The Sunseeker Byron Bay

This modern take on the classic roadside motel has a bold retro aesthetic and is located on Bangalow Road, 10 minutes from the Byron Bay township. A thoughtful renovation has elevated The Sunseeker to a design destination for the modern traveller and a much-loved holiday haven for young families. Theme and style decisions were driven by motel entrepreneurs Jess and Dave Frid and their collection of like-minded creative friends — a group of local makers, artists and designers. The red-brick façade — relatively untouched during renovations — reveals a tropical playground of designer digs and chic surf shacks bordering a lagoon-style pool, fire pit and tiki bar.

There are 12 motel-style rooms with striking interiors, six freestanding bungalows and a cool cabana bar beside the original kidney-shaped pebblecrete pool. The motel rooms are spacious, each with a patio or balcony, and are swathed in Byron-esque style with sandy-feet-friendly polished concrete floors, neutral palettes with pops-of-colour and beautiful bamboo bedding.

The row of family-friendly bungalows exudes a surf-village vibe with the Californian-style wooden shacks fashioned from recycled timber and fringed with greenery. Inside the uncomplicated but cleverly curated cabins there's a queen bed, bunk bed nook with concertina door for privacy and a full kitchen boasting a hole-in-the-wall breakfast bench for fun family meals. Outside, there’s a private garden and deck, barbecue and alfresco claw-foot bath.