Friday night in Byron was full of the holiday crowd weaving in an out of cafes as the rain started to fall. A solo guitarist sitting on wooden milk crates flung into a Spanish number and a small circle gathered around clapping along, not so much to his singing, but more for the slightly out-of-it woman dancing the Samba in the middle of the road. People chuckled, others joined in as she stamped her foot in a mistimed flamenco beat.

It’s this “anything goes” mood that gives Byron it’s happy spirit and standing as one of Australia’s most carefree and hippie townships. Weekend markets, bunches of handpicked flowers, mismatched retro dresses, printed cotton shawls and woven hats, all of which when thrown together on a Nordic backpacker looks fabulous and perfectly sums up the relaxed vibe of Byron Bay.