Northern Rivers Hotels
Byron Bay’s most beautifully designed hotels
hotels
Byron Bay hotels are a design lover’s dream, blending coastal style, barefoot luxury and a strong sense of place. Here’s where to check in for a stylish stay
Sun Ranch
Paying homage to the Californian ranch houses of the 70s while meeting the demands of modern travel, Sun Ranch is a collection of contrasts. The eccentric, mid-century modern estate is dotted with gathering spaces ideal for small group getaways and corporate events, while the accommodation is described as ‘luxury barn’-style, with rooms catering to both couples and families. Sun Ranch also offers unique epicurean experiences along with exclusive onsite activities such as astrology readings and sound healing.
Located in the Byron Bay Hinterland, the project was meticulously brought to life by creative directors Julia Ashwood and Jamie Blakey, who designed the sprawling 55-acre property into a 70s-style California Ranch. The estate comprises six two-bedroom barns and a five-room luxury guest house fittingly named ‘The Rambler Longhouse’, each adorned with internationally sourced antiques, vibrant colours and contrasting textures. Sun Ranch also features an array of exclusive amenities including The Pool Club, The Badminton Club, The Whiskey Lounge and The Lair, a vibrant sunken lounge where guests can relax.
The estate is a holiday home for Zephyr Horses – Byron Bay’s top riding club – for visitors to saddle up and explore the property on horseback. There is an outdoor alfresco kitchen and dining space at The Field House, a wellness space featuring an ice bath and woodfired floating sauna at Go Easy Dam, and The Cowboy Bar, where the saloon doors swing open for bar service throughout your stay. Guests are greeted with either a salty margarita or icy cold beer on arrival.
Basq House
Basq House brings a dose of cosmopolitan polish to Byron Bay. Set in the heart of town, the property reimagines a 32-room hotel into a contemporary retreat with a distinct Mediterranean influence – think whitewashed walls, breezy archways and playful, coastal-meets-urban detailing.
The interiors were steered by Studio Terrando, who layered tactile natural materials with statement terrazzo and custom joinery, creating spaces that feel both modern and timeless. Guest rooms span light-filled suites and poolside options, with a muted palette that highlights soft textures and subtle curves.
Guest social spaces include the pool deck, lounge and library, with drinks and snacks available from self-service and à la carte offerings. The design ethos extends into public spaces that double as social hubs, appealing to Byron’s blend of laid-back locals and design-savvy visitors.
Swell Hotel
Swell Hotel is a retro boutique hotel embodying a harmonious blend of natural elements and vintage glamour. Located in the heart of Byron Bay, the Swell Hotel reimagined the iconic Byron Bay Motor Lodge. The Californian-inspired boutique hotel is imbued with 70s architectural elements and showcases a warm palette inspired by the earth’s rich hues – rich browns, deep greens and burnt oranges.
The creative direction of Swell embodies a coastal interpretation of the ‘Kelly Wearstler look’ – pairing beloved antiques and classic pieces with modern aesthetics to create a sensory experience where ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ looks give a three-dimensional feel to each room.
Guest rooms are positioned either poolside or with garden views, designed for guests seeking a connection with people and natural beauty. The 16-room, adults-only hotel boasts a magnesium pool, infrared sauna and ice bath, a treatment room, yoga, Pilates and gym access, and poolside food and drinks.
Raes on Wategos
Positioned in an idyllic beachfront setting, the iconic Raes on Wategos is an exclusive boutique retreat embodying a refined eclectic aesthetic layered with antiques. The remodel in 2017 was led by interior designer Tamsin Johnson, whose unwavering dedication to maintaining the hotel’s character set the tone for the redesign.
The redesign allows for the infiltration of natural light and complements the colour palette, which is tonally in tune with the coastal surroundings. Raes showcases five guest suites and two penthouses, each adorned with natural fabrics and a monochrome muted palette, with custom joinery, sturdy outdoor-strength upholstery and unique rattan woven furniture throughout.
The hotel boasts one of Byron Bay’s most renowned restaurants, and savouring sunset drinks at the Cellar Bar with a view of the surf at Wategos has become a quintessential Byron experience. Service is attentive and personable, characterised by thoughtful gestures including handwritten notes, a turndown sleep mist and candle-heated herbal tea on the coffee table.
