The Best Hotels to Book in Byron Bay, New South Wales

Elements of Byron is a multi-award-winning resort on Belongil Beach, set among rainforest, wetlands and dunes. Villas made from natural materials dot the grounds and are luxuriously furnished with standalone tubs and fireplaces. There’s a 40m (130ft) lagoon pool, but if you’re looking for solace, head to the adults-only pool with its swim-up tequila bar or the Osprey Spa for a treatment. It’s a short ride on the world’s first solar-powered train to Byron Bay.

If you want to know where the celebs stay, head to Byron at Byron, a five-star resort on Tallow Beach. Built on 18ha (45 acres) of native forest, you can wander or cycle along wooden boardwalks to spot wallabies and exotic birds. When you want some peace, you can retreat to your apartment among the trees, complete with a private balcony. You’ll hardly want to leave the resort when you have access to a heated lap pool, tennis court, gym and opulent spa.

Byron Cove is a typical Australian beach house with a Mediterranean villa vibe. Its five European-style rooms share a pool, sauna and steam room, and there’s a serene garden. All rooms are set around the pool, with cream loungers and parasols, yet each has a private balcony and entrance. It takes just a minute to wander along a bush track over rolling dunes to Belongil Beach.

There’s a host of accommodation choices at this boutique property, set just five minutes from Byron’s centre and surf beaches. Options include studio-style villas and a two-bedroom apartment that all share a heated, saltwater pool. Expect techy touches such as iPod docks and flat-screen TVs with Netflix, as well as a complimentary continental breakfast. Go for the open-plan, four-bedroom beach house for more privacy; it has a private pool.

Hotels in Byron Bay are rarely so homely: 28 Degrees is a refurbished, four-bedroom 1940s cottage run by the couple next door. The eco-conscious rooms have plunge pools and open-air showers, recycled oak floors and bedside tables crafted from tree trunks. The guest house may be only a minute’s walk from Jonson Street, but the tropical gardens give an illusion of wilderness. Rooms are stocked with an array of organic breakfast supplies, as well as a guide to local restaurants put together by your hosts.

If you’re searching for group accommodation in Byron Bay, check out Azur, which has five studio villas arranged around a pool, a hot tub and gardens decorated with stone Buddha statues. Studios and one-bedroom apartments have living areas, balconies and kitchenettes, although you are also welcome to use the barbecue area. Two separate beach houses, just a short stroll from the heart of Byron Bay, offer an even more exclusive experience.

Just a short amble from Belongil Beach, the Beach Shack lives up to its name. Each of the six shacks has a unique character – some with a garden space and others that open onto the poolside deck. They feature restored timber furniture, white linens, cloud-like king-size beds and limited-edition artwork adorning its walls. All the shacks share a sandstone-edged, solar-heated pool, which sits on a wooden deck strewn with beanbags.

Cape Byron Retreat is an adults-only escape a quick drive from Byron Bay. The property is surrounded by hinterland with views of Mt Warning, which you can enjoy from bubbling outdoor spas. In the main house, there are ensuite rooms and an open-plan living area with a fireplace, or you can book one of the suites. The Balinese-style villa has a freestanding couple’s egg bath, while the Sanctuary Suite, complete with a private spa and hammocked balcony, is perfect for honeymooners.

Once a 1970s roadside motel, the Bower is now a boutique hotel in Byron Bay, inspired by the independent New York hotel scene. There are 14 drive-up suites in the complex, a five-minute drive outside the Bay. Each one features floor-to-ceiling windows that show off palmed gardens, Byron art, straw carpets, antique taps and natural throws. A separate cottage for 10 is perfect for larger groups, while the barn serves as a romantic nest, with a soaking tub set beneath a glass ceiling.

Stay at Soma for meditation and yoga sessions, led by guru Gary Gorrow in a crystal dome in the forest. The house is set on 9ha (22 acres) of hinterland just 10 minutes from Byron Bay and has airy communal spaces where you can share meals and mingle. Rooms are eco-havens of wood, and some have wrap-around windows. Soma also has a freshwater infinity pool and fire pit to gather around. Don’t miss the Indian-inspired evening meals – breakfast is a self-serve affair.