Even if you’ve never been to Byron Bay, you’ll recognise the white walls and California cool feel of Raes on Wategos. It’s one of Australia’s most beloved boutique hotels with a lush pool, a destination diner from chef Jason Saxby and seven suites and penthouses.
The team behind Raes have purchased a second property just 100 metres down the road, which they will open in October this year as an extension of the hotel. Locals will be familiar with the property as the former Victoria’s at Wategos site.
Under the guidance of designer Tamsin Johnson – who was responsible for Raes’ 2016 refurb – the old Victoria’s site will become home to 10 new suites, two pools (one 16 metres in length with a waterfall, and another 12 metres long with solar heading and a nearby cabana area) and several common areas with log-burning fireplaces and dense greenery.
With the addition of the 10 new suites, the capacity of the hotel will become 38 guests. Speaking to Broadsheet, Raes managing director Jordy Catalano said, “Everyone has been very involved in the process of getting it off the ground. We see this as an extension of the existing hotel but it actually means that we have three separate buildings within the hotel now, so we can retain the boutique nature of the site, given that there won’t be a whole bunch of people in one space at the same time.”
Like at Raes, the 10 new suites will each have their own layouts and fit-outs. “The floor plan of each room is completely unique and all of the styling pieces are vintage and antique, so each of the rooms will be very different stylistically,” says Catalano.
The new property will be exclusively accessible to guests. Hotel guests can freely move between the pools and common spaces across both the original and the new site.
The team is hoping to open the extension in late October, with bookings available at the beginning of the month.
