A soft modernist build and fine art-saturated styling create pure tranquillity in the heart of NSW’s busiest beach town.
A whip-crack siren call of the Eastern Whipbird. More birdsong, weaving in and out of rolling mountains. Glorious, uncluttered walking space. Have I time-machined back to pre-Hemsworth Byron? It feels like another world inside The Bonobo by Raes, Byron Bay’s newest hotel from the team behind Raes at Wategos, a local hospitality stalwart. Checking in among the hotel’s very first guests, I slide into a sophisticated overnight sanctuary unlike any other in the neighbourhood.
The sparkling rooftop pool will also feature a bar come spring 2026.
Where is The Bonobo by Raes?
It’s extremely central, right on Johnson Street, so you can wander (barefoot, to mirror Thor himself) up to Main Beach, one of the best beaches in Byron Bay, as well as some of the best local restaurants. It’s about 35 kilometres from Ballina Airport and 100 kilometres from the Gold Coast.
Design and style
The exterior of Bonobo by Raes.
The brutalist building has been designed by Queensland design firm Richards and Spence.
The open-air multi-tiered courtyard at Bonobo by Raes.
Utterly chic across all three levels of contemporary blonde brick-brutalism. Another masterstroke by Queensland design firm Richards and Spence, best known for Brisbane’s James Street precinct and delivering The Calile, The Bonobo by Raes cultivates a rich subtropical rainforest just a couple of doors down from Woolworths. An open-air, tiered courtyard, dotted with fresh grass, palms, ferns and a sunken spread of about 20 outdoor tables, sends verdant natural life skywards, ever-so-cleverly thawing the blocky, bare materiality of upper levels and the wider build.
The lobby features Bauhaus-inspired interiors.
Sydney and Melbourne interiors company Studio Manifold designed the lush interiors.
The lobby stocks pre-mixed Brookie’s cocktails in exclusive collaboration with Cape Byron Distillery.
Then, there’s my favourite puzzle piece — the outstanding foyer, resplendent with pop colour Bauhaus-inspired interiors spanning geometric rugs, striped drapery, block-coloured coffee table books and a bespoke collection of pre-mixed Brookie’s cocktails in exclusive collaboration with Cape Byron Distillery. It is such a brilliantly excessive mishmash of eye candy, balanced with precise restraint by Sydney and Melbourne interiors company Studio Manifold, that it looks like a film set. I immediately want to gut my own living room and snap-lock the shagadelic fit-out into its place because it screams good times.
The room
The kitchen and living room open onto a spacious terrace.
I stay in room 211, a Two Bedroom Residence with hinterland views and, again, more dreamy interiors and furniture. Blonde-butterscotch cabinetry with ultra-chunky handles, custom Jardan lounge and dining pieces in walnut timber and soft pastels, stone benchtops illuminated with appliances from Breville’s ‘An Aboriginal Culinary Journey’ collection, and original artworks by Sulman prize-winning artist Doris Bush create photo-worthy vignettes at most corners. Additionally, the open-plan living and dining rolls through sliding glass doors to a balcony with a custom MCM House six-person outdoor dining table. Tucked away in the corner is a spiral staircase that leads to a private terrace with sunlounges, another plush dining table, and easy access to the rooftop pool (more on that below).
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
The bathroom features a freestanding bathtub.
Bathrooms also feature a rainshower.
The living space of the Hotel Residence opens onto a spacious balcony.
The sundrenched terrace features a custom MCM House six-person outdoor dining table.
The Hotel Residence kitchens are stocked with thoughtful details such as a bamboo matcha whisk and bowl.
A spiral staircase leads to a private terrace for lounging in the sun.
Inside the Hotel Room.
Like most, I’m a sucker for the little in-room details. I love the Raes Dining Room’s Sparkling Water and the restaurant’s signature Perrier-Jouët bubbles in the fridge, the Bonobo by Raes-branded tea bag canister in the cupboard, and the branded dishwashing liquid in the drawer. A bamboo matcha whisk and bowl, POTTR by Sam Gordon coffee and espresso mugs, Le Labo bathroom amenities (plus the Le Labo Santal 33 scent throughout the hotel), and Villeroy & Boch bathroom tapware (including perfect-pressure rain shower heads) make me smile, too.
