5 Best Hotels in Byron Bay, North Coast

This hotel offers high-end technology amid an open and free-flowing design that pulls the surrounding rain forest in. The emphasis is on a connection to nature here and one- or two-bedroom luxury villas are nestled in the rain forest, and offer a lounge area that opens into a completely private balcony with a fire for the winter months. There’s a large lagoon-style pool with surrounding cabanas, pool bar, restaurant, and chill-out area, which is reserved for adults-only. Elements is a short five-minute drive from central Byron Bay but a solar train connects guests to the town center, running regularly from 10 am until 5 pm ($10 per person).

A chic boutique accommodation renowned for its luxurious rooms and suites, each uniquely styled with modern amenities, a freestanding bathtub, high-end linen, and vintage art. Bower at Byron is one of the most sophisticated hotels in the region, with its serene spa and heated mineral pool with poolside bar being a huge drawcard. Guests can unwind with massages, facials, and wellness treatments amid the natural beauty of the region. The service is to an incredibly high standard, with airport transfers included. There's also a private cottage for honeymooners. 

Three luxury bures—the Fijian word for cabin—may be only 650 feet from the city center, but the lush, peaceful setting makes it feel like a private oasis. All bedrooms have king-size beds and are outfitted in calming blues and whites, and bathrooms are stocked with high-end French toiletries. Georgi, the host, has gone to great lengths to create a quiet atmosphere for adults.

These studio apartments just opposite Clarkes Beach are neat, spacious, and well equipped. All have a fully equipped kitchen, a laundry, and either a balcony or a courtyard with rooms opening onto a generous private patio. Furnishings are in need of a refresh but clean, teamed with blond timbers and blinds, blue fabrics and colorful cushions, and white walls. The beach is so close that the sound of the waves can rock you to sleep.

A high-design boutique hotel, Raes' luxurious Mediterranean-style villa surrounded by a tropical garden offers individually decorated rooms with an eclectic mix of antiques, Indonesian art, Moroccan tables, and fine furnishings. The secluded rooms have gorgeous four-poster beds, tile floors, huge windows, in-room fireplaces, and private terraces; the service is top-notch, and the alfresco in-house restaurant, Rae's Fish Cafe ($$), is true to its name and serves fish and seafood dishes like Spanish-style seafood stew and wok-fried baby snapper. There is also a cellar door to sample local wines and a wellness spa. There's a minimum two-night stay on weekends.