- Iconic Byron Bay establishment Raes on Wategos is expanding its accommodation arm with a second property housing ten suites
- Located across the road from Raes on Wategos, the second property will be situation on the former Victoria’s at Wategos site
- The Raes on Wategos offering currently comprises a dining room and boutique hotel with seven suites, with the former celebrating its 30th anniversary this week
- The new Tamsin Johnson-designed Raes on Wategos property will open in late 2024
With a reputation for thoughtful and attentive yet unpretentious service, an eminently Instagrammable Mediterranean aesthetic, and a covetable location on Byron Bay’s tranquil Wategos Beach, securing a stay at one of the just seven suites at Raes on Wategos is no easy feat.
Fortunately, staying at the acclaimed outpost is set to get a little easier, with Raes on Wategos expanding their accommodation offerings with a second property. Coinciding with Raes on Wategos’ 30th anniversary, the second property will contain ten generously sized suites (taking the hotel’s capacity to 38 guests), as well as indoor common areas, tropical landscaped gardens, and a duo of pools — one 16-metre lap pool with a feature waterfall and the other a 12-metre solar-heated lap pool with a cabana and lounge area.
“We have long considered the possibility of extending our offering at Raes on Wategos, and so the opportunity to procure a property as iconic as Victoria’s was one we embraced wholeheartedly,” says Raes managing director, Jordy Catalano. “As we celebrate 30 years of Raes, we’re thrilled to offer guests a wider opportunity to experience the elegance, warmth and unparalleled hospitality Raes on Wategos is renowned for”.
Located just 100 metres from the current Raes on Wategos property, the second property will take over the former Victoria’s at Wategos site, with guests of the latter able to make use of the facilities within the former.
Echoing the relaxed coastal aesthetic of the current Raes on Wategos outpost, the new property will likewise feature a fit out by renowned Australian interior designer Tamsin Johnson, who was responsible for refurbishing the original property in 2016. Luxurious, natural materials in a neutral colour palette will take centre stage in the new property, informed by Mediterranean design influences and understated coastal elegance. In line with Johnson’s signature design codes, the property will see unique eclectic pieces complement the property’s original architecture while creating a harmonious dialogue with its beachside setting.
“In designing Raes on Wategos new property, I’ve strived to compliment the design I did on the original Raes, whilst considering the building’s modern substrate,” says Tamsin Johnson.
“At the same time, I wanted to translate some of that lighter-hearted, playful and coastal language that has sensations of the Mediterranean islands and the breezy feel of Byron. I also introduced another newer layer with some notable, iconic vintage design pieces mixed against a collection of my own newly custom designed furniture.”
Like the current Raes on Wategos, guests at the new property will be provided with the same premium additions during their stay, including an in-house chauffeur to provide drop-offs in and out of town as well as complimentary arrival and departure transfers.
The new property is set to open in late 2024, with Raes on Wategos taking bookings from October 2024 onwards.
Words by Henry Blake
