Blackbird Byron

Style

Industrial plumage

Setting

Mullumbimby mountain perch

Disconnect from Facebook and reconnect with Mother Nature at Blackbird Byron, a three-room retreat in Byron Bay that champions the great outdoors, from its alfresco magnesium mineral pool to its view-toting pavilions. Sleeping quarters are a modernist vision of glass, wood and steel, without sacrificing on cosiness. Hands-on husband-and-wife team James and Stella are your hosts, rustling up breakfasts and pizza on demand, offering local recommendations and sorting in-room massages or on-site yoga. And half an hour away, buzzing Byron Bay beckons…

Facilities

Rooms

Three pavilions.

Checkout

10am; earliest check-in, 2pm.

More Details

Rates usually include Continental breakfast. WiFi is free for browsing (ask the owners for the dongle), or $30 for streaming (up to 40GB).

Also

Public and communal areas are wheelchair-accessible and all bedrooms are on the ground floor.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pool

At the Hotel

Open-plan communal kitchen/dining area. In rooms: TV, air-conditioning, minibar, free bottled water, tea- and coffee-making kit.

Our Favourite Rooms

The hotel’s trio of rooms are democratically uniform: Pavillion One is just a little bit bigger than the other two. They’re all snug and charming, with pretty tiles in the bathroom, on-loan binoculars and a tempting patio, where you can sit and soak up the region’s sights and sounds.

Poolside

The hotel’s on-trend magnesium pool comes with expansive views of Cape Byron and the glittering Pacific Ocean.

Spa

There’s no spa, but in-room beauty treatments can be arranged on request for an extra cost.

Packing Tips

If you don’t feel a Wordsworthian thrill at the notion of being awoken by early morning birdsong, come armed with ear plugs.

Also

With advance notice, yoga and pilates sessions can be arranged (an extra cost).

Children

Sorry, littles: this hotel is for full-grown Smiths only.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Dress Code

Byron Bay bohemian.

Hotel Restaurant

There’s no restaurant or bar, but the hotel has teamed up with chefs Alex Clark and Emily O’Kane (winners of the TV show My Kitchen Rules) to make sure you won’t be going hungry. Book in advance, and the pair of Aussie culinary A-listers will whip up a private poolside feast for you, complete with cocktails and coastal views. They’ve masterminded a globetrotting menu loaded with local ingredients; depending on the day of the week and what’s in season, you can expect hearty Italian dishes, smoky Texan barbecue, Asian street food or oyster-stacked seafood platters. Spontaneous snackers, fear not: the hotel’s deli fridge is stuffed with salami, olives, cheese and cocktails to stave off unplanned hunger pangs. (You’ll also get a Continental breakfast full of fresh local produce, natch.)

Last Orders

Breakfast is served between 7am and 9am.

Planes

Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is 49 kilometres away (a 40-minute drive). You could also fly into Gold Coast Airport, 60 kilometres away. The Smith24 team can book your flights; just give them a call.

Automobiles

Wheels are a great idea if you want to go exploring and enjoy easy access to Byron Bay. The hotel’s parking area is about a five-minute walk away from the main building, so drop your luggage off first.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Go for a refreshing dip in the magnesium mineral pool and soak up those incredible views of Cape Byron and the Pacific. Treat yourself to an in-room pampering treatment from a visiting therapist; the 90- or 120-minute aromatherapy massages include reflexology, a warm peppermint foot soak, a green-clay face mask and more. Take the hint from your in-room binoculars and try to spot a yellow-tailed black cockatoo or two: the rare birds call Mount Chincogan home. Go exploring in rugged Nightcap National Park or ask the hotel owners to point you in the direction of the region’s secret waterfalls (only adventurous types need apply). Go swimming in Brunswick River at high tide and splash around at Torakina Beach. Additional outdoorsy thrills come in the form of Mount Jerusalem National Park, Minyon Falls lookout/walking area, Whian Whian Conservation Area and the Inner Pocket Nature Reserve. Don’t miss Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens: a botanical wonderland with giant crystals and fossils and tropical plants. Indulge your inner hippie and embark on the Shambhala Gardens Tour, which includes a guided meditation at the Blessing Buddha, the Crystal Experience, Music of the Plants and the Peace Experience. Groovy, baby.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .