The Travel Authority Group’s Co-Founder & Director, Sarah Bush, saw an opportunity recently to take a long overdue mini-break, and dashed away to Byron Bay for some down-time.

A super-frequent flyer in ‘normal’ times, this was Sarah’s first flight during ‘covid’ times, and the experience was initially a bit of a shock.

“Taking to the skies again on my first domestic flight for the year was a pretty confronting experience, to be honest,” said Sarah.

Check-in & Lounge Experience

After her first contactless check-in experience, Sarah ventured through airport security then on towards the Qantas Lounge—something she’s done countless times before.

“I was greeted by smiling Qantas Lounge staff. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly at the desk and I felt like a VIP walking into the lounge. Even though I’ve visited the lounge many times, the human interaction was so nice after the rather sterile, contactless check-in in the near-empty terminal,” noted Sarah.

With the main lounge closed, all passengers were directed into the Business Lounge which had more than enough space for socially distancing.

On Board

The boarding and in-flight experience on the Qantas Dash 8-Q400s was visibly different with cabin crew wearing masks and latex gloves.

The aircraft was fastidiously cleaned by the crew all the way to Ballina, the gateway to Byron Bay and the New South Wales far north coast.

“The lavatory was well-cleaned after every visit, keeping one lucky member of the crew extremely busy,” noted Sarah.

Being a short flight of less than an hour, the in-flight service was fairly light consisting of a snack and bottle of water.

In Byron Bay

Sarah stayed at East on Byron on Belongil Beach just to the north of Byron town.

East on Byron is located directly across the road from Belongil Beach, between the popular Treehouse on Belongil restaurant with its excellent pizzas and margaritas, and the great breakfasts at Belongil Cafe. It’s just a short drive or manageable walk into town by road or along the beach.

East on Byron

The property comprises a range of accommodation options including:

• Beach Houses
• Terrace Villas
• Poolside Villas
• The Bay Penthouse
• The Byron Penthouse
• Belongil Penthouse

The Bay Penthouse

“East on Byron was gorgeous—a great property with spacious self-contained 2- and-3 bedroom apartments and villa style accommodations with all the mod-cons you need, and a central swimming pool. From my terrace I could see the beach which was a 1-minute walk across the road, and just 15 minutes on foot from the hustle and bustle of Byron town centre.

“With both indoor and outdoor cooking facilities in your private villa or apartment, and free parking it couldn’t be easier. I would thoroughly recommend East for couples, families and groups alike,” said Sarah.

Check in time is 2:00pm and check out time is 10.00am. There’s free onsite parking and WIFI is available.

Out & About

With a rental car at her disposal, Sarah ventured beyond Byron Bay to the charming villages of Newrybar and Bangalow about 25-minutes away.

“The Byron Shire is beautiful—the beaches, the dining scene and the gorgeous villages in the nearby hinterland make this a fabulous place to visit and explore,” said Sarah.

Your Turn

If you’re itching to get away for a break, and think Byron Bay might be just the ticket, contact us for the latest offers and expert advice.

Leave us a note in the form below, or CALL US [1300 935 669] to discuss your specific requirements.

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