Elements of Byron
Ever since my first stay at Elements of Byron, I knew it was a place I wanted to return to. Thankfully, this recent second visit didn't disappoint - if anything, it reaffirmed exactly why I fell in love with it the first time.
Despite being just minutes from the buzz of Byron Bay's town centre, Elements of Byron feels worlds away. From the moment you arrive and your eyes are drawn across the resort's expansive lagoon pool, you get the sense that you've arrived somewhere special - an oasis where time seems to slow down and leaving feels like the last thing you'll want to do.
Spread across 22 hectares of pristine beachfront and native bushland, this award-winning resort offers an immersive connection to nature. It's the kind of place that effortlessly balances seclusion with convenience, making it easy to forget the outside world exists at all.
Whether you're seeking adventure or complete relaxation, Elements of Byron caters to both. You can spend your days horse riding, learning to surf, joining a beachfront yoga class, exploring the resort on electric bikes, or enjoying a game of tennis, bocce, or giant chess. Equally, you can do absolutely nothing at all — and that's part of the appeal. Either way, it's the sort of place where a week never feels long enough, and departure always comes too soon.
For all the must-try foodie spots in Byron Bay view A Foodie’s Guide to Byron Bay
THE ROOM.
At Elements of Byron, you won't find traditional hotel rooms. Instead, the resort is home to 203 freestanding luxury villas spread throughout the property. With no fewer than eight different villa categories, each has been thoughtfully designed with award-winning architecture, coastal-inspired interiors, custom artisan furnishings, and a setting immersed in nature. The villas vary in size, layout, and location, with options ranging from one and two-bedroom retreats overlooking the lagoon, nestled amongst the eucalyptus forest, or positioned just moments from the beach.
During our stay, we checked into one of the resort's most popular accommodation options, the Botanica Villa. Spanning 50 square metres, this spacious one-bedroom retreat features a king bed or twin bedding configuration, a stylish ensuite complete with a freestanding bathtub, a kitchenette, separate living area, and a dedicated study nook.
Surrounded by native bushland, the villa also embraces indoor-outdoor living. A pair of comfortable chairs on the entry deck provide the perfect spot to enjoy a morning coffee, listen to the birdsong, or simply pause and reconnect with nature.
AMENITIES.
One of the things I love most about Elements of Byron is that there is no shortage of places to relax. Adult guests have access to not one, but two temperature-controlled pools, each offering a distinctly different atmosphere, as well as the resort's laid-back Beach Lounge overlooking Belongil Beach.
The resort's main pool is undoubtedly the social heart of Elements of Byron. Heated year-round, it features a heated spa, full poolside food and beverage service, private cabanas, and inviting hanging day beds that encourage long, leisurely afternoons in the sun. It's the kind of place where you arrive intending to spend an hour and somehow find yourself still there at sunset.
Beyond the pools, those looking to fully switch off should make time for a visit to the tranquil Osprey Spa. Flooded with natural light and surrounded by nature, the spa offers a range of personalised treatments and signature rituals designed to leave you feeling rested, restored and rejuvenated.
For guests aged 18 and over, the adults-only pool is undoubtedly one of Elements of Byron’s standout features. Heated and previously recognised as Australia's best hotel pool, it's the sort of place that makes it very difficult to leave.
Surrounded by luxurious private cabanas and plush poolside loungers, the pool also features a swim-up bar serving signature cocktails alongside a menu of Mexican-inspired bites. Whether you're settling in with a book, enjoying a long lunch, or simply floating beneath the Byron sunshine, it's remarkably easy for a few hours to turn into an entire afternoon.
Once you've had your fill of poolside relaxation, there's no better place to spend the late afternoon than the resort's Beach Lounge. Set directly on the sand, it's the perfect spot for sunbathing, settling into a good book, or simply soaking up the laid-back rhythm that Byron does so well.
Claim one of the king-sized day beds positioned along the beachfront and take in uninterrupted views stretching across the bay towards Cape Byron and Julian Rocks. As the afternoon drifts by and the ocean breeze rolls in, it's hard to imagine a more fitting place to unwind.
DINING.
At the heart of Elements of Byron’s dining scene is Azure Bar & Grill, the resort’s signature restaurant and a true showcase of the region’s best produce. The experience is thoughtfully split between two distinct spaces: Azure Bar & Grill Terrace and the Azure Bar & Grill Dining Room, each offering its own atmosphere while sharing a common commitment to quality and place.
The Terrace is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, offering a relaxed, casual-cool setting that feels perfectly in tune with Byron’s laid-back energy. It’s an easy, family-friendly space for long alfresco meals, yet still carries a subtle sense of resort luxury that makes it distinctly Elements of Byron.
In contrast, the Dining Room presents a more refined experience. Open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, it leans into a more elevated, intimate atmosphere - ideal for special occasions or a slower, more considered evening meal. With a focus on detail and a slightly more indulgent feel, it offers a different expression of the same coastal philosophy.
BREEZE POOLSIDE BAR & EATS
Breeze Poolside Bar & Eats is the resort’s relaxed, all-day dining spot overlooking the central lagoon pool. Reserved exclusively for in-house guests, it’s the kind of place where lunch naturally turns into an afternoon of lingering by the water.
The menu leans into easy, crowd-pleasing favourites - wood-fired sourdough pizzas, burgers, and fresh salads - best enjoyed with a tropical cocktail in hand. Around the pool, a mix of sun loungers, day beds, and the much-loved hanging day beds create plenty of spots to settle in and stay a while.
It’s casual, unhurried, and effortlessly social - the sort of poolside setup that makes leaving the water feel entirely optional.
SUMMER SALT BAR
At the adults-only pool, you’ll find Summer Salt Bar, a Mexican-inspired swim-up bar where the mantra is very much “save water, drink tequila.”
Here, the pace slows even further as you drift between the water and the bar, choosing from a menu of tequila-led cocktails - including the much-loved frozen mango and coconut margaritas - alongside a selection of fresh tacos.
It’s playful, sun-soaked, and effortlessly indulgent; the kind of place where one drink has a way of turning into a long, unplanned afternoon in the pool.
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