Photo credit: Courtney King.
Byron Bay has always carried a certain magic and at Wategos Beach that feeling is magnified - the air salt-sweet, the waves rolling in steady and unhurried, the rainforest pressing close behind.
Into this rare little pocket has arrived ESTE Wategos, a retreat designed to let you slow down and simply enjoy being here. It’s not about grand gestures or over-the-top luxury; it’s about creating a space where every detail feels thoughtful, effortless and in tune with the land around it.
From the moment you arrive, there’s a sense of calm. The buildings sit gently in the hillside, built from stone, timber and glass that seem to belong here as much as the gum trees or the sand.
Rooms open wide to let in the ocean air, terraces look straight out to the horizon and light shifts across the spaces in a way that makes every hour feel a little different. It doesn’t feel like stepping into a resort - it feels like you’ve been invited into a home that just happens to have one of the best views in the world.
The rhythm of life at ESTE is unhurried. Mornings might start barefoot on the terrace with a coffee while surfers carve the waves below. Days can drift between swims, naps and meals prepared to your taste, whether that’s something fresh and nourishing or a feast to linger over with friends.
If you want movement, there’s yoga at sunrise, walks through the rainforest, or a surf lesson just steps away. If rest is all you’re craving, there’s plenty of quiet corners to curl up in and treatments designed to leave you feeling reset and lighter.
What stands out most here is the balance - everything feels elevated, but never stiff. There’s an ease to the way the spaces flow into each other, the way the staff seem to anticipate what you need without intruding, the way the landscape itself is allowed to take centre stage.
At sunset, the sky often lights up in blazing pinks and golds, reflected on the water and spilling into the rooms. At night, the sound of the waves becomes your soundtrack, steady and grounding.
Staying at ESTE isn’t just about a beautiful place to sleep - it’s about finding a pocket of time where you can let go of the rush and reconnect with what feels good. It’s intimate, it’s indulgent without being showy and it leaves you with the sense that Byron Bay has shared a little of its soul with you.
