harryw1
Reviews
"READ before considering Byron Bay! Bubble which may lead to REGRESSION"
Moved FROM Byron Bay (near beach and tranquility; couldn't ask for more in life) - TO Melbourne after 5 years. And that's coming from one who during the 4.5 years said "Byron is the best place on earth to live!"
So what would cause one to move AWAY from Byron Bay?
Firstly, you need to know, Byron provides a useful purpose. What that is, only you'll know.
But once that purpose has been fulfilled, you need to MOVE ON. Else it turns into "sense gratification". And living a life of sense gratification yields no growth.
Furthermore, Byron is a small place. Thus it attracts limited niche. Generally (but NOT limited to):
(1) Spiritual types who're looking for "something beyond Material world". Note the word "LOOKING". Basically, 99.9% are seekers, everyone with their own version of "Truth". And generally uninterested in "Worldly affairs". Basically using Spirituality as an escape. This includes "Spirit Festivals" or one of many music Festivals (Bluegrass, Splendor, etc).
(2) Materialistic predisposed - about living (own self-created version) of a healthy, abundant, good, rich, relaxed life. About SUCCESS. But disconnected from "something HIGHER".
Meaning both categories are severely OUT OF BALANCE.
Above is of course is a generalization (as it's unfair to box people up into categories).
Point is: It profits YOU (reader of this) to notice WHEN it's time to MOVE ON. Else one gets trapped in the well-known "Byron Bubble". And what initially started of as PROGRESSION, turns into unsuspecting REGRESSION.
It's NOT a place suitable for lifelong living if your vision is to live a complete, wholesome individual. Consider Byron a chapter of one's life. Every chapter closes, and new opens.
I've seen nearly all. And one thing is for certain: It's NOT a spiritual center of anything.
The spirituality in Byron is grade 1 literally. Same thing in Ubud, Koh phangan. A spiritual zoo with endless options - which result in endless opportunity for distraction. EG: Crystal/sound healing, being buried in ground for 24h, Psychedelics, Meditation of all types, weed experiences, every type of Yoga, Tarrot, Tantra, Neo-Advaita (distorted version of true non-dual wisdom), Buddhism, etc...
TRUE spiritual teachers who can honestly help you - DO NOT live in Byron (exceptions of course). Why? Because they know Byron has small population and is already spiritually influenced with all sorts of irrational ideas.
And NO TRUE GURU WISHES TO TEACH SPIRITUAL CHILDREN with insane ideas. Thus authentic guru's are in normal cities, involved with normal people, engaged in normal "life situations".
Any 25 year old (or younger) on LSD can quack how "We're all ONE", in safe a bubble like Byron. But a truly MATURE character - is living such a vision amidst normal world situations with ordinary down-to-earth people, with everyday problems.
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This writing comes from extensive experience; not just personal opinion based on shallow perspective. This writer has seen the depth of the over-hyped Byron. And it's honestly JUST ANOTHER PLACE like any other.
Of course, if the resident's thinking is shallow, they'll call Byron Bay: "Best place on earth, Heaven, No location like it, The surf is the best!".
Don't fall for typical one liner comments like "Best place on earth; Beach is awesome; I love it, Chris Hemsworth lives here, place of Celebrities!, etc".
These kinds of comments have no depth, but only motivated by passing "Excited" emotions which come and go. You'd say the same thing to ANY place which emotionally excites you.
Also, it carries a sexual energy in the air. Why? Because it's dominated mostly by innocent youtfulness. So while one receives a daily dose of handsome/attractive beauty... it comes at expense of NO intellectual depth. Just general surface enjoyment of life in one's OWN bubble, which seems to be fine and accepted in the Byron bubble.
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SUMMARY: I've progressed more in Melbourne in 4 months (in all aspects; financial, spiritual, social, health) - then have in Byron Bay for 4.5 years. Ironically, living in Byron for 5 years only helped me to appreciate everything more then I could've - if didn't live in Byron. This is the irony. :-)
You need to KEEP MOVING ON in life. Don't let comfortable circle of friends and good lifestyle be an excuse to postpone or stagnate your HIGHEST purpose in life - whatever that purpose may be for you.
KEEP MOVING ON as soon as you feel is right to do so.
We are welcome. It's now been 4 years since moving to Mel from BBay. Reading my original write-up, plus 4 years wiser with greater level of discernment and empathy, the opinion stands exactly as original. Regarding Mel's surroundings, first thing I did moving here is tried to replicate Byron's greenery. Concrete jungle, no matter which city, doesn't click with me, plus has erratic/unsettled energy in the air, plus risk of selfish minds with loud cars/music. Thus I suggest seeking areas with decent greenery; mostly being in East Mel. EG Templestowe/Eltham (family friendly places; quiet, safe, spacious). I am near Doncaster. Only definite downside is gloomy weather. My body unfortunately is fatigued/sniffly between gloomy May-Oct; which decreases productivity that otherwise would be available in warm areas like Brisbane, Gold Coast. So weather is only genuine condition that would unfortunately force this person to move north (but certainly not to Byron), as I truly miss being in shorts and going out on a bicycle almost anytime (as did in Byron). Summary: Friends, rational, intelligence = pluses for Mel. Weather = major minus.
"Replacement from Byron Bay. Smart decision."
Choose Blackburn because of it's greenery. And it's overall sense of vibe.
Few months later, in review, this place offers residential tranquility and nose-free predictability which Byron Bay fails at. (Since Byron is a hot spot for ongoing AirBNB comes-and-goes, tourist agitated excitement noise, laughter, and almost daily music bands within Byron's center... it was impossible to gain true "family-like" peace there.)
Living now in Blackburn, I don't miss a SINGLE tree, lighthouse, ocean sound... as is common in daily life of Byron Bay.
Who lives here?
- Families with kids
Thank you so much for your very raw, honest, and genuine comment! It's just the kind of review I wanted to find on here! I resonated alot with your perspective. Like you, I am also someone very deeply connected to their journey here, have been on a self discovery quest, and always wanted to find an environment for my self and my family to thrive in, grow in and be around some like minded people. A few years ago I did do my research and looked into Byron Bay for a potential place to live long term, but in that research Idiscovered pretty much exactly what you have described above, and that is not what I wanted for me and my kids. I am in a chapter at the moment of growth, but I know in my heart that the place where we live in now is only a chapter, and when we feel it's right we will be moving on too. I would really like to know any feedback you have of Melbourne and its surroundings. Intellectual, cultural, safe wise, expense wise, affordability, the likes. I have been drawn to Melbourne for a while now so I would love to know more. Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. Warm regards.