ACTIVITY

Rest, ’s eAsternmost town is home to incredible beAches, lush rAinforests, bustling boutiques, hip cAfés And indulgent spAs

WORDS: Karen Bleakley

ou’ve picked a busy time to visit – it’s Schoolies week!” says Penny, the manager of Bayshore Bungalows, as relax Y she hands my friend and I the keys. Byron Bay, Australia’s easternmost town, is home to incredible beaches, lush rainforests, bustling boutiques, hip cafés and indulgent spas. School leavers flock here in their droves in November, but they aren’t the only ones that love Byron; it’s a great spot for scuba diving, surfing, shopping, wildlife spotting and hiking too – Byron pretty much has it all covered. I hadn’t even thought about our trip coinciding with the end of the school year and when planning this retreat with my friend. I was thankful we’d chosen to stay at the tranquil self-catering resort on the edge of town, away rejuvenate from the parties, noise and backpacker lodges.

Main image, a massage in the rainforest at The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa Destination , Karen Bleakley 40 Australia & NZ | March 2016 www.getmedownunder.com www.getmedownunder.com Australia & NZ | March 2016 41 Images: The tropical setting ACTIVITY BYRON BAY of Buddha Day Spa Buddha Gardens Day Spa

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The next day we head into Byron for breakfast overlooking Main Beach. Apparently schoolies don’t make it out of bed before noon, so the place feels deserted.

TAKING IT EASY Afterwards, we start our holiday off slowly with a potter around the unique shops trying not to damage our credit cards. It’s not that the shops are expensive in Byron, just that they’re Jonson Street has a wide range of so good you want to buy shops, restaurants, bars and cafés everything – surf wear, nik naks, jewellery; you name it there is a us the best margarita and burritos “The wildlife near the car park is breath away as I swim towards the move on to our second resort: the cute shop selling it. I’ve ever tasted, and it’s the perfect totally different to the wildlife falling water. It’s so refreshing after iconic ‘Byron at Byron’; a sprawling At the top of the main street we spot to people watch as the evening you’ll find lower down,” Greg tells being in the steamy rainforest. We luxury hotel resort and spa scattered follow a crowd and stumble upon comes alive. us as we listen to the changes in the pull ourselves up on the rocks at through a rainforest. an arts market in the grounds of a After a few cocktails, we head sounds of the forest around us. the other side and sit under the As soon as I step into our suite, a school. Byron is the kind of place back to our accommodation for “Down here you’ll find spray of the waterfall, letting it run raging storm descends. The where you discover new drinks on our secluded patio in the bandicoots, quolls, echidnas, over our faces. panoramic forest viewing rooms on

experiences around every corner. warm evening air, leaving the wallabies and even platypus, Looking up the 100-metre-high either side provide an intense MinyonBoutiques Falls on is ideal Our afternoon treat awaits, so we teenagers to party the night away. although I haven’t seen one myself cliff face gives me a feeling of connection to nature, so I settle forLarson a refreshing Street dip make our way to the tranquillity of intense energy. We’re sitting under down in an armchair to watch the Bathing beneath Tours Adventure Bay Byron Buddha Gardens Day Spa. a natural landmark, once part of most incredible lightening show I feel my worries melt away as we “ i feel my worries melt the ancient Tweed Volcano and it I’ve ever seen. step into the tropical gardens – our feels a million miles from the There is no chance of paddle own private retreat from the chaos AwAy As we step into the bustling shopping strip of Byron. boarding or surfing this afternoon of family life. As we swim back across, the as I’d planned – it’s time for some The plunge pool and sauna are tropicAl gArdens ” heavens open, making it difficult to enforced relaxation. It’s probably for there to help us unwind before our see where the waterfall ends and the best as my legs are aching from treatments. A friendly lizard joins HINTERLAND TOUR as they’re pretty hard to spot. Just the rain begins. There’s no point the morning’s hike. The storm us on our loungers as we sip herbal Bright and early, Greg from Byron make sure you keep an eye out for getting dry; we dress over our drums on for hours, allowing me a tea. The two-hour treatment – Bay Adventure Tours arrives to leeches, they’re common and easy swimmers and duck under the chance to indulge in the luxury of involving a massage, facial and take us on a ‘Big Day Out’. to rub off.” canopy of the trees to start our the room and sink into a deep body brush – wipes away my stress. The tour starts with a hike to As I’m struggling to haul myself clamber up the track. herbal bath to wash away the mud As we walk out of the door my Minyon Falls. After viewing the over some large boulders, Greg Amazingly, the hike back – from the rainforest. shoulders feel light and my skin is cascading waterfalls from above, it’s points out that “a 70-year-old made although uphill – feels easier, even Next morning the sun is shining shiny. We take the opportunity to time to hike through the lush green it over these on a tour last week.” with legs that feel like jelly. again, so it’s time for an grab a table at Miss Margarita. This forest down a narrow path, strewn This spurs me on to make a bit There’s something about stepping invigorating 8am outdoor yoga bustling Mexican restaurant serves with rocks and tree roots. more effort with my climbing. out of reality into the natural world session at the resort. After the We emerge at the foot of Minyon that invigorates the soul. I know gentle exercise, my body craves Byron Bay’s Main Beach Falls to see the water tumbling into the morning’s experience will stay healthy food from the breakfast the dark natural pool of water. with me as one of my favourites buffet, so I fill up on fruit and “Are you going for a swim?” experiences in Byron. muesli instead of bacon and eggs Greg asks. Next is a visit to the without feeling tempted. I’ve never been for a swim in Markets, where I’m more than More spa time kicks off with a fresh water before, but I didn’t need ready for the Caribbean food truck dip in the heated plunge pool to be asked twice after our sweaty and the soy cappuccino that I hunt before I have a delicious body scrub hike. We strip down to our down. I adore the outdoors, but and firm massage that wipes away swimwear and carefully pick our there’s something special about any remaining tension I might have way over the rocks into the icy returning to reality again too. had left. water. More rain tumbles down as we My friend and I spend the It’s so shallow that we have to head back to Byron. afternoon lazing by the glorious edge over the slippery floor all the infinity pool, before strolling way to the middle of the pool RAINFOREST RETREAT through the rainforest to the before there’s enough depth to After checking out of our chic deserted Tallow Beach. The white submerge. The chill takes my self-catering accommodation, we sand and rolling waves are

