Byron Bay is a popular holiday resort, and offers a variety of holiday accommodation, including holiday apartments, hotels, motels, backpacker hostels, cabins, and camping sites.

As a rough guide:

• backpacker dormitories start at about $25 per night,
• motels and holiday park cabins in the non-peak season start about $70 per night, and maybe twice that in the peak holiday season (late December and January).

Jump to the GuideToByron.com Accommodation Directory for more details.

Also, it is quite common to rent houses to share with friends - see private Byron Accomodation ads.  A room in a shared house is about $130 to $160 per week.

It is probably true to say that most visitors arrive without reservations. However, in the peak holiday season (late December and January) or if you are travelling with children or have other special requirements, it is advisable to make reservations.