There’s something in the water in Byron Bay.

No, really, there’s something in the water in Byron Bay, and I think it’s the psychoactive chemicals left by the thousands of hippies who have been coming here since the early 1970s. They’re still coming, trundling down the Pacific Highway in their psychedelic campervans, stuffed with surfboards, guitars, and everything you might need to enjoy a decade chilling out on the beach. They are everywhere, dancing on the sand at sunset, strumming and chanting on the esplanade, dozing by the side of the road in the backs of their vehicles. In this country of hard edges, conformity and strictly enforced rules and regulations, Byron feels mellow and at times even hedonistic. It’s the ultimate chill out zone in an area of spectacular natural beauty, which keeps people coming back year after year. For the full post, click here

The off-leash dog beach at Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia