I used to dismiss the idea of weekend getaways. What’s the point, I thought—why not just wait for a proper holiday? But after a recent 48-hour escape to Byron Bay, I’ve never been happier to be proven wrong.

Two days in the sun-drenched beach town and I felt completely reset. It turns out, a weekend is more than enough to switch off, lean in, and pretend real life doesn’t exist.

If you’re thinking of a quick trip up the coast, here’s how to do Byron Bay in full switch-off mode.

Stay...

I've been to Byron Bay a few times now, for the likes of Schoolies and New Year's Eve, but never for a weekend getaway. In order to fully relax, I knew a hotel, rather than an AirBnb, was an essential. There's something so indulgent about a hotel: room service, a pool, and an incredible team of staff always there to help. And so a stay at The Bower Hotel in Byron Bay was my first choice. Located on Bangalow road, it's about a 12-minute walk to the main beach, just enough to be away from the hustle and bustle at the centre of town, but close enough everything is within walking distance. It's also, conveniently, right next door to the General Store, a popular cafe that became my breakfast local for the weekend.

Do...

With only a weekend to spare, we didn't bother to rent a car, but rather walked or rode the complimentary bikes from The Bower around town when needed. But most of our time was spent either at restaurants and cafes, frolicking at the beach, or lounging by the pool. Ordering cocktails pool-side is the perfect way to pass a few hours, if you ask me ...

Eat...

Besides relaxing by the water, eating was my second favourite pasttime. For breakfast, the General Store was our go-to – bacon and eggs rolls and the big breakky were essential fuel for a big day of sun ahead. For lunch, Light Years was a feast of Asian fusion that filled us up so much that we ended up skipping dinner...However, we made up for it the next day by dining at Kouzina, where they serve the most delicious homemade style Greek food. The menu changes daily, so you never know what you're going to be treated to. And even better, it's BYO.

Take...

In my Antler carry-on I packed only the necessities. For swimwear, I wore my daisy floral bikini made by my friend's label, By Sereena. And for an easy throw-on summer dress, I packed my trusty Gemma Dress in Floyd from Realisation Par. The rest of my clothes were basics tees and shirts from either Uniqlo or Polo by Ralph Lauren. And it wouldn't be a vacation without my journal, point and shoot camera (which sadly broke while I was over there), and my Rationale SPF. What more could you need?