For self-contained, boutique-style stays in the Bay, these are Byron’s absolute best Airbnbs. 

Enduringly popular, Byron Bay’s free-spirited appeal and high-definition natural beauty ensure this holiday enclave pops up on everyone’s travel agenda at least once in a lifetime. From five-star hotels to holiday parks, there are plenty of places to bed down beachside, but if you’re after accommodation with that extra bit of Byron magic, self-contained Airbnbs are the way to go. Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot to sift through, so take this shortcut to booking success with our edit of the best Airbnbs in the shire.   

1. Bei Villa

It’s all architecturally designed coastal vibes at this central Byron villa that’s styled with a Japandi aesthetic. Sink into the MCM House sofa, cook up in the full oak-and-terrazzo kitchen, and enjoy luxe Aesop toiletries. A walk from town and beaches, the one-bedroom Bei Villa has its own private patio with an outdoor shower, so you can wash off the sand before settling in for aperitivo hour. 

2. Swell Studio 

Wake up to the soothing rhythm of the ocean at this stylishly revived studio a stone’s throw from beautiful Tallow Beach, which stretches along Suffolk Park on the south end of town. A sleek, forest-green kitchen is fully equipped for your self-catering needs. And there’s also a barbecue, a terrazzo-tiled bathroom with an invitingly deep tub, and access to a shared pool.  

3. Cashina

Just one kilometre from the beach, this Mediterranean-inspired new-build in Suffolk Park is ripe for oceanside romance. You can work on your Byron chill in the private courtyard, cook up a lazy breakfast in the small kitchen and unwind amid the white-rendered interiors that transport you to Santorini. Astutely considered style makes this one-bedroom villa the perfect place to slip into holiday mode. 

4. Lilli Pilli Cabin

This gorgeous ship-lap cabin is all your Byron fantasies realised in a muted, white-washed palette. Hemmed by trees, this sweet but petite one-bedroom abode flows through to a private deck and leans right into a coastal aesthetic with oak cabinetry, raked ceilings and arched doorways. Town is just a 6-minute drive away, but you’ll find good coffee and cocktails close by at Road House.

5. Sanctum by the Sea

This three-bedroom house gets the weekend away off the chat and into real life. Sleeping up to nine guests, this two-storey home near Tallow Beach is set in a lush tropical garden with a jacuzzi for a bit of bubble time. A large deck, the use of bikes, surfboards and bodyboards, and space to bring your dog and kids also makes Sanctum by the Sea a good fit for families. 

6. The Brook View 

If you’re after a Byron escape that’s a short step from the bustle of town, you’ll find this two-bedroom contemporary cabin in the lush and pastoral Ewingsdale. Fringed by gum trees, sit on the deck and watch the sun move across the lush lawn or wander through the orchard to pluck citrus, mulberries or pomegranates straight from the tree. The light-filled and beautifully styled cabin has a full kitchen, barbecue, private entrance and outdoor shower for quick rinses post-beach. 

7. Allawah Cottage Farmstay

A stunning five-minute drive from town, Allawah Cottage is set on a picturesque, 16-acre working cattle station. Here you can take your tree-change longing out for a spin with full access to walk or ride a bike through the property, paying your regards to resident cows, horses and chooks. Sweet and modern, the one-bedroom cottage is fully self-contained and features a large, north-facing deck that’s perfect for enjoying your morning coffee as you watch the wild wallabies.   

8. Pacific Vista

If the one requirement for your Byron accommodation is an epic pool, then you can stop scrolling, you’ve found it. This grey-hued, ultra-modern apartment has a soothingly minimal style with concrete floors, rendered banquettes and steel-coloured furnishings – all of which unite to make that aquamarine pool really pop. The apartment has the run of the lower level of a two-storey home with its own kitchenette, patio and pool access, but do note the owners live above. 

9. Belongil Beach Pad

At just 50 metres from idyllic Belongil Beach, this ocean-adjacent two-bedroom pad is perfect for surfers and beachcombers. It’s three levels of breezy living with the loungeroom, dining and semi-outdoor kitchen on level one, a master bedroom and bathroom on the second level, and a second bedroom set in a charming, third-floor attic. With a wood-panelled ceiling, modern stylings and indoor-outdoor flow, it’s easy to feel at home here. 

10. Prairie Byron 

If you like to bathe under the cover of darkness, you’ll love this luxe little stay that treats guests to a private outdoor bathtub. The one-bedroom cottage has a full kitchen, but if you’d rather not bother with domestic duties while on holiday, ride one of the bikes into town for dinner. Considered styling and high ceilings make the light-flooded space feel larger than it is. 

11. Woollybutts

This hinterland hideaway near hip Federal Village greets guests at the end of a dusty country road. While it’s a 25-minute drive from Byron and 15 minutes from Bangalow and Mullumbimby, you’ll relish the relative isolation once you’ve settled into this one-bedroom cabin set by a beckoning 15-metre magnesium pool. Lolling in a hammock on the deck, you’ll find little reason to leave Woollybutts. But a quick trip into the village for excellent Japanese at Doma is definitely recommended. 

12. The Barn Door

Rustic luxe welcomes up to four guests at this renovated, light-filled barn in charming Coorabell. While there’s only one, loft-style bedroom in this former machinery shed, a sofa bed accommodates an extra two in the open-plan lounge room. Chill on the deck and sit around the fire pit to relish your rural surrounds. 

13. Havana Byron Bay

This deeply Byron abode with its eclectic, on-point styling leans right into the town’s alternative roots. Just a stroll to the centre, Havana Lodge occupies the top two levels of a three-storey ‘treehouse’, where white-washed floorboards, stained-glass windows and richly hued furnishings create a delightfully bohemian vibe. The two-bedroom stay even comes equipped with a lofty meditation room, so you can get your Zen on when you return from the beach.

14. The Cottage in Byron Bay

This three-bedroom weatherboard escape is a beautifully leafy retreat with an easy-going, tropical style that deftly acknowledges the original elements of the cottage. When the beach doesn’t beckon, open the charming French doors and cool off in the plunge pool or spa or sip a cool drink on the sweet front porch. Set in central Marvel Street, the beach and town centre are both within easy walking distance. 

15. Drifters Studio

Small but perfectly well-appointed, this one-bedroom, architecturally designed studio is a couple’s haven. A kitchenette ensures you have all you need on hand, but with town just five minutes by foot, replenishing supplies for a romantic lock-in is easy. Bright and sweet, it’s a pared-back retreat by the beach. 

16. Seahaven

This one makes the list for its show-stopping ocean views, which you could easily spend all day watching from the generously proportioned deck. Positioned at the foot of the Cape Byron Lighthouse in Wategos, the location of this gem can’t be oversold. While the styling of this comfortable two-bedroom stay could benefit from a little attention, it’s easy to overlook when you clasp eyes on the undulating blues of the Cape beyond. 

17. Figtree Creek Retreat 

Ascend to the loft of this stylish A-frame cottage to take in the serene rural vistas of Byron’s lush hinterland. Bring your furry friend and roam the beautiful three-acre property in Middle Pocket that meanders down to a softly flowing creek. Light-flooded and styled with a rustic luxe aesthetic, this secluded two-bedroom retreat coaxes guests into deep relaxation. Enquire about the onsite infra-red sauna and bucket shower to edge your stay with a little self-care.