Raes Guesthouses
Just 100 metres from Raes on Wategos, Raes Guesthouses extends the brand’s signature hospitality into a more secluded, 10-suite retreat. Like the original Raes, Tamsin Johnson transformed the former Victoria’s at Wategos with a relaxed Mediterranean sensibility, layering restored colonial arches and expanses of marble with hand-painted joinery, antique glazed tiles and a playful pastel palette. Two lap pools sit between the adjoining buildings, while oversized rooms feature canopied beds, sculptural bathrooms and balconies overlooking tropical gardens.
The Sunseeker
Once a dated 80s motel, The Sunseeker is a boutique accommodation in the heart of Byron’s town. The vision was to create an esoteric place that felt like a residential home filled with a unique collection of treasured pieces – eccentric objects, bespoke furniture and ephemera sourced from local creatives, with bedside orb lights and sunshine-infused pops of art inscribed with reminders to ‘Holiday Often.’
The Sunseeker comprises well-considered yet understated family-friendly facilities, with all the adult trimmings. Accommodation includes both guest rooms and bungalows, in addition to a private residence for larger groups. The hotel boasts a library, a playground, a retro takeaway coffee van, a fire pit for gatherings and an 80s-style pool lined with plush daybeds positioned next to a tiki-meets-tropical brutalist bar.
Sustainability is central to the Sunseeker’s operation: the hotel is powered by solar panels, water tanks service the pool, garden and each bungalow, and repurposed materials were used throughout the remodel.
Hotel Marvell
The five-star Hotel Marvell is home to Byron Bay’s first-ever rooftop bar and pool. Located slightly back from the sandy shores of Main Beach, it embodies Byron’s tropical aesthetic, showcasing earthy tones and a 24-hour lobby adorned with lush greenery.
Designed by Harley Graham Architects, the hotel boasts 24 guest rooms with private balconies, adorned with natural materials alongside Mukti toiletries, Bemboka & Eadie bedding and Nespresso coffee machines.
The hotel houses Byron Bay Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant on the ground floor, where the menu centres on oysters and seasonal seafood prepared simply to showcase the produce.
The Bonobo
The Bonobo by Raes is a hotel and apartment complex from the Raes at Wategos team. The design – led by Richards & Spence, who designed the award-winning The Calile in Brisbane – imbues the residence with a rare sense of place. Granite reflects rocky outcrops, limestone and pale timbers suggest the soft colours of the shore, while off-form concrete ceilings create dramatic texture overhead.
The design focuses heavily on detail, in the same vein as Raes on Wategos. Positioned on Johnson Street in the heart of town, even the name is idiosyncratic – derived from the iconic Cheeky Monkeys nightclub that once stood across the road.
The accommodation showcases generous living and dining areas, entertainer kitchens as focal points for gathering, and tranquil bedrooms with indulgent ensuites intelligently positioned away from any bustle.
Lo Scoglio
Set among the rolling hills of Coopers Shoot, Lo Scoglio brings the character of a Sicilian country estate to the Byron Bay hinterland. Owners Charlie and Angelica Arnott drew on Angelica’s Sicilian heritage when designing the four-bedroom farmhouse and adjoining one-bedroom studio, combining traditional Italian architecture, vintage finds and raw materials sourced from the Northern Rivers. Accommodating up to 12 guests, the estate also features a generous kitchen, vegetable garden, spa, yoga deck, ice bath and infrared sauna.
ESTE Wategos
Positioned beneath Cape Byron Lighthouse with views across Wategos Beach, ESTE Wategos comprises two contemporary three-storey villas designed by Shaun Lockyer Architects. Interiors by Fiona Dunin of FMD Architects pair spotted gum, Italian travertine and hand-laid stone with Australian furniture by Mark Tuckey and Jardan, creating a tactile response to the surrounding rainforest and coastline. Each villa has a glass-bottom pool and private rooftop terrace, while a central light well draws sunlight deep into the residences. Booked together, the villas accommodate up to 12 guests.
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