Crystalbrook Byron

Crystalbrook Byron is a luxury resort surrounded by 45 acres of lush rainforest. It’s set just outside of Byron Bay and is the seventh instalment of this eco-luxury hotel collection peppered throughout Queensland and and New South Wales – each one designed to echo its surrounds.

Previously The Byron at Byron, the resort has been designed to bring the natural world in with soaring open ceilings, window walls and bifold glass doors that open all the way. Its main restaurant, Forest, was revamped in early 2018 by Luchetti Krelle (Longrain Tokyo, Banksii, Za Za Ta). It’s anchored by a striking copper island bar and populated by Italian furniture, European lighting from Space, antiques and a series of paintings of native botanicals by Archibald Prize-winner Julian Meagher. There are two other restaurants and bars there, each celebrating natural, local produce and Australian flavours.

There are 92 suites on-site, each featuring its own living and dining space, two balconies and huge bathroom with a deep-soak bath. If you can tear yourself away from the luxurious confines of the room, there’s a beach a short stroll away and rainforest-side infinity pool on-site. And when you’ve dried off, the Eleme Day Spa is ready and waiting to indulge you in an afternoon of deep-tissue massages, vitamin-enriched facials and a variety of wellness therapy sessions. If you’re looking for something a little more active however, there are daily yoga classes and a tennis court.

The team at Crystalbrook is dedicated to creating a luxe experience with an emphasis on sustainability, so 80 per cent of its produce is sourced within a three-hour drive and there’s absolutely no sign of a plastic straw or water bottle. There are also four hives at the resort that provide the restaurant and its patrons with fresh rainforest honey.