This paper draws attention to the lack of research involving children and young people growing up in communities that are also popular tourist destinations. At peak tourist times when visitor numbers soar, communities that double as tourist destinations become temporary ‘playgrounds’ to countless tourists. This causes challenges for the resident population. However, little is known about the particular challenges that young residents face growing up in popular tourism hot spots. As such, this paper unpacks further the notion of overtourism as understood by younger residents in Byron Bay, a coastal tourist destination in eastern Australia.