WELL TRAVELLED
LAID-BACK LUXURY
Welcome to 28 Degrees, a meticulously designed guesthouse in the heart of Byron Bay.
WORDS ANGELA ORAM AN ESCAPE TO BYRON BAY has most of us drifting into a daydream of salty hair, casual clothing, locally made products and total relaxation … and that’s exactly what we enjoyed on our recent visit. Hubby and I love our quick getaways to reset, reconnect and have a little adventure and we were thrilled with our newest discovery – 28 Degrees Byron Bay. With only seven luxury guest rooms, this exclusive property offers privacy and the ultimate barefoot indulgence in the heart of the coastal community. Founded by interior designer Deb Garske, this isn’t just a place to lay your head, it’s an experience you’ll be wishing you could take home with you. “The ethos of 28 Degrees is quite simple,” she says. “I set out to provide the perfect location for a slow living reset; a haven in the centre of Byron where everything is within walking distance but as soon as you walk through our doors you are transported to a sanctuary.”
56 covemagazine.com.au
– Issue 94
Deb has certainly nailed her vision right throughout this amazing property. We opened the door to our room and were instantly torn between sinking into the gorgeous Maker & Sons love seat or sliding into the plunge pool, heated to a perfect 28 degrees. All the water in the pools and showers is run through the Grander treatment system, a process which softens and oxygenates the water. That, in turn, helps to detox and hydrate your cells. There are no children and no TVs at the property, making it easy to enjoy everything the rooms have to offer. A beautiful curation of books, Hale Mercantile linen bedding, Queen Bee beeswax candles and organic teas and local coffee all add to the experience. I loved that every piece throughout the property had been thoughtfully selected and quite often had an interesting story behind it. When you want to head out to explore, the bikes available for guests have you feeling like a local.
We loved our morning walks but cruising the coastline on two wheels was a great way to start the day and helped us work up an appetite. Each guest is treated to a complimentary breakfast in the form of Deb’s homemade gluten-free Granola with seasonal fruit compote and organic yoghurt parfait style, paired with slow-filtered moonshine coffee or a selection of organic teas ... delicious. In addition to offering the ultimate in relaxation, 28 Degrees is also focused on sustainability, supporting local and celebrating female business leaders. Throughout the property, you will find products from selected local suppliers which support charity initiatives as well as ecofriendly touches including the use of non-toxic paint, Rubio staining on the floor, which is allnatural, and the Maker & Sons' couches that are handmade using 100% natural ethically and sustainably sourced materials. After three days at this hidden oasis, we left relaxed, refreshed and feeling like we had found a new home away from home.