Following our quick tour of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, where we got to see koalas and kangaroos, we drove—or rather, our friend G, drove us to her hometown of Byron Bay. We’re planning on staying here for a night before moving to Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast.

BYRON BAY HOTEL & APARTMENT

It was past sundown when we arrived in our lodging, Byron Bay Hotel & Apartments, checking out the historic Byron Bay Lighthouse first, which sits on a majestic promontory overlooking Tallows Beach, before finally settling down.

►CHECK OUT: BYRON BAY DIY TOUR

OUR KING ROOM!

It seems hotel receptions in Australia only work during the daytime and we have to check ourselves in since it was way past their working hours. Having pre-booked our hotel (a wedding gift from G), we were given instructions on how to open a safety deposit box outside the hotel’s door, where our key was waiting, and were given the code to unlock the side entrance of the lodging so we can actually go in the building. It was very Mission Impossible.

►BOOK TOURS IN BYRON BAY

LOVE THE MINIMALIST DECOR

We were billeted on their King Room and it was really spacious! A king bed sits on one corner, lorded over by a very intricate wood carving on the headboard. On a nook by the left side is very comfy and somewhat lonely chair right next to a door leading to mini balcony overlooking the street below. A flatscreen television, which looks quite small given the large room, hangs in front of a wooden work table.

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TOILET AND BATH

There is an en suite toilet and bath, gleaming in white with wood-carved accents. It has a bathtub with a slat-window that opens to the bed chamber, a separate shower stall, and a modern water closet—although not modern enough to have a bidet. Such appurtenances seems a rarity in Australia.

Linens, toiletries are provided for, so are extra pillows and blankets. There’s also a mini-fridge, a snack bar, electric kettle, coffee cups, and complimentary tea and coffee nicely hidden away on a closet where the safety box and ironing board are.

►FIND THE CHEAPEST FLIGHT TO BALLINA

STREET MUSICIAN PERFORMAING ON AN ALLEY IN BYRON BAY

We took a few minutes to freshen up before going back out again. Summer has just ended in Australia then and the streets were quite nippy—perfect, really, for an evening walk. I love the initial vibe Byron Bay gave us that night—cool boutique stores along the sidewalks, colorful graffiti murals lining up the walls of the alleys, and musicians playing everything from guitars and sitars to saxophones on the sidewalks.

FRIENDLY CROWD AT THE RAILWAY FRIENDLY BAR

LIVE MUSIC PLUS CIDER!

After a few turns, we came upon our destination, the Railway Friendly Bar. The watering hole looks like an old railway station turned into a bar and was filled to brimming with locals having beer and cider. Most of the patrons were hanging out by the porch and the front yard where a band was playing. We went where the locals were and drank what they were drinking, cider! It was way better than beer!

►CHECK OUT: AUSTRALIA 10 DAYS ITINERARY

WE DIDN’T GET TO USE THE POOL!

A FEW STEPS OUTSIDE OUR HOTEL ~ PHOTO BY BLISSFULGURO

We slept quite late and woke even later—phoning the now present receptionist if we could somehow extend our stay for a few more hours. They willingly obliged, giving us a few more hours of sleep time before discovering what Byron Bay has to offer.

 

SCOOT HAS DAILY PROMO FARES FROM MANILA TO AUSTRALIA

SCOOT, KLOOK, AND ONE VINE MIGRATION MADE OUR TRIP TO AUSTRALIA POSSIBLE. VIEWS AND OPINION ALL MINE.

 

Byron Bay Hotel & Apartments ►ROOM RATES
Address: 20-22 Fletcher St., Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Contact Number: +61 (2) 6620-9600
Email: bookings@byronbayhotelapartments.com.au
GPS Map Coordinates: -28.6452866,153.612818