Press Pause
- Karen Kinnersly
- Aug 28
- 5 min read
After months of cool mornings and rainy afternoons, the sun is finally shining, days are stretching, and the air hums with a fresh energy. Let’s face it, by this point in the year most of us are running on reserve. So, it’s the perfect time to swap the daily grind for something slower, sunnier and a whole lot more restorative. The Northern Rivers knows how to do spring right: clear skies, salt-kissed air and space to simply breathe. From a ranch on the Clarence to a rainforest hideaway in Byron Bay, these escapes are all about pressing pause, soaking up the season and restoring your rhythm.
Low-Key Luxury
Elements of Byron invites a spring escape across 20 acres of beachfront, rainforest, and native bushland — a sanctuary to step back from the everyday and recharge in barefoot luxury, where Byron’s golden days become a playground of wellness and adventure. Start your morning saluting the sun with yoga by the ocean or join the in-house naturalist for a guided rainforest and wetland walk. Lace up your runners for scenic jogging trails, or perfect your serve on tennis courts framed by lush greenery.
Afternoons invite indulgence: drift between the infinity lagoon pool and adults-only pool, complete with cabanas and the swim-up Summer Salt Bar. Restore body and mind at the award-winning Osprey Spa, or savour seasonal Northern Rivers produce and native flavours at Azure Bar & Grill.
Accommodation spans 202 private one- and two-bedroom villas, architecturally designed to blend contemporary Australian style with their forest and ocean surrounds. Each offers the perfect retreat after a day of activity, balancing luxury with a sense of grounded calm.
As the light fades, cocktails by the pool or firepit set the perfect close to the day. At Elements of Byron, indulgence and restoration come together, leaving you refreshed, recharged, and ready to take on the rest of the year.
Rainforest Retreat
Crystalbrook Byron comes into its own in spring. Wrapped in 45 acres of regenerating rainforest, the resort blurs the line between indoors and out. Each of the 92 suites is spacious and light-filled, with verandahs overlooking the canopy and interiors inspired by the natural world through soft, coastal finishes.
Days unfold at a restorative pace. Begin with a treatment at Eléme Day Spa, where native botanicals and mindful techniques rejuvenate body and mind, then spend a leisurely afternoon by the central pool. Take a guided rainforest walk to soak in the sights and sounds of the canopy or simply wander the resort’s lush grounds at your own pace. Forest, the on-site restaurant, celebrates seasonal, local produce and sustainable practices, turning every meal into a mindful, lingering experience that perfectly complements the natural surroundings.
Guests are just minutes from Byron’s beaches, cafés, and boutiques, yet the resort feels entirely removed from the bustle. Interconnecting family suites or treetop king-bed suites provide stylish, light-filled retreats where it’s easy to lose track of time. Here, spring is spa time, swim time, and slow-down time — a restorative escape where the rhythm of the rainforest guides every moment.
Riverfront Haven
On the banks of the Clarence River, Riverside Ranch offers a rare kind of escape. Just minutes from Yamba yet surrounded by 50 acres of riverfront bushland, it feels both secluded and indulgent. The house sleeps up to 13 across four beautifully appointed bedrooms and is designed for groups to come together, whether for a weekend celebration or a restorative getaway.
A magnesium grotto pool overlooks the river, bathrooms feature steam showers and freestanding baths, and the master suite is a private sanctuary with sweeping water views. Families will appreciate the trampoline, half-court basketball, and friendly pet rabbits, while adults can unwind by the firepit as the river reflects the changing light. Outdoors, life unfolds at an easy pace — fishing from the private pontoon, picking herbs from the veggie garden, or spotting the resident albino kangaroo. Indoors, the home is stylish and fully equipped with plush bedding, Leif amenities, and a full concierge service.
Managed by Ocean Stays, Riverside Ranch blends boutique polish with the spirit of a country escape. While it feels secluded, Yamba’s beaches, boutiques, and acclaimed dining are just minutes away, making it both a destination and a base for springtime restoration.
Wildlife and Open Skies
At Sugar Beach Ranch, the horizon stretches wide, horses graze in the paddocks, the Pacific Ocean provides a steady soundtrack, and the pace slows to something wonderfully unhurried. Set on 60 acres of untouched bushland and private beachfront at South Ballina, this working ranch doubles as one of the region’s most distinctive wellness escapes, where rejuvenation comes as naturally as the ocean breeze.
Stay in the self-contained two-bedroom bungalow for peace, privacy and the simple joy of country life. Spend your days exploring bush trails, swimming in the magnesium pool, relaxing on the sun lounges or discovering the grounding power of equine therapy. For horse owners, the ranch offers safe paddocks and direct beach access for unforgettable dawn or dusk rides.
If camping is more your style, a private site sleeps up to 10 guests. Tucked among cane fields with the beach just steps away, it’s camping with a restorative twist. And for those seeking something deeper, the immersive Equine Wellness Reset is designed to nourish mind, body and spirit. Led by a registered Equine Assisted Therapist, Counsellor and Yoga Teacher, these stays combine horse-led connection, coastal calm and restorative practices to bring nervous system balance, emotional clarity and deeper self-connection.
Salt air, open skies and animal companionship remind you why pauses like this are essential. In the spirit of spring renewal, Sugar Beach Ranch is the perfect place to exhale and simply be.
As Good as it Gets
There’s something about the simplicity of being by the ocean that restores the soul, and at Tweed Holiday Parks Kingscliff North you’re as close to salty-breeze perfection as it gets.
Set directly on the sand, the park’s newest additions are two architect-designed Premium Beachfront Cabins, offering uninterrupted ocean views and direct beach access. The Sunrise Cabin sleeps two, while the Kingfisher Cabin accommodates four — both with floor-to-ceiling glass and private decks that make surf checks and sunrise coffees part of the daily ritual. Inside, light-filled modern interiors feature open-plan living, a fully equipped kitchenette, ensuite, reverse-cycle air conditioning and private parking. Step from your cabin onto the sand for a swim, a surf or simply stretch out with a good book on your built-in daybed.
Prefer something more classic? Powered sites, some with ensuites, offer a true camping experience with the same unbeatable beachfront position. Stroll to Kingscliff’s vibrant cafes, restaurants and boutiques, or simply linger for sunset drinks on your deck.
Just 15 minutes from Gold Coast Airport, Kingscliff North makes an ideal base for exploring the region, but really, you won’t need to go anywhere. The beach, the breeze and the rhythm of coastal life — this is as good as it gets.
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