If you asked me what heaven looked like, my answer would be simple. Laidback luxury. Salty margs on hand. Horses running on rolling hills. That’s Sun Ranch.
Following a mind-numbing drive down the highway in Friday arvo traffic, I checked into the micro resort tucked away in the Byron Bay hinterland. While there was definitely a second when I thought the image of rear headlights would be ingrained behind my eyelids forever, Sun Ranch offered plenty to replace the visual. Imagine a cowboy from the 70s with an eye for mid-century mosied into the space and you’ll get the picture; from the sculpted arches within The Rambler Long House to the polished yet playful fittings, every detail has been curated to embody a western world of leisure.
I was welcomed into The Cowboy Bar by one of the friendly ranchers, who whipped me up a mean margarita before showing me the lay of the land. Alongside the bar was The Whiskey Lounge, with a deep red sofa serving as the perfect spot to sit back and enjoy the vinyls spinning, while The Lair is Sun Ranch’s multi-purpose space—playing host to a sunken lounge and complimentary rustic breakfasts dished up daily to savour around the absolute beauty of a fireplace.
Home for the night was an adults-only pool suite dubbed The Rattler (its neighbours were Wam Bam, Gettin’ Lucky and Saddle Up). Decked out in nostalgic tones and groovy accents (golden robe included), the room offered its own private oasis backing onto one of two pools on the property—meaning you can roll from your plush bed to the pool lounge with ease.
Despite the gloomy weather marring my stay, the line-up of stunning spaces and on-ranch amenities were still an experience to behold. My inner horse girl had me waking up at the crack of dawn to pull on my boots and say hello to the friendly herd grazing in the paddocks on the 55-acre property. Having already made the trek up the hill, I checked out The Pool Club—an architecturally impressive oasis carved from natural basalt stone, offering sweeping views of the hinterland to enjoy in the water or under the thatched sunshades. Further down and floating on the dam, Sun Ranch has a woodfired wellness space featuring a natural cedar sauna and ice bath. There’s also a badminton court under the gumtrees, an Argentinian BBQ and fire pit for alfresco dining, and luxury barns for group trips.
Needless to say, my step count was looking pretty great without setting foot off the ranch.
I wouldn’t say I’m a deeply spiritual person, but when it came time to check out, I truly felt like there was a part of my soul that belonged to Sun Ranch. In fact, I even asked a rancher if they had an itemised list of the decor so I could recreate an iota of the design-led magic back home. However, I wasn’t surprised when she said many of the most stunning pieces were eclectic vintage finds painstakingly sourced from different times and places around the globe, where they now come together to create their own little world—after one stay at Sun Ranch, I’d expect nothing less.
Ps. Already dreaming of your own Sun Ranch escape? Get 30% off winter stays before 31 July thanks to Ranch Fever. Find out more here.
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Image credit: Sun Ranch | Anson Smart