Elements of Byron Resort & Spa – Hotel Review

Few places in Australia have mastered the art of the flop-and-drop family holiday quite like Elements of Byron Resort & Spa in Byron Bay. Sure, Byron isn’t short on things to lure you into town – great cafés and restaurants, a beach that people travel the world to surf – but after checking in here with the kids, you’d be forgiven for not leaving the grounds until your stay is over.

Where is Elements of Byron?

The property is around a 50-minute walk north of the main hub of Byron Bay (the drive will take you less than 10 minutes). It’s around a 30-minute drive from Ballina Byron Airport or 45 minutes from Gold Coast Airport.

What’s near Elements of Byron?

You’re just a 10-minute stroll from the Habitat Retail & Lifestyle Precinct, home to popular homewares stores, cafés and restaurants, including the acclaimed Barrio. Drive seven minutes towards town to reach Belongil Beach, home to Maurice Terzini’s Belongil Beach Italian Food. Or drive the same distance in the opposite direction to land at food mecca The Farm Byron Bay. It’s the kind of place where kids are supposed to run around and inside voices aren’t a thing.

Room types

Actually, they’re called villas but you can think of them as ‘pods’, ranging from two-bedders to studios. There are eight different kinds but the most luxurious is the Deluxe Two Bedroom Villa. Both rooms have their own bathrooms and there’s a separate ‘bathhouse’ to relax in. The kitchen is well fitted out for making meals (and the Nespresso machine has your coffee needs covered), plus the washer and dryer will keep you on top of the kids’ many post-swim outfit changes. 

Restaurant and bars

The main restaurant is Azure Bar and Grill, open for lunch and dinner and serving mod Oz dishes. The Azure Terrace is the place for breakfast and offers a kids’ menu that meets kids exactly where they’re at – yep, that means Weet-Bix, Coco Pops and pancakes. For adults, there is more adventurous fare, like shakshuka or a breakfast poke. For more casual bites, there is the poolside café or the lobby bar, which can set you up with cocktails and pizza by the firepit. Head to the adults-only pool to find Summer Salt bar – it’s a swim-up situation.

Sustainability

As well as having villas that claim 35 per cent less power than a traditional hotel room, the roof of the main building is used to capture and store water that is used for topping up the pool and the flushing of toilets. The property was awarded the Sustainability Award in the 2017 Australian Institute of Architects Awards.

Travel for work

Most villas come with a study ‘nook’ and desk. Alternatively, there is a work station in the library (with a desktop computer) that sits adjacent to reception. Basic services, such as printing and scanning, can also be arranged.

Spa and pool

The Central Lagoon Pool is everything the kids want from a resort holiday – huge, with shallow play areas and a cabana for everyone. If your troupe is particularly large, snare one of the ‘nests’ that can easily accommodate the multi-generational travellers. And what the adults-exclusive pool lacks in size, it easily makes up for in Zen – the all-white cabanas with daybeds are what Instagram dreams are made of. Find more indulgent downtime at Osprey Spa, with a menu that covers six types of massage options.

What you need to know

The one-bedroom Dunal Villas sit closest to the beachfront – step outside villa number 43 for views to Byron Bay Lighthouse and Julian Rocks Nguthungulli Nature Reserve.

SEE ALSO: A Perfect Weekend Getaway to Byron Bay