There’s a calm that washes over you as you arrive in Byron Bay. The sky appears to open up, the warm, salty air starts playing with your hair and there’s an immediate urge to kick off your shoes and walk around barefoot. Barefoot luxury is exactly what we found during our first stay at Elements of Byron. I say our ‘first stay’, as Byron’s newest luxury resort quickly became somewhere we would come back to over and over again.
The fire pit precinct is a popular meeting spot. Grab a cocktail and make dinner plans by the fire. Image © Skye Gilkeson
On check in, the lovely girl at front-of-house asked what we had planned over the course of the weekend. I was still distracted by the incredible lagoon pool area that opened up to my left and the fact that she had just told me they had just started shucking fresh oysters by the fire pit for a dollar each. Clearly, we didn’t need to go anywhere else all weekend, I told her. She smiled and I got the feeling that’s what Elements was all about.
As the name suggests, the design of the resort has incorporated elements from the ecology of the site, the climate and natural materials. The result is a beautiful property accented with Australian hardwood, paperbark, glass and stone in a very organic way. Elements is impressive, without being imposing.
Villas nestle into the natural environment by the pond at Elements of Byron. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Stay at Elements of Byron
The grounds at Elements were quintessentially Australian; a blend of bushland, beach, wetland and rainforest. The 94 villas were very unassuming, nestled into the natural environment. On stepping into the sunken living area of our Beachside Villa, touches of understated luxury begin to jump out. There was a feeling of authenticity to the space; beautiful without the flashiness that can come with very opulent hotels.
Australian natural materials come together to create a warm, soft palette in our Beachside Villa. Elements of Byron. Image © Skye Gilkeson
The sunken living area with gas fireplace is a cosy spot to relax. Elements of Byron. Image © Skye Gilkeson
A closer look and high-end features you expect from a five-star resort present themselves; a Bose sound system, a personal tablet, 42” flat screen television, a bar featuring top-shelf pours, a gas fireplace and luxury skin care products from Appelles Apothecary. The villas were clearly designed with luxury retreat and relaxation in mind.
When The Hubby had to leave early, there was only one thing for me to do. Cue a bath, music, wine and relaxation. Image © Skye Gilkeson
A comfortable king-sized bed, casually cradled a soft woollen throw on one corner. The light and airy bathroom opened up to one side with large vanity, a large rain shower behind and robes hanging at the read in the closet. My favourite part of the villa was the Private Bathing Deck. A free-standing bath sat by itself with air flowing in through windows to one side, giving it an al fresco feel. I made a mental appointment with that tub for later in the stay and loved every indulgent minute.
Perfect stillness as the sun sets over our Beachside Villa at Elements of Byron. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Our villa was a few steps from the beach club at the sand which offered the perfect spot to sit back and watch the sunset. By climbing a few steps to higher ground, we went to spot whales breaching just off-shore. As a spot for a romantic getaway, Elements of Byron ticked all the boxes.
Fire Pit Fridays are a must at Drift Bar, Elements of Byron. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Nourish at Elements of Byron
It’s no exaggeration to say that the Byron Bay foodie scene has become a very competitive one and careful meal planning comes in when booking a trip to Byron. We had lofty expectations for Elements and of course they delivered on their promise of delicious, farm-to-fork fare handcrafted from local produce.
An incredible sunset welcomes us to Elements of Byron. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Drift Bar
Fire Pit Fridays at Drift Bar are legendary around town; a couple of people mentioned them when we said we were staying at Elements. It’s easy to see why. Oysters for one dollar each, bush tucker inspired cocktails and a fun Friday night crowd is a great combination. We sunk into lounge chairs and sipped on G and Ts with a couple of platters of oysters, only vacating the comfort of the chairs to get some pictures of the sun setting behind us. I couldn’t think of a more relaxing introduction to both the resort and the weekend.
