When you arrive at The Swell, you won’t find a reception lined with computers. Instead, follow the burning aroma of Dutchie incense to The Swell Bar (the bar is where all holidays should start, really). Fitted with a golden velvet lounge and thriving greenery, the ’70s-inspired space is just a taste of the cool, lived-in charm inside your room. A welcome spritz while one of the friendly staff checks you in is encouraged.

A pair of Californian natives are behind the hotel: married couple Andrew Maltin and DayNa Decker. They now call Byron Bay home, but have spent much of their lives travelling. Working with local designer Nyree Mackenzie , Maltin and Decker took the bones of a small roadside lodge and transformed it into a pristine stay.

There are 16 custom-designed suites offering laid-back luxury: a velvet king bedhead arching across one wall, ornate light shades and your own cocktail station. Each suite features a cosy reading nook and large accordion windows too. Plus, a minibar with a menu that reads like a list of the area’s best producers.

The adults-only hotel sets itself apart with its focus on wellness. A yoga deck sits next to a sprawling lawn and garden, and within a pink-marble-tiled oasis, find a magnesium mineral swimming pool, infrared sauna and ice bath – all included in your stay.

Positioned on the corner of Butler and Lawson streets, the town’s best bars and restaurants, main beach and markets are – quite literally – at the back gate.