📸 Lights, Camera, Byron: A 9-Night Film Festival Retreat in Byron Bay, Australia 🇦🇺

🙋🏻‍♀️ Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a Creative Writing Coach, writer, and travel lover. This is one of two trips I'll be planning to Byron Bay this October. I'm also planning trips to Newcastle in August and Port Douglas in September. (Check out my profile for more information about me and my other trips.) 🚨 This is an early bird 🐦 price! Book before the price increases in September 🚨 What's Included ✅ - 🏠 9 nights in a beautiful 4-star apartment within walking distance of the beach - 🚕 Private group transfer from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) on arrival day - 🚕 Private group transfer to Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) on departure day - 🚘 Rental car with petrol for getting to screenings, festival venues, and excursions (driven by your guide) - 🎬 Byron Bay International Film Festival multi-pass with at least 10 screenings of your choice - 🥂 Exclusive group events on the festival's opening & closing weekends, including a special meal on the first evening (Details to be confirmed closer to the festival to ensure we secure the best possible experience.) - 🧖🏽‍♀️ Welcome self-care kit waiting on your bed upon arrival - 🧇 In-apartment welcome brunch on Saturday morning - 💆🏼‍♀️ In-apartment 60-minute welcome massage with a local therapist - 🥞 Daily self-serve breakfast spread with multiple options (eat when it suits you) - ☕️ Local coffee, juices, water, fruit, and snacks available throughout the trip - 🌆 Evening walk to the Saturday Twilight Market (dinner at your own expense) - 🌅 Sunset picnic at The Pass Beach - 🗺️ Full-day Hinterland & Bangalow day trip with lunch included - 🌿 Broken Head Aboriginal Tour led by a local Aboriginal guide - 🩱 Access to the shared pool, fully equipped kitchen, balcony, washer/dryer, air conditioning, and strong WiFi - 🅿️ Free parking (limited; please advise in advance) - 🗒️ Curated trip planning and on-the-ground guide support Not Included ❌ - Flights to/from Byron Bay - Visas, travel insurance, and health insurance (travel insurance provided by Join My Trip for German & Austrian citizens.) - Lunches and dinners not mentioned above - Personal expenses - Optional add-on experiences - Transfers from OOL (Gold Coast) Airport (available for an additional $170 / €148) ‼️ Limited to 3-4 Travelers ‼️ 🧳 This trip is perfect for: 🧳 - Film lovers and cinephiles wanting to experience an internationally beloved festival. - Storytellers, writers, and filmmakers seeking inspiration and community. - Solo travelers looking for a safe, curated small-group experience. - Friends booking together who want a fully planned creative escape. - Travelers who love independent cinema, documentaries, and indie storytelling. - Couples looking for a creative-meets-coastal holiday. - LGBTQ+ travelers wanting an inclusive, welcoming small-group experience. - Travelers who want all the planning done for them so they can simply arrive and immerse. - Anyone craving a holiday that blends creativity, culture, nature, and rest. This is an intentionally intimate trip. With only 4 spots available, you'll enjoy a personal, flexible experience with the freedom to choose your own screenings and add adventures that excite you most. Use this as a chance to meet fellow film lovers, or invite friends to join and fill the remaining spots! - 👩🏻‍💻 Optional One-on-One Creative Coaching As a writing coach with screenwriting and prose experience as well as your guide, I offer one-on-one creative coaching sessions at a discounted rate throughout the stay; ideal for travelers who want to use this festival week to spark a new project, work through a screenplay or story, or simply reconnect with their creative practice. Sessions can be scheduled around festival events at a time that suits you. Let me know at the time of booking if you're interested and we'll set it up. ✨ Optional Add-On Activities ✨ This retreat is designed with flexibility in mind. Between screenings and panels, choose the experiences that excite you most; or use the time to rest, explore, or settle into a café with a notebook. - 🌅 Sunrise Walk to Cape Byron Lighthouse — Free On Sunday morning, join an optional early sunrise walk up to the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse. We'll leave very early, but the stunning coastal views with fewer crowds make it more than worth the early alarm. - 🚣🏻‍♀️ Byron Bay Sea Kayak Tour — $70/€61 per person A 2.5-hour guided sea kayaking adventure along Byron's beautiful