Lyons starred in the Nine Network police drama Sea Patrol, where he played the Leading Seaman Josh Holiday for the show's first three series from 2007 until 2009.

When the show's 15th and final season premiere titled "Life After Death" aired on 25 September 2008, Lyons was added to the main cast.

In 2010, Lyons appeared in the biographical romantic drama Eat Pray Love, which starred Julia Roberts and was based on Elizabeth Gilbert's autobiography of the same name.

[1] In January 2011, Lyons starred as the title role in the NBC superhero drama The Cape, until the show was cancelled in March that same year after ten episodes.

[3] In 2013, Lyons co-starred with Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough in the romantic drama Safe Haven, based on Nicholas Sparks' novel of the same name.