‘We chase with a celery juice’: Schoolies swap shots for smoothies in Byron Bay

THOUSANDS of school leavers are set to descend on Byron Bay this weekend, drawn to the north coast town’s health-conscious culture and relaxed vibe — a stark departure from the schoolies of yesteryear.

Red Frogs Australia founder and director Andy Gourley, whose team supports schoolies across the country, said today’s teens drink far less than previous generations, making Byron Bay an increasingly popular alternative to party-focused destinations such as the Gold Coast and Bali.

“You see the cafes are full of schoolies at 9am or 10am in the morning with schoolies drinking healthy juices and eating smashed avo and poke bowls, whereas back in the day they were living off kebabs late at night,” he said.

“They come out in the day more than they used to. That’s a really strong trend.

“There’s still quite a few drinking and 50 per cent go pretty hard, but there’s 40 per cent that aren’t big drinkers. They can help their mates and make sure they don’t lose the bond.”

Gourley said many school leavers from NSW and Victoria choose Byron Bay because they are familiar with the town, often through family holiday homes.

Red Frogs volunteers, who are financially supported by Byron Shire council, hand out lollies as a way to connect with schoolies.

“That relationship is really important because later in the week if something goes wrong they know who to contact,” Gourley said.

Schoolies can download the Red Frogs app or call the hotline to request everything from escorted walk-homes to pancake breakfasts prepared in their accommodation. A chill-out zone with registered first aid providers is also set up in Apex Park.

Rebar Byron Bay owner Yomit Oakley agreed the schoolies crowd has changed in recent years, with the teens visiting in the morning for nutritious juices and the afternoon for acai bowls.

“They do party but they’re very health conscious,” she said. “They take care of themselves and keep the partying to the evening. We love the schoolies. Most of the time they’re very well-behaved. I love their youthful energy and I think they’re great for Byron. This year has been a very hard winter and they bring a lot of business. The town comes alive, then it changes to the family energy over Christmas.”

Charlotte Kent, visiting from Bowral with a group of friends, said today’s schoolies look for greater balance in their celebrations.

“We chase with a celery juice,” the 18-year-old said.

The group said they were drawn to Byron’s laid-back, boho atmosphere.

“The Gold Coast seems a lot more trashy,” Maya Thommpson, also 18, said.