The facilities
A rooftop pool
The perfect spot for a sundowner.
I’ve mentally locked in another visit to The Bonobo by Raes in spring 2026 when its rooftop bar will swing into action, but the rooftop pool that currently dazzles atop level three fills my cup in the meantime. While the water itself is conveniently heated during my winter visit, mint-green market umbrellas and spacious soft-cushion day beds offer views out to those spectacular surrounding mountains. At one end of the space, there’s also a gorgeous red and brown striped lounge and low-slung checkerboard-inspired mosaic table if you can peel yourself away from horizontal lazing to mingle.
Watch the sunset from the rooftop.
The heated pool is bordered by a selection of spacious soft-cushion day beds.
Take in the surrounding mountain views.
A restaurant and bar
The Lobby Bar is the hotel’s all-day dining venue.
Lobby Bar is a super relaxed, all-day dining space just a few steps away from the check-in counter. Led by head chef Callum Gray, in cahoots with Raes Dining Room’s executive chef Jason Saxby, the restaurant serves a la carte breakfast (not included in a stay) and creamy coffee care of St. Ali beans. I take advantage of the bar at dinner, slurping down a signature banana negroni far too quickly before a pork cotoletta, beautifully dusted with excessive ricotta, melts in my mouth. I also smear far too much of a burnt cauliflower butter over my fluffy sourdough side dish, but such is life.
It’s worth noting that all meals throughout the property, including the in-room dining menu that runs from 12pm to 9pm, come out of this kitchen so you can expect quality feeds wherever you’re relaxing.
A wellness centre
Another facility at The Bonobo by Raes I sadly missed out on, RESET is scheduled to open in early September 2026 — a bathhouse that will also offer contrast therapy, a steam room, spa treatments, vitamin C-infused showers and more. A beach break without day spa decadence just isn’t a beach break in my book, so I kept things in the family during my visit with a 90-minute ‘Cocoon’ body treatment over at Raes on Wategos. Let me tell you, if that’s where these guys set their wellness bar, expect muscle-melting excellence on-site soon.
Weekly travel news, experiences insider tips, offers, and more.
Does The Bonobo by Raes cater to guests with access needs?
Guests with access needs are welcomed at The Bonobo by Raes, with a lift dedicated to transferring wheelchairs and prams up to above-ground levels including the rooftop pool. Once you’re up there, a pool hoist can also be arranged.
As for accessible rooms, some residences do offer formally recognised access-friendly fit-outs, so guests with queries should speak directly to the team when booking.
Is The Bonobo by Raes family-friendly?
A fully-equipped kitchen makes The Bonobo by Raes a family-friendly stay.
It sure is, and I especially love the ‘Little Foodies’ in-room dining menu, which includes Gelato Messina ice-cream, for complete family-friendly ease. The Bonobo by Raes’ multi-bedroom Residences are the ultimate pick when it comes to room selection (hello, full kitchens and huge fridges), while interconnecting configurations make life even easier if your clan needs all the space.
Who is The Bonobo for?
Design-obsessed couples and families looking for serenity in the heart of Byron Bay.
How much does a room at The Bonobo cost?
Hotel rooms start at $355 per night, which includes off-street parking. There’s a secure undercover car park, complimentary wi-fi and breakfast for a fee inside Lobby Bar.
Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
Warmer days call for slowing down and relaxing in nature. Discover why The Tweed is the ultimate destination to do just that.
As the end of the year draws near, the need for rest and restoration grows ever more prominent. For many, that means heading into nature – and there’s plenty of science to back up the benefits of doing so. It quite literally makes us happier as it reduces stress hormones, lowers our blood pressure and more. And what better place to lean into this feel-good effect than during summer in The Tweed (in the Northern Rivers region of NSW)? Blending sparkling beaches, riverside towns and hinterland villages, this area has nature covered, while also offering top activities and dining options.
Slip, slop, slap.
And of course, pack your SPF. We Are Feel Good Inc’s Ultra-Light Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is a lightweight and fast-absorbing formula that keeps your skin hydrated and shielded, thanks to nourishing Coconut Oil and Vitamin E. But it’s also helping preserve the natural beauty around you on your Tweed vacation, thanks to 30 per cent ocean waste packaging.
Discover eight experiences that make The Tweed the perfect place for summer.