42 Australia & NZ | March 2016 www.getmedownunder.com www.getmedownunder.com AustraliaAustralia & NZ | March 2016 43 Karen on the Seahorses Coastal views from USEFUL CONTACTS beach ride Cape Byron Bay STAY BAYSHORE BUNGALOWS The self-catering accommodation at this secluded resort is a great place to relax with its pool, tennis courts and barbeque area. Belongil Beach is a short stroll away. Bungalows from A$135 (£66) per night. www.bayshawbungalows.com.au THE BYRON AT BYRON Luxury suites nestled within a private rainforest, right next to Tallow Beach. Daily yoga, an indulgent spa and infinity pool mean the resort is a destination in itself. Prices from A$350 (£171) per night. breathtaking. Byron’s famous Yoga on Belongil Beach www.thebyronatbyron.com.au lighthouse stands proudly on the The swimming pool at headland in the distance. The Byron at Byron BEACH RIDE After a final evening involving cocktails and incredible food, it’s time to move on to Brunswick Heads for a beach horse ride. The conditions are perfect – sunny but breezy. As a beginner, I’m matched with a horse called Jade, who plods along following the others. Jo, who runs Seahorses, leads the PLAY ride. Her passion for her horses shines through as she tells me how SEAHORSES she nursed the horse she is riding Enjoy a blissful two-hour horseback ride along the beach back to health after an injury. from Brunswick Heads for A$100 (£49). www.seahorsesbyronbay.com She gushes about her plans to take her older horses to semi-retirement BUDDHA GARDEN DAY SPA on a new riding camp that she has This unpretentious day spa is a great place to unwind in natural surroundings. created that combines rides with www.buddhagardensdayspa.com.au gourmet food and wine. Her BYRON BAY ADVENTURE TOURS enthusiasm rubs off on me and I Cape Byron Lighthouse find myself planning another Visit Minyon Falls on the full-day ‘Big Day Out’ tour or choose from a range of other tours from A$119 (£58) per adult. weekend away. www.byronbayadventuretours.com The horses’ hooves squeak on the BYRON BAY STAND UP PADDLE sand as we walk to the water’s edge. Some of them plod through the Explore the beautiful Brunswick River on a stand-up paddleboarding tour for A$70 (£34). waves, but Jade prefers to stay dry so www.byronstanduppaddle.com.au skirts around the water, taking a BLACK DOG SURFING wide berth. Some of the more Book an introductory surf lesson from A$60 (£29), or take a experienced riders canter off, while course to develop your skills. the rest of us trek on slowly, www.blackdogsurfing.com drinking in the view of the frothy blue waves. Byron Bay is a mecca for keen surfers Towards the end, I can feel every muscle in my body aching – a hike, yoga and a ride have awoken muscles I didn’t know existed. My mind, on the other hand, feels light, relaxed, nurtured and excited – something I haven’t felt in a long time. A stiff walk around the cute little shops and cafés of Brunswick Heads afterwards makes me realise two things: I’m going to need another massage to recover from this holiday, and Byron is a destination to feed the soul.

44 Australia & NZ | March 2016 www.getmedownunder.com