The Bower
The Bower is on the main road into Byron. In a past life, it was Dolphins Motor Inn – a run-of-the-mill coastal motel. Now, as The Bower, it’s an unrecognisable luxury retreat – with 18 self-contained and self-catered suites, a refurbished five-bed heritage cottage and a modern four-bedroom villa.
A retreat is only as good as its pool – and The Bower might just have one of the best in the Byron area. It’s certainly one of the most striking: the vast, round mineral pool, which was completed in 2020, is the Bower’s centerpiece. The tropical brutalist-style concrete terrace surrounding the pool is thronged with ferns and palm trees. By the pool, there’s an outdoor shower and a charcoal-coloured cluster of couches that give the perfect blend of private booth and daybed.
The interiors are no less impressive, though. Thanks to Tahlia Lowry (creative director of Byron Beach Abodes) and interior stylists Belle Hemming Bright (Ship Inn) and Lynda Gardner (The Estate Trentham and The Whitehouse Daylesford) The Bower’s many accommodation options share a cohesive monochrome and greyscale aesthetic.
Any of the rooms make an excellent option, but groups should consider booking the cottage, which comes with a private cedarwood spa. If you’re looking for a romantic escape, we recommend booking the barn – if only for the freestanding egg-shaped bath, which sits beneath an all-glass ceiling.
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