The Atlantic Byron Bay

A girly-getaway with my bestie to recharge and to bask in some blissful sunshine!

There are four different types of accommodation at The Atlantic, each born from a series of original houses lovingly reinvigorated to reflect cool coastal locales around the world. ‘The Lodge’, one of The Atlantic’s bigger buildings, is reminiscent of a homestead you’d find in the Caribbean, with whitewashed walls, huge palms and louvred windows. ‘The Albatross Inn’, the second, smaller house, is rife with Baja Mexico vibes and has a slight Scandi seaside village undertone. You can even channel your inner gypsy-child and stay in the wistfully refurbished vintage American airstream. All buildings meander around a lush, tropical garden and resort-style pool. We stayed in a ‘Tropical Room’ in The Lodge, where the minimal yet luxe coastal theme continued. The room and communal spaces were meticulously decorated with kitschy artefacts and worldly wares – with Grown Alchemist spa products in the bathroom keeping things classy.

For a boutique hotel quite literally in the middle of bustling Byron Bay, and it sounds a bit counter-intuitive to say, The Atlantic is overwhelmingly relaxing. But that’s exactly what it is. Perfumed candles set the mood in communal spaces and every attention to detail in design, as well as guest experience, has been well-thought-out. Staff are lovely and attentive when needed but have a respectively hands-off approach. The ethos of The Atlantic is to live the Byron lifestyle and with that brings an increased amount of autonomy for guests. Do as the locals do; cook fresh produce from the local markets and bond over a glass of bubbly with others in the kitchen, or simply retire early and meditate the night away on your room’s private veranda.

Bohemian Byron Bay is a coastal mecca for surfers, creatives and soul-seekers the world over. The township offers a melting pot of eclectic dining and shopping options. It is a genuine incubator of creativity and artistry. The beaches of Byron are also some of the most beautiful in the world, so don’t forget to do the Lighthouse Walk and take in the views.

We had a lovely chat to an interior designer and his wife over the fire-pit one evening.