The schoolies of 2022 have earned the right to celebrate after their school years were impacted by COVID, fire and floods, but thousands are shunning the traditional trek to the Gold Coast for the more sedate surrounds of Byron Bay.
Ashlee Hunter, from Hornsby in northern Sydney, said she and her friends wanted their experience to be "a bit more chill".
"We didn't want to go to the hectic area with all the hard-core partying," she said.
"We just wanted to relax and have a good week away ... still go out at night and meet people, but a bit more laid back."
Tom Laurie, from Sydney's Northern Beaches, was on a similar mission.
"Chill with my mates, have a good time and enjoy it while it lasts," he said.
"Because after this week, we're not going back to school.
"We went through a lot, the learning went on a bit of a downhill slope.
"It's been tough, but we pushed through it in the end."
Jordan Leo made the move from South Australia to Brisbane with his family to do Year 12.
"Obviously in South Australia we had the really strict lockdowns and all the border stuff, then we had the bushfires in the hills," he said.
"We missed out on the floods which is good, but lockdowns in Brisbane were pretty tough.
"When we graduated, it was a freeing feeling.
"Everything is done, all the stresses from the year, all the extreme events that we went through, it's all past us now."
Police say safety is a priority
About 30 extra specialist police will be patrolling the streets of Byron Bay for the next 10 days.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Kehoe said crowds of up to 8,000 young revellers were expected on each of the next two weekends.
He said they had every right to celebrate, but must make safety a priority.
"I'd be the same, I'd be very excited given what kids have gone through over the last couple of years," Detective Chief Inspector Kehoe said.
"But I'm also seeing a great deal of maturity in the kids from what they've dealt with over the last couple of years.
"But again, we'll be out there trying to push that message to make sure they make right choices."
