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Raes on Wategos didn’t need to up its game. The celebrity-approved boutique hotel, hiding between the palm trees overlooking Byron’s sparkling ocean, set the gold standard for luxury a long time ago – and it could have kept on with its tried and tested formula for several more decades. But when the brand’s second property opened just around the corner at the end of 2024, a new bar was set – and the evolution of Raes beyond its famous beachfront building made complete sense. Now, we’ve got news – with the newest property from the brand all set to open this June.
Enter The Bonobo by Raes: a 33-room hotel-meets-lifestyle hub that’s ditching the brand’s steps-to-the-sand calling card. Positioned on Jonson Street in the heart of Byron Bay, the Bonobo is designed as a more accessible destination – whether you’re checking in for a long weekend, stopping by for a cocktail, or squeezing in a sauna session between surfs.
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The hotel itself is leaning into flexibility in a big way. Alongside its hotel rooms, the Bonobo will house one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, all kitted out with kitchens, laundries and enough space to make longer stays feel like a (very chic) home away from home. Travelling with a group? Interconnecting options mean you can scale things up without sacrificing the polished Raes aesthetic.
Design-wise, it’s all about laidback luxury. The modernist, three-level building by New Zealand-based architecture practice Richards and Spence is softened by interiors from Sydney and Melbourne’s Studio Manifold, with natural timbers, stone finishes and layered textures bringing a calm, coastal feel to everything from the lobby lounge to the rooftop pool.
Speaking of the lounge: food and drink is being overseen by Raes Dining Room’s executive chef, Jason Saxby, so expectations are (appropriately) high. The all-day Lobby Lounge will shift from morning coffee to long lunches and aperitivo hour, while a classic-but-elevated in-room and rooftop menu – club sandwiches, steak frites and cheeseburgers – will be available from 7am through to midnight.
On the wellness front, The Bonobo has teamed up with Sydney-born wellness brand Reset, which is bringing its signature levelled-up approach to wellbeing north. Expect a line-up menu that goes well beyond your standard hotel spa: traditional cedar saunas, ice baths, a eucalyptus steam room, magnesium baths and vitamin C–infused showers are all part of the deal, alongside LED light therapy, facials and body treatments. Crucially, you won’t need a room key to book in – locals and other Byron visitors are very much invited.
According to the team, the vibe will be social, design-forward and appropriately indulgent. Where Raes on Wategos is all about hidden-away exclusivity, the Bonobo looks set to be its more extroverted sibling – a place where locals and visitors collide over cocktails and cold plunges.
Bookings are officially open now, ahead of the June 2026 launch. You can learn more and book over here.
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