Elements of Byron: A blissful stay come rain, hail or shine

Kate Symons travels to Byron Bay to experience a new partnership between the equally luxurious Osprey Spa and Vanessa Megan Skincare

Warning: Australian cliché incoming. I adore Byron Bay. It is bohemian, it is carefree, it is beautiful. It is also wet.

I always beeline for Byron with my sights set on sunshine, even though I am almost always met with at least some rain. And so it was, as we pulled into Elements of Byron, the resort’s façade taking on the soft lines of an impressionist masterpiece behind the torrential downpour.

Thankfully, long gone are the days when such weather would summon disappointment. Instead, I take the opportunity to cosy up, to breathe deeply, to reconnect. And Elements is just the place.

Nature first

When it was first unveiled in 2016, Elements of Byron promised barefoot luxury with nature at heart. Almost a decade later, it has remained true to this ethos, settling into its verdant surrounds with careful regard for its role as caretaker.

In the sweeping lobby, we are greeted by smiling staff who complete a swift check-in and offer the lay of the land. Elements sits on 22 hectares, so there is plenty to highlight. At our villa, we are greeted by two green frogs, sitting at ease on the footpath and relishing the soggy landscape. I keep my distance while capturing a quick video for the kids, who we’ve left behind with Grandma. Bless them.

Elements is home to 202 villas across eight categories, including options that cater to families (maybe next time) and groups. Décor is clean and classic – think blond timbers and neutral tones with a flourish of colour by way of abstract artwork and accent cushions. These design choices allow the elements to shine, as presumably intended.

No time to cuddle up with those accent cushions just yet. Thanks to the wet weather, and the preposterous traffic that inevitably follows, we arrive later than planned and have a fast turnaround to make our dinner reservation.

Freshly foraged

A courtesy buggy puts us at in-house restaurant, Azure Bar and Grill, dry and on time. We opt for an outdoor table – undercover, of course – and immediately put half a dozen oysters on the kitchen’s to-do list.

The pepperberry mignonette served oyster-side is indicative of the Azure menu. Executive Chef Ebony Baker is clearly committed to native ingredients and many of those – saltbush, river mint, finger lime, Davidson plum, to name a few – are locally foraged. There is even a two-course Native Menu available (advanced bookings required), while head gardener Alistair Oakman conducts foraging tours through the resort (available by appointment).

At dinner, we are overlooking the resort’s lagoon pool, a focal point of the property, where overwater swing beds, cabanas and loungers are inviting and, importantly, ample. As I have made clear, it isn’t pool weather when we arrive, but when the sun does come out to play about 24 hours later, we forgo this hotspot for the adults-only option, where the swim-up bar delivers an on-point coconut marg.

Skin deep

By design, my stay coincides with the launch of Vanessa Megan Skincare at Elements’ Osprey Spa. Also by design, I sample the collaboration first-hand via the signature Fire & Frost facial. The treatment harnesses contrasting temperatures to – it is said – stimulate natural collagen production, resulting in immediate and lasting skin rejuvenation.

It is a beautiful hour. As well as the usual sense of calm that a spa visit will (or, at least, should) deliver, it is clear to me – a skincare bit player, I should add – that I am being lathered in luxe textures. The frost element is particularly striking, announcing its peak with a Cryō Rosé Ice Cube Treatment. It’s an ice bath for your face, but less ‘oh my god, get it off, get it off’ and more ‘ooft, that’s cold…no wait, that’s lovely’.  

Since its inception, Osprey Spa has championed nature-led wellness, stocking vegan, cruelty-free, and ethically sourced products to mimic Elements’ philosophy. The arrival of Vanessa Megan makes for a snug fit. The line is crafted using 100 per cent natural, Australian-made ingredients, in line with the namesake’s motto, “You should never put anything on your skin that you couldn’t eat”.

It is such a particular feeling to leave a spa treatment. As if the nourishing oils that envelop the skin also possess the power to protect and comfort you for the rest of the day. I don’t dare shower before dinner. I don’t even attempt a face. Just a light lick of lippy and a little mascara to pair with the glow – a glow that carries me right through to departure.

elementsofbyron.com.au