BYRON: Our Ideas for Staycation Holidays at Home

SO MONEY'S A BIT TIGHT, THE PASSPORTS HAVE EXPIRED, THE BOSS JUST WON'T LET YOU DISAPPEAR FOR A FEW DAYS OR THE KIDS HAVE SO MANY PLAYDATES AND SPORTS COMMITMENTS LINED UP THAT YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY CONTEMPLATE A BREAK AWAY. THAT MAKES IT STAYCATION TIME.

Time to play tourist in your own region and create an itinerary of fab things to do, just like you would if you were hoofing it to Paris or Perth or anywhere else in between. Then the trick is to pretend you really ARE away. If Byron happens to be your local ‘hood, you’re spoiled for choice to put on your Must-Do List, and if you’re not in Byron, just apply the same philosophy to tracking down the best-of-the-best to do in your own area. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a big city or little country town, there’ll be places and things to do that you’ll look at with fresh eyes if you pretend you’re visiting as a tourist. Promise.

If you’re not already having a Staycation with us at The Bower on our mid-week Locals-Only promotion, have a look at our list for a bit of Staycay inspiration for Byron, and it’s not just about the beaches.

FARMS, COOKING AND LEARNING

There are lots of opps to learn about how your food is grown and how to cook up a feast with the freshest seasonal produce you can buy every week of the year in Byron. 'Grow. Feed. Educate.’ is the mantra of The Farm which wants to inspire people towards a healthier, more harmonious existence with our land, animals and communities and it starts with seeing how our food is grown. They have guided walks around The Farm to give visitors a first-hand experience of agriculture, farming and livestock, showcasing their sustainable and ethical farming practises. Or check out one or more of the fresh produce and seasonal markets where it’s all about local growing, baking and making and introducing people to the raft of new and exotic crops now being grown in the area. And of course with all this fresh produce, it will be worth learning some new skills around cooking them. It’s what they do best at Bhavana Cooking School where not only will you walk away with some fab new recipes but also some new skills and info that will contribute to your family’s wellbeing too.

LEARNING AND WORKSHOPS

Fancy a pottery workshop, a paint class, a cocktail masterclass and more? Check out Style Magazines’s list of best workshops and classes to do in Byron.

TAKE A DAY TRIP

How long has it been since you trawled through Byron’s quaint, hinterland villages with their eclectic boutiques, markets, homewares stores, restaurants, cafes and pubs? Well it’s time. Time too to check out some of the other beachside and riverside villages dotted along the coast to check out their burgeoning foodie scene, walks, bike riding tracks, water sports and more. Do your homework first, then take a day-trip to Bangalow, Newrybar, Brunswick Head, Lennox Head, Federal, Suffolk Park, Minyon Falls or Killen Falls. Or laze the day away ocean-side with a picnic of delicious local produce and baked goods while you look out for Humpback whales on their annual migration north. Tourists travel from all corners of the globe to see these majestic creatures en route to their warm-water breeding grounds.

ACTIVE EXPLORING

The Byron region is abundant with walking, hiking and bike riding trails, swimming spots, kayaking spots, surfing and bodyboarding spots, places to immerse yourself in nature on the land, in the sea and in the air. There are places that are family friendly and places to challenge the biggest adrenalin junkies out there. There’s something for everyone and these are just a few of our faves:

Byron’s Best Beaches

The Bower Team's Favourite Swim Spots

Family Friendly Things to do in Byron

Macadamia Castle

Crystal Castle

5 STAR PAMPERING AT HOME

Try your hand at making the signature bath salts we put in The Bower Barn. It's a simple blend of Epsom Salts, dried rose petals and rose and lavender essential oils and it is oh so luxurious!

LAVENDER AND ROSE HOMEMADE AROMATHERAPY BATH SALTS

Ingredients

2 cups Epsom salt

6 drops rose essential oil (jasmine oil is also lovely)

15 drops lavender essential oil

2 tbsp dried rose petals

Directions

Combine all ingredients and mix together well. Store in a cute little jar for up to 1 year. Simple, huh?

The Bower Barn bathroom at The Bower Byron Bay, Byron Beach Abodes

EVERYONE LOVES A PICNIC!

Whether it’s watching the sunrise on a blanket at Tallows or Clarkes Beach, with a brekkie picnic of juice, yoghurt, fruit and freshly baked muffins, or a family picnic put together with the kids to have at your favourite local park, national park, headland, beachside or riverside, a picnic is always a winner. Don’t forget to add in a bit of old-school outdoor fun like a bike or two, a bat and ball and maybe a kite. Yep. That’s our kind of day.

WHEN STAYCATION ACTUALLY DOES MEAN STAYING AT HOME: CAMPING IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Kids love camping. We love camping. But with it comes the hours of planning, provisioning, packing the car, driving to the campground, pitching the tent, unpacking, setting up.... Yes it's worth it but for just a couple of days? Nuh! So why not make it super simple and pitch a tent in your own back yard. The kids will love it! And if you don’t have your own camping supplies, borrow a tent from a mate, fill it with sleeping bags, pillows and doonas and fairy lights. A fire pit’s great for sitting around roasting marshmallows, and making your own burgers cooked up on the BBQ will be a hit too. And brekkie next day? Back to the BBQ for bacon and egg rolls or pancakes with chunks of fresh fruit and a drizzle of pure maple syrup.