1. Underwater worlds
Get a chance to swim with the locals.
There’s something about the ocean that calls to us as humans, and what’s below the surface is even more magical.
Green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles (not to mention an abundance of other marine life) all use the protected waters around Cook Island, near Fingal Head, as their foraging ground, making it the perfect place to dive and snorkel to spot these adorable creatures.
Join Cooly Eco Adventures on a guided snorkelling tour that combines unforgettable turtle encounters with an inspiring look into marine conservation.
2. Farm-to-table dining
Treat your taste buds at Potager. (Image: Cara Sophie)
Respecting the land and nature also means appreciating its abundance of food. From farm-to-table cafes and boutique breweries to river cruises and restaurants championing local produce, dining around The Tweed often means engaging with the best local producers.
The award-winning Potager Restaurant, part of The Hinterland Collection, is the perfect example; beginning life as a kitchen garden, the passion to champion local producers is woven into every dish. Vegetables, fruit and herbs are picked from the garden or sourced from other local producers, the seafood comes from the Northern Rivers, and meat is sourced from ethical local producers. Even the cocktail list features local distillers.
Extend your stay with a night (or several) at boutique on-site accommodation, Potager House. This French-inspired country four-bedroom retreat boasts stunning views of the surrounding hills and nearby ocean, as well as a large pool, outdoor entertaining area and infrared sauna.
3. Water wellness
Find mindfulness in mangroves. (Image: Matt Johnson)
You’ll find mindfulness while floating around the mangroves of Kingscliff’s Cudgen Creek at any time, but Watersports Guru offers an immersive experience to help guests do so with more intent. Join a 90-minute guided session on a stand-up paddleboard to reconnect with nature and relax through breathwork, gentle movement and sensory awareness.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, Watersports Guru also offer Kayak fishing adventures or join a Sea Turtle Odyssey experience.
4. Restorative seaside stays
Unwind at Halcyon Wellness.
The Tweed encourages locals and visitors alike to slow down. To really indulge, a seaside stay is a must. Halcyon House has understood the assignment, blending a wellness philosophy centred on balance and self-discovery with luxurious surrounds. Stay in one of 22 rooms and suites (each individually designed by eclectic interior designer Anna Spiro) right on the beachfront. Book restorative treatments at the onsite spa, Halcyon Wellness, relax by the pool, dine at the hatted Paper Daisy restaurant and just let The Tweed work its magic.
While Blue Water Motel offers a relaxed coastal escape, just steps from Kingscliff Beach. Settle in stylish rooms, recently restyled by Jason Grant, nodding to the cool of Kingscliff with a fun retro vibe. Hire a bike from reception to explore the surrounding area.
5. Tasty drops
Join a Farm to Bottle tour. (Image: Salsingh Photography)
The owners at Husk Farm Distillery aren’t just about creating high-quality rum: they’re also farmers themselves. In fact, they create one of the world’s only single estate, farm-to-bottle spirits. Join a Farm to Bottle tour to discover the sustainable ‘full circle’ distilling practices used here, and even get hands-on with your own cane knife to help harvest and juice your own stalk of cane. And, of course, a welcome drink plus complimentary tastings along the way.
6. Rail trail adventures
Cycle the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
Exploring the rolling green slopes and historic towns of the 24-kilometre Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is one of the best ways to connect with the region’s lush hinterland and interesting heritage. In this section of the trail, discover the area’s railway history at heritage-listed Murwillumbah Railway Station, and traverse by 18 railway bridges and through two railway tunnels.
Linking vibrant towns and villages with the larger hub of Murwillumbah, this section of the trail is covered in asphalt or compacted gravel, making it accessible for all ages and abilities, from prams to adaptive bikes.
7. Linger longer
Enjoy beachside locations, like Fingal Heads.
Linger longer at one of the seven idyllic beach, river and creekside locations of Tweed Holiday Parks – including at Tweed Heads, Kingscliff Beach, Hastings Point and Pottsville South. All just steps from the water’s edge, they make the ideal base to unwind, or head out for exploration of The Tweed. Choose from luxury waterfront cabins, accessible cabins, surfari tents (yes, they are basically glamping tents) or spacious sites for caravans, motorhomes and campervans or tents.
Stay for longer and indulge in plat at Tweed Holiday Parks.
