The ultimate multi-gen Byron Bay retreat you’ve probably never heard of

Set on 200 acres in the lush Byron Bay hinterland, Belle Helena is a grand destination where groups can both congregate and separate in luxury

Given his business acumen, one suspects that Australian entrepreneur, author and podcast host Mark Bouris has a nous for problem-solving. The proof of this can be found in the resort-worthy infinity pool at Belle Helena, installed to solve a specific Bouris-family conundrum when the property exclusively served as their holiday home.

“I built that 25-metre pool for one reason and one reason alone – so my son could train in it,” Bouris explains.

“He was a very accomplished swimmer – national champion, schoolboy records, all that sort of stuff. But the state qualifiers were in January, which meant he had to train all through December and January [and] we couldn’t go away. So I thought, ‘Oh, what I’ll do is, I’ll build a 25-metre pool. He can train in that and we can still go up. It’ll be great’.”

Today, Belle Helena guests are reaping the rewards.

House and land package

Overlooking the spectrum of greens that is the Byron Bay hinterland, the pool is the showstopper at Belle Helena, which is a well-considered call given the competition.

After he installed the pool, which sits alongside an infrared sauna and ice bath, Bouris expanded on the health and fitness theme. There is a gym, tennis court, cricket field, rugby goal posts, golf green and yoga deck on site. A games room includes foosball, table tennis and arcade machines.

A dedicated landscaping team tends to the pristine grounds, which feature a vegetable garden (modelled on the kitchen garden at Vaucluse House), rose garden, bamboo forest, olive and orange groves, mulberry trees and avocado orchards. The views to Byron Bay, meanwhile, take care of themselves.

Indoors, the main home sleeps 10. Guests may need to pull rank or draw straws; the master bedroom is considerable, boasting an ensuite with an indoor and al fresco shower as well as its own infrared sauna, plus a sitting room.

The living space spans a large open-plan kitchen, formal dining space, library with ample seating and a theatre that could comfortably fit 10-plus.

The bunkhouse sleeps up to 14, with a queen room plus six double beds in a cleverly designed dorm. There is a kitchen and conference area, plus a living space/theatre.

An eye for design

The Belle Helena art collection is extensive and all but one piece was created either in the Northern Rivers or by a Northern Rivers artist. Oftentimes both. Environmental artist John Dahlsen features prominently and there are hallmarks of the now-defunct artist-in-residence program.

The sole international work is Kiki Smith’s ‘Wolf Drawing’, which looks over the communal space – and over guests, if you believe in that kind of thing.

“It struck me,” says Bouris. “I can get a bit weird sometimes [and] during the weird periods in my life, I had the view that certain types of spirits could protect a home or protect your kids.

“This she-wolf, my view is that it was there to protect the kids.”

Bouris and his sons – he has four – still holiday at Belle Helena on occasion, and there’s a new generation enjoying the spoils too, which explains the kids’ playground in the backyard.

But they’ve now opened the doors to guests, conferences and retreats.

I’ll meet you by the pool.

Rates at Belle Helena start at $2300 per night for up to 16 adults. Additional guests are charged at $125 per person, per night.

bellehelena.com.au