Byron Bay Effect: Crescent Head, Agnes Waters and Eden compete for tourism while influencers visit beaches

Frustrated locals have accused influencers and Instagram-focused boutiques of stripping their small towns of color and culture.

Sleepy communities from Eden on the south coast of New South Wales to 1700 in Queensland have seen an influx of city tourists looking for the ‘next Byron Bay’, prompting a massive backlash.

Residents of scenic spots across Australia say their colorful town centers have been replaced with beige shops that appeal to aesthetically minded visitors.

The small coastal town of Agnes Water, Queensland used to be a quiet retreat but is now overrun with visitors as locals struggle to maintain their hippie-inspired origins.

A resident told Daily Mail Australia about the moment she first realized the city was suffering from its own popularity.

Agnes Water residents were overwhelmed by tourists looking for an Instagram-famous shot of a local bush walk (above).

Seaside residents said their colorful local hotspots were being replaced by bland boutiques geared towards tourists (pictured left: a shop in Victoria’s Port Fairy, right: a hotel in Byron Bay).

“Agnes used to be this quiet little town you strolled over to if you wanted to go surfing or spend a day at the beach,” she said.

“But then this little 10 minute bush walk exploded on Instagram, everyone wanting a photo on these little stools that are over the old creek bed.

“Every weekend the walk’s tiny parking lot is clogged with tourists trying to get their photo. There were times when the walk felt more like queuing for an Instagram photo.”

Hundreds of other area residents agree, blaming the council for not having the right infrastructure in place to deal with the sudden wave of visitors.

“I’m someone who was born and raised in Agnes and has been here on and off for 25 years,” said one resident.

“I have no problem with a city growing, but it has to be done right.

“I remember growing up and being told my kids need to go to school like me in Rosedale or Miriam Vale and now look at Agnes!”

Another said: “I don’t mind that after all these years it’s growing and accepting new things, but they’re taking things in the wrong direction and building the wrong things first.”

Eden on the south NSW coast has recently seen an influx of tourists after its colorful cliffs went viral on social media

Eden is another small town that has seen a massive tourism boom since going viral on Instagram.

The city’s colorful cliffs and sea baths have found fame among influencers, who see many flocking to the spot for the perfect picture.

But locals have already begun to notice visitors disrespecting their town, as several residents write about tourists roaming the main street honking their horns.

Other residents said the tourist influx is a welcome business so long as the city can build infrastructure to keep up.

“You can’t stop development entirely, but there’s a lot you can do to ensure that the city evolves and develops in a way that reflects the beauty and uniqueness of not only the paradise that it is, but the lifestyle that it offers, be preserved,” a local wrote online.

“It would be sad to see Eden cloned into another tourist town, but it would also be nice to snag a few of their bucks as they drive through,” said another.

In Crescent Head, a small surfer town on the north coast of New South Wales, residents are furious over plans for a hotel they believe will turn their slice of paradise into a tourist trap.

Locals said they have already noticed that their city hosts more tourists every summer and fashionable hotels and boutiques are popping up to keep visitors happy.

But the turning point for many is a newly renovated hotel set to open later this year.

Many small-town locals said more tourism would be positive for their town’s economy, but noted that communities need to keep up with infrastructure to support more people (Image, Crescent Head)

Locals said new boutique hotels and shops are replacing local hubs and “leaking the city’s soul” (Image, Tourists in Crescent Head)

Angry locals from small coastal towns said waves of tourists often abuse their homes (pictured, rubbish at Agnes Water in Queensland).

The vintage surf-inspired property, Sea Sea, is run by famed designer and hotelier George Gorrow, who founded the Ksubi brand, and his German model wife, Cisco Tschurtschenthaler.

The couple have spent the last decade in Bali running the successful hotel The Slow.

“I love surfing. My wife does too, and Crescent Head is one of the most iconic surf breaks on the North Shore, so we’re trying to keep up with that,” Mr Garrow told ABC.

“Crescent Head still feels like the place you used to visit as a kid, it still feels so pure.”

About a quarter of Crescent Head’s 2,200 residents are part of a group that oversees the progress of development in the area.

And Mr. Gorrow’s plan — along with other Instagram-worthy “boutique” hotels that have popped up in recent years — has drawn heavy fire from group members.

Famed designer and hotelier George Gorrow and his German model wife Cisco Tschurtschenthaler (together above) are building a new boutique hotel in Crescent Head

The Sea Sea Hotel is already bookable before its opening in May (a room in the Sea Sea is pictured)

Crescent Head locals are unhappy with more hotels being built in their small town (pictured, comments below an article about the Sea Sea Hotel)

“Crescent Head will be the next Byron Bay or Noosa. These communities are dealing with an increasing popularity of “van living.” Byron is a mess, too many people plus tourism and development beyond the capacity of the country and lifestyle,” one person wrote.

“The reason I and many others love Crescent Head so much is because it’s not high end. If people want glitzy high-end they should go to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay or the Gold Coast which arguably has been ruined,” said another.

A third wrote: “Call it a sleepy town and act like we should be happy when these people come and ‘shake it up’.” How many tickets do these people have with them? Keep your town ideas and comments and leave our ‘sleepy town’ to those who love it just the way it is!’

However, her town is just one of many to fall victim to the “Byron Bay Effect,” in which small seaside towns lose their charm in favor of trends, with a disgruntled Crescent Head local finding the process begins with mindless tourism.

“There’s a big difference between vacationers who come every year, who befriend locals and treat the city with love and respect, and tourists who are selfish, demanding, and suck the city’s soul,” they said.

INSIDE CRESCENT HEAD’S SWANKY NEW ‘SURF’ HOTEL

Planned for “sleepy” Crescent Head, the 25-room hotel appears to be as trendy as its name – SEA SEA – sounds.

Who needs a sofa when this is an option?

Ksubi designer/hotelier George Gorrow and his German model and raw food chef girlfriend Cisco Tschurtschenthaler are behind the 1970s-inspired surf hotel, which will also host art exhibitions and sell clothing from a new clothing line (called Non Type) and their homeware collection.

Gorrow’s visually stunning Bali hotel, The Slow, is said to be a good indication of his stylish attention to detail.

Personal taste aside, there is one thing about SEA SEA that will appeal to all surfers and that is the location. It is just 400 meters from the popular Crescent Head Point Break.

SEA SEA opens on May 1, 2023 and bookings are already being taken through its website.