What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Byron Bay?
Emergency number
000
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: byronmed.com.au, flhealthcare.com.au
Good to know
Good to Know
- Save 000 in your phone and remember it overrides 911 — dialing 911 in Australia will not connect you to help.
- Download the Emergency+ app before you need it: it can pinpoint your GPS coordinates for operators, which is especially useful if you're out in the hinterland or beaches around Byron Bay where street addresses can be vague.
- 131 444 (Police Assistance Line) is for reporting non-urgent incidents like a break-in you've already discovered — save 000 for active, urgent emergencies only.
- If you don't speak English, you can still call 000 and just say 'police', 'fire', or 'ambulance' — a translator will be arranged once connected.
- Byron Central Hospital's Emergency Department is open 24/7, but for major trauma, complex surgery, or specialist care you may be stabilised and then transferred to a larger hospital further away (e.g. Lismore or the Gold Coast) — factor this into how you think about worst-case medical scenarios in Byron Bay.
- For life-threatening emergencies in Australia, call 000 for an ambulance.
- The hospital is in Ewingsdale, just a few minutes' drive north of central Byron Bay, not directly in the town centre.
Secondary Mobile Number
- Number
- 112
- Description
- International standard emergency number that can be dialled from a digital mobile phone and redirects to the same Triple Zero (000) service.
Notes
- Only works on mobile phones, not landlines or payphones.
- Does not require a SIM card, but some mobile network coverage must be available.
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 000
- Cost
- Free from any phone (mobile, landline, or payphone)
- Description
- Triple Zero (000) is Australia's primary emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance nationwide, including Byron Bay, NSW.
Notes
- Calling 911 will NOT connect you to emergency services in Australia; it must be 000.
- The operator will ask whether you need police, fire, or ambulance, then transfer you to the relevant state service.
- In rural areas around Byron Bay, be ready to give the property name, nearest cross street, and landmarks since street addressing can be less precise.
Hearing Speech Impaired Relay
- Number
- 106
- Description
- Text-based national relay emergency number for people with a hearing or speech impairment, usable only with a TTY/teletypewriter device.
Notes
- Cannot be used via SMS from a regular mobile phone.
Recommended Official Safety Apps
Emergency+
- Cost
- Free
- Purpose
- Lets you call Triple Zero (000) directly from the app and uses your phone's GPS to share exact latitude/longitude with operators, plus 'what3words' and 'drop a pin' location tools.
- Publisher
- Developed by Australia's emergency services and government/industry partners
Platforms
- iOS (Apple App Store)
- Android (Google Play Store)
Healthdirect App
- Cost
- Free
- Purpose
- Can also be used to call Triple Zero (000) and access health advice/services information.
- Publisher
- healthdirect Australia (government-funded health advice service)
Hospitals
Byron Central Hospital
- Phone
- 02 6639 9400
- Address
- 54 Ewingsdale Road, Ewingsdale, NSW 2481 (approx. 4–5 min drive from Byron Bay town centre)
- Operator
- Northern NSW Local Health District (public hospital, NSW Health)
- Trauma Level Designation
- Not designated as a major trauma centre. It is a district-level public hospital operated by Northern NSW Local Health District, providing general emergency, mental health, and maternity services; patients requiring higher-level trauma, surgical, or ICU care are stabilised here and transferred to a larger referral hospital (e.g. Lismore Base Hospital or a Gold Coast hospital) as needed.
- Emergency Department Hours
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Notes
- This is the only hospital with an emergency department located within Byron Bay itself. It does not have the capacity of a major trauma centre; patients with serious or multi-trauma injuries are typically transferred elsewhere for definitive care.
Healthcare
- Summary
- Byron Bay has multiple accredited general medical practices serving the community with comprehensive primary healthcare services.
- After Hours Care
- After-hours doctor services available for emergencies or urgent consultations outside of regular clinic hours, including home doctor visits and telehealth options.
