This paper reports on a PhD project which is seeking to explore the lived experiences of children and young people growing up in the iconic tourist destination of Byron Bay, Australia. Young people are often a marginalised and under-represented group in society, precluded from civic engagement and meaningful participation in community. This explains, in part, why young people’s voices have also been largely absent in tourism impact studies and community attitudes studies, often being positioned as a ‘silent’ population. This is particularly evident in tourist destinations where there are multiple and often conflicting interests which are mostly played out in the adult sphere. The project utilises an ethnographic and participatory approach including a variety of different methods such as interviews and focus groups with young people aged between 10 and 24, participant observation, and a participatory project. Part of this project also involved an analysis of relevant policy linked to young people’s well-being in the Byron Shire. Preliminary findings suggest that growing up in a tourist destination poses several challenges for children and young people including the lack of safety associated with alcohol and drug consumption, issues related to the increase in prices and affordable housing and the lack of meaningful employment for youth. The findings will be discussed drawing attention to policy implications for the well-being of children and young people growing up in tourist destinations. The paper will also highlight the need to create opportunities for creative, meaningful and inclusive participation of young people in policy-related matters.