The last decade has seen Byron Bay booming with new restaurants, wellness centres and, to accommodate everyone coming to check out the newness, hotels. Among the new accommodation is the area’s first five-star hotel, a ranch-style hotel set on 22 hectares of hinterland and a spin-off of Raes, easily the most well-known hotel in Byron.
Overwhelmed with the options? Understandable. If you’re headed there soon, here’s a breakdown of all those new Byron hotels to have on your radar.
Este Wategos
Opening in May 2025, Este Wategos will feature two residences, accommodating up to six guests each. Both residences will have three floors and rooftop, glass-bottomed infinity pools. The surrounding deck offers views of the sparkling sea.
Interiors will be curated by Fiona Dunin of FMD Architects and furnished with custom pieces by Mark Tuckey and Jardan. Bookings are by application only and if accepted, are tailored to guests’ preferences, resulting in a truly unique stay.
Hotel Marvell
Byron Bay welcomed its first-ever five-star hotel in August 2023, in the form of Hotel Marvell. The hotel features 24 rooms, a rooftop pool and bar, and a restaurant called Bonito, which turns into Byron Bay Oyster Bar at dinner.
The property was designed by renowned architect Harley Graham of Harley Graham Architects, and, according to its co-owner Scott Emery, captures the essence of Byron’s eclectic yet warm atmosphere. It blends natural materials, like concrete and wood, with décor including linen bedding, Japandi-style furniture and lots of greenery. A key design feature is a pedestrian laneway that feels like you’re walking through a tropical jungle.
The Bonobo
The Bonobo is by the same owners as Raes, the iconic hotel and restaurant in Byron. The sister property was created in collaboration with the development group Podia and the award-winning architects of Brisbane’s The Calile Hotel, Richards and Spence.
It houses 41 apartments, which can be booked for short or long stays. They range from two to four bedrooms. A pool and deck sits on the rooftop, while dining, retail and wellness venues are on the ground floor. The space was designed with respect for the environment and as a place to foster community and connections.
Sun Ranch
Opened in September 2023, Sun Ranch is a boutique hotel inspired by Californian ranches from the ‘70s and Spanish haciendas. The 17-room hotel is set on 22 hectares of Byron hinterland, which includes 350m running along a creek. It’s a 15-minute drove from Byron and two minutes’ drive from the village of Bangalow.
The ranch was created by a team of 13 friends from creative and hospitality industries, including Jamie Blakey, former creative director and founder of fashion brand One Teaspoon. The group drew inspiration from its combined global travel experiences, aiming to create what they call a “hotel of good times”.
Basq Hotel
If you’re keen on a quieter holiday, opt for boutique property Basq House, which aims to be a calming oasis outside the buzz of Byron. The 32-room hotel feels like a house with natural furnishings, light-filled spaces and an indoor space that blends seamlessly with the outdoors.
Its reception area doubles as a bar, while a speakeasy-style lounge room seeps into an outdoor deck with a pool lined with cream cabanas. The hotel also has a library, landscaped greenery and a rooftop where you can meditate, do yoga or book a personal training session.
The Swell Hotel
Adults-only hotel The Swell opened in Byron in November 2023. It’s Californian-inspired, with 16 suites, a marble-tiled pool with a bar, and an infrared sauna. The owners are a couple, Andrew Maltin and DayNa Decker, who spent much of their lives travelling but are now settled in Byron. Working alongside local designer Nyree Mackenzie, they designed the hotel to encapsulate some of their favourite overseas memories.
Related: Enter Your Yee-Haw Era at Byron’s New Ranch Stay
Related: 4 Culture-Soaked Walks in Byron’s Hinterland, Picked By a Proud Bundjalung Woman
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