- Emergency Services
- Byron Bay Hospital provides emergency and inpatient services with emergency rooms and surgical facilities.
Main Providers
Bay Centre Medical
- Hours
- Byron Bay: Mon–Thu 8:00am–5:30pm, Fri 8:00am–5:00pm, Sat 8:00am–12:00pm. Suffolk Park: Mon–Fri 9:00am–5:00pm
- Locations
- Byron Bay (6 Lawson Street) and Suffolk Park (1 Bryce Street)
- Description
- Fully accredited practice serving community for over 50 years. Provides comprehensive family medicine including women's health, antenatal care, skin cancer checks, travel health, immunisations.
First Light Healthcare
- Location
- Heart of Byron Bay with off-street parking
- Established
- Since 1977
- Description
- Fully accredited integrated practice (AGPAL/RACGP). Provides comprehensive primary healthcare, GP obstetrician services, and allied health. Note: visitors not eligible for bulk billing and must pay in full on the day.
North Coast Medical Centre
- Location
- 24 Shirley Street, Byron Bay
- Languages
- Staff speak multiple languages including Spanish and German
- Description
- Integrative medical practice featuring doctors, nurses, osteopaths, audiologist, and psychologists. Combines modern medicine with evidence-based lifestyle strategies.
The Bright Side Clinic
- Focus
- Evidence-based medicine with emphasis on physical and mental health
- Location
- Byron Bay arts and industrial estate
- Description
- Multidisciplinary medical clinic with doctors, nurses, and allied health staff. Co-located alongside pharmacy and pathology services.
Pharmacies
- Summary
- Major pharmacy chains include Priceline Pharmacy (with a location in Byron Bay), Chemist Warehouse (nearest in Lismore), TerryWhite Chemmart, Amcal and Blooms The Chemist.
- Availability
- Multiple pharmacies are located within 1–2.5 km of central Byron Bay with extended hours. At least one pharmacy (Chemist Outlet Byron Bay) operates 24 hours.
Main Locations
LiveLife Pharmacy
- Phone
- (02) 6685 6274
- Hours
- Mon–Sun 8:00am–8:00pm
- Address
- 31 Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
- Services
- Full pharmacy services including prescription dispensing, travel vaccination, palette medicine services
Chemist Outlet Byron Bay
- Phone
- (02) 6685 6475
- Hours
- Mon–Sun 8:00am–8:00pm (24 hrs available)
- Address
- 51 Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
- Services
- Prescription dispensing, home medicines reviews, travel vaccination, skin disorder treatment, oral contraceptive resupply, UTI treatment
Priceline Pharmacy
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 9:00am–5:30pm, Fri–Sat 9:00am–6:00pm, Sun 9:00am–5:00pm
- Address
- 31 Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
- Services
- Over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, personal care items
Cape Byron Compounding Chemist
- Phone
- (02) 6685 6223
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 9:00am–5:00pm
- Address
- 6/14 Middleton Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
- Services
- Compounding pharmacy services
Byron West Chempro Chemist
- Phone
- (02) 5643 9261
- Address
- Shop 3, Byron West Shopping Fair, 20 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay NSW 2481
- Services
- General pharmacy services
Crime Stoppers
- Number
- 1800 333 000
- Description
- Anonymous crime-reporting line, not for active emergencies.
Non Emergency Police
- Number
- 131 444
- Description
- Police Assistance Line for non-urgent police matters and reporting incidents after the fact (relevant NSW/Byron Bay police contact).
Poisons Information Centre
- Number
- 13 11 26
- Description
- National Poisons Information Centre hotline for suspected poisoning or overdose advice.
Health Advice Non Emergency
- Number
- 1800 022 222
- Description
- healthdirect helpline to speak with a nurse for non-emergency medical advice.
State Emergency Service Ses
- Number
- 132 500
- Description
- State Emergency Service (SES) number for flood, storm, and other non-life-threatening disaster assistance across NSW, including the Byron Bay region.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Byron Bay
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.