Iconic waterside resort Raes on Wategos has celebrated its 30th birthday by opening a stunning second venue in Byron Bay.

The long-standing hotel has set the bar for elegant luxury in the Byron area and the new expansion carries on that tradition. Conveniently, the ten new Raes suites are located just a one-minute walk from the flagship resort, at the former Victoria’s at Wategos site, visible from the driveway of the original.

Raes managing director, Jordy Catalano says, “We have long considered the possibility of extending our offering at Raes on Wategos, and so the opportunity to procure a property as iconic as Victoria’s was one we embraced wholeheartedly.”

Long before the doors opened, the waitlist had already filled with Raes’ loyalists excited to take advantage of the expanded footprint. “We get a lot of people that want to travel together, and we haven’t been able to do that before,” General Manager Marty McCaig says.

The site offers a new level of exclusivity at Raes – unlike its big sister down the road, the new Raes is only accessible to guests.

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The second property includes 10 new suites, indoor common areas with open fireplaces, lush outlooks, and not one but two pools: a 16-metre lap pool with a waterfall and sea glimpses on the western side, and a 12-metre solar-heated pool on the eastern side complete with a cabana and lounge area.

The ground floor reception is dedicated to a breezy terrace bar overlooking the western pool, with a menu similar to the original Raes’ popular Cellar Bar, with slightly extended hours and dining options and guest-only access. The new communal areas are designed to encourage mingling for the socially minded, with aperitivo hours in front of the fires and sunset sessions around the pool.

The classic coastal luxe Raes look extends through the new site, overseen by in-demand interior designer Tamsin Johnson, who was responsible for Raes’ 2016 refurbishment. Unpretentious and textural, an off-white scheme with pops of green and sea foam creates a light-filled reflective aesthetic to soak up that Byron Bay sunshine.

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Guests staying at the new property are also welcome to enjoy the original Raes facilities including the pamper sessions at Raes Spa, sundowners at Cellar Bar and, of course, dinner at the lauded Raes Dining Room led by chef Jason Saxby.

What to do in Byron Bay now that you’re here

Aside from working on your tan, there’s plenty to keep you busy in Byron. The lush coastal town is jam-packed with amazing bars and restaurants, Indigenous tours, and artists communities to check out. Read all about it here.

Raes Guesthouses welcomed their its first guests in November 2024.
For more details head to the Raes on Wategos website.

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