Feel the stress slip away every minute you spend at a luxury retreat in New South Wales. From secluded bed-and-breakfasts to nature-based beachfront resorts and stylish seaside boutique hotels, an indulgent escape on the NSW North Coast will have you feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the world.

Slide into ’70s surf culture at Sea Sea

Ease into the laidback coastal lifestyle of Crescent Head, just a 45-minute drive north of Port Macquarie, in a stylish new way at Sea Sea, a relaxed-luxe 25-room boutique hotel taking bookings for stays from May 2023. Embrace the fusion of surf culture, design, art and entertainment at this 1970s-inspired retreat by award-winning creative director and designer George Gorrow (co-founder of fashion label Ksubi and The Slow hotel in Bali) and wife Cisco Tschurtschenthaler, where regular photo exhibitions and musical performances elevate your beach holiday experience.

Breathe in the salty sea air at The Surf

Watch the waves roll in from your ocean-view balcony or lounger on the rooftop sundeck at The Surf, Yamba’s first boutique hotel. Feel instantly relaxed by the sweet and spicy aromas of scents by Byron Bay company A’sh that ignite your senses as you check into one of 12 pastel-hued rooms at this stylish stay perched on Yamba’s famous headland. Take a restorative dip in the heated rooftop pool, and treat yourself to a lovingly prepared gourmet hamper or platter featuring delicious local produce.

Immerse yourself in coastal rainforest at Crystalbrook Byron

Fall in love with the boutique hotel formerly known as the Byron at Byron all over again on a stay at Crystalbrook Byron. Feel soothed by the subtropical rainforest setting of this 92-suite hotel on the southern fringe of Byron Bay, reopened in 2020 following a refurbishment by its new owners. Appreciate sustainable luxury touches, including treatments at its Eléme Day Spa using products by Australian natural skincare band Sodashi, and local produce celebrated at its modern Australian restaurant, Forest. Relax poolside with a creative cocktail after a day exploring the region, work up a sweat at the new fitness centre, or follow a rainforest boardwalk to reach magnificent Tallow Beach.

Uncover a relaxed luxury playground at Elements of Byron

Lap up the absolute beachfront location of the Elements of Byron resort, with eight freestanding villa options to choose from just a short hop (or ride on the Byron Solar Train) north of Byron Bay’s town centre. Revel in the convenience of having all the ingredients for a rejuvenating seaside holiday at your fingertips and you spend your stay soaking up the serenity of the adults-only pool, spotting birds on the resort’s nature trails, lounging at the beach club, indulging in treatments at the spa and sampling new flavours at the restaurant.

Relax by the mineral pool at The Bower Byron Bay

Step off the street into a leafy oasis that takes inspiration from New York’s Bowery district at The Bower Byron Bay, a 1970s motel-turned-luxury boutique hotel with 14 suites, a barn for couples, and a cottage and family house for larger groups. Choose between minimalist rooms with light and bright or dark and moody interiors, with designer furniture, layers of linen and hand-selected art pieces from vintage and contemporary collections. Set yourself up for a day exploring Byron Bay with a wholesome breakfast at hip next-door café The Byron Bay General Store, and enjoy lazy afternoons relaxing alongside The Bower’s circular mineral pool with a good book — or a cocktail.

Stay close to the action at 28 Degrees

Feel like you’re stepping into a stylish friend’s home at 28 Degrees, a private sanctuary just footsteps from Byron Bay’s famous beaches featuring seven elegant rooms, including three with private plunge pools. Enjoy access to shared main-house amenities, including a gourmet kitchen, dining area, reading room and a lap pool during your stay, with every element from the organic bed linens to the local beeswax candles chosen to leave you feeling enriched and revitalised. Mingle with fellow guests as much or as little as you like, with the plunge pool rooms offering the ultimate slice of privacy.

Recharge in nature at Blackbird Byron

Feel soothed by the sweeping sea views towards Cape Byron from your elevated perch at Blackbird Byron, a stylish three-room retreat tucked up in the verdant Mullumbimby hinterland. Savour the life-affirming sunrise views from the king bed in your detached pavilion before tucking into a wholesome breakfast whipped up by your hosts. Then lace your boots to explore energising hinterland trails, or simply lounge by the revitalising mineral pool, topped off with an in-room massage.

Feel like a celebrity at Raes on Wategos

Revel in the exclusivity at Raes on Wategos, a boutique hotel with just seven uniquely configured rooms — two penthouses and five suites — overlooking one of Byron Bay’s most beautiful beaches. Feel calmed by the curves of the 1960s property, stepping inside to discover a recently refurbished interior that’s also home to renowned Mediterranean-influenced restaurant Raes Dining Room, where decadent long lunches beckon. Get a buzz spotting celebrity diners at neighbouring tables, or feel like one yourself at breakfast time, when the Dining Room is only open to in-house guests.

Restore mind, body and soul at Soma

Gift yourself a transformational coastal stay at Soma, a luxurious retreat-only property in the Byron Bay hinterland, where you can choose from three- to five-day programs ranging from meditation to yoga, cleansing your digestive system during an ‘immersion’ experience designed to increase your energy and creative expression. Enjoy complimentary access to amenities including a freshwater infinity pool and sauna, and feel your body thank you for nourishing it with Ayurvedic meals before you drift off in your minimalist-chic king room each night.

Lean into the Hamptons vibe at Halcyon House

Feel the ultimate sense of escapism at Halcyon House, just steps away from Cabarita Beach, where 21 Hamptons-inspired rooms created by renowned Australian interior designer Anna Spiro surround a sun-drenched pool. Practise self-care at the spa, treat your taste buds to gourmet modern Australian meals at renowned onsite restaurant Paper Daisy, and indulge your passion for local gin at the bar, which boasts the largest selection of Australian-made gins in the country.