coastline. Paddle a stable tandem sit-on-top kayak from Clarkes Beach with views of the Cape Byron Lighthouse, Julian Rocks, Wategos Beach, and the rugged headland. Keep an eye out for dolphins, sea turtles, and (during migration season) humpback whales. A swim stop is included. Voted Best Eco Tour in New South Wales two years running. Includes pickup and drop-off, all equipment, qualified local guides, and free downloadable tour photos. - 💧 Banya Bathhouse Soak & Lunch — Cost TBD (see their website for pricing) A relaxed afternoon at Banya Bathhouse for a soak in their beautiful sauna and bathing facilities, followed by lunch at the on-site restaurant. - 👩🏼‍🌾 Byron Farmers Market — Free Entry, Purchases at Own Expense An early morning excursion to the Byron Farmers Market; a true local favorite, packed with the region's best produce, baked goods, coffee, and small-batch products. - 🥃 Cape Byron Distillery Rainforest & Gin Tasting Tour — $30/€26 (tasting) or $14/€13 (non-drinking) A truly unique 1 hour 15 minute distillery and rainforest experience. Begin on the distillery balcony with a Brookie's Byron gin & tonic on arrival, then walk through their regenerated subtropical rainforest to meet the native ingredients used in their gin. Return to the distillery for a guided tasting of 3 gins and 1 liqueur while learning about the art of distillation. Afterwards, hang out on the balcony with a drink or a DIY grazing platter overlooking the rainforest. Attendees receive 10% off all products showcased on the tour. Comfortable walking shoes recommended. Non-drinking option includes the rainforest walk and full tour experience without the tastings. - 🛒 VIP Arrival Essentials Grocery Stocking — $20 / €17 Arrive to a kitchen pre-stocked with your favorite arrival snacks and essentials. Choose up to 12 items from a curated list I'll send you ahead of time, and I'll have them waiting when you walk in the door. Ideal for those who like to land and settle in without a grocery run. - 🛌 Extra Night to Catch the Festival's Final Day — Fee TBD For those who want to stay for the festival's final day of screenings on Sunday, an extra night can be added with Monday check-out. Please ask at the time of booking. 🗓️ Please let me know as soon as possible which optional activities you'd like to add so I can book them while availability lasts. ✍🏼 Need help planning independent activities, excursions, or day trips? I'm happy to assist with recommendations and logistics. ** Important note on dietary needs: Common allergies, religious dietary restrictions, and vegetarian diets can be accommodated for our included meals. Please let me know at the time of booking so I can do my best to ensure the food is safe and enjoyable for you. For included tours and group meals, I'll check with each provider in advance to confirm suitable options. **

🏠 Your Byron Bay Base: A 4-Star Beachside Apartment 🏠 Our home for the nine nights is a beautifully appointed 4-star apartment in a peaceful setting, just a short walk from the beach and within easy reach of Byron Bay's cafés, festival venues, and coastal trails. With multiple floors, three bedrooms, and plenty of shared and private space, it's the perfect base for a week of film, culture, and coast. The apartment includes: - 3 bedrooms — Twin bed shared rooms for this trip - 2.5 bathrooms — Shared between guests - Multiple floors — Plenty of space to spread out - Shared pool — Cool off after a day at screenings or relax poolside - Fully equipped kitchen — Prepare meals at your own pace - Air conditioning — Stay comfortable in the spring warmth - Balcony — Your morning coffee spot - Washer and dryer — Convenient for a longer stay - Strong WiFi — Work, stream, or stay connected - Walking distance to the beach - Free parking — Limited availability; please let me know in advance if you'll be bringing a car Upon arrival, each guest will find a welcome self-care kit and a surprise waiting in their room: an invitation to slow down, settle in, and ease into the rhythm of festival week. The Rooms: - Shared Room — 2 Twin Beds Share a comfortable room with one other guest in two twin beds, with access to a shared bathroom. A great option for solo travelers happy to share, or friends booking together. The booking has been confirmed with the property management. I'll send images of the property and more information after booking. 💌 Save the trip to chat with me and get your questions answered! 💌 Once you book, I'll send you a detailed itinerary and a suggested packing list, along with what to expect weather-wise.