toilets.
- There's also a paved path to the beach, but it has 13 concrete steps.
- Step-free outdoor pathways
Seats and resting points
There are bench seats along Marine Parade.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
- Wategos lawn is a grassy, step-free area with some slight slopes.
- There's a concrete path that leads to and past the lawn, and a paved pathway that goes past the nearby picnic tables and toilets.
- The toilets are accessible.
- You may need assistance to cross the grassy surface of this venue. You may also need assistance to reach the beach, which is along a paved path with 13 steps.
Permitted
Food and drink
- You may provide a celebratory glass of champagne to guests for the purpose of a toast. Maximum 1 bottle for every 4 guests.
- This will need to be included in the special conditions of the application.
Plant materials
- Flower arrangements containing no seed material. A florist can arrange this for you on request.
- Silk and artificial floral arrangements are preferred
Marquee use
- Marquee use is only permitted on the Wategos lawn area
- The applicant is responsible for hiring the marquee
- When using a marquee, we require that set-up and dismantling is done as close to the ceremony time as possible.
- Set-up and take-down times are to be indicated on the application form.
Other structures, staging, furniture and amusements
- 1 small table, maximum 1.2m2
- Up to 24 chairs with rail style legs
- Red carpet
- Weighted free-standing decorative items such as small bridal arches or small columns are permitted. Arches and columns must be no larger than 1.8m high and 1.2m long.
Commercial filming and photography
- Photography is included in the booking fee for this location
- If the photographer is at another location on your booked date, a booking will need to be made for that location.
- Commercial photography and video may be permitted on application. You’ll need to obtain a small-scale photographer and wedding filming license.
Power, lighting and amplified sounds
- 1 single speaker music player
- Non-amplified music like string duo, trio or quartet is preferred.
- Volume must be kept at a level that does not interfere with neighbours or the public
Prohibited
Commercial catering is not permitted.
Balloons, plant materials and animals are not permitted, including:
- Flower arrangements or decorations that contain seeds, vines or exotic plant materials
- Throwing rice, streamers, confetti or petals
- Horse-drawn carriages
- Candles or open flames
Amplifiers and public address systems are not permitted.
Tents and banners are not permitted. Please do not put up signage or cordon off structures or areas at Wategos lawn.
Generators
Horses
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Visitor centre
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Cape Byron Information Centre
199 Lighthouse Road, Byron Bay NSW 2481 - 9.30am to 4.30pm daily. Closed Christmas Day
- 02 6639 8300