Cowboy chic with a twist: This is Byron Bay but not as you know it

Interior designer Julia Ashwood and fashion entrepreneur (of One Teaspoon fame) Jamie Blakey were helped by eleven design and hospitality friends to create the ultimate Byron-meets-California retro hang-out, Sun Ranch. That's a lot of creative input, and it shows.

Set on 22 hectares of former farmland 15 minutes' drive west of Byron Bay, and five minutes from the trendy country hamlet of Bangalow, the top of the property looks out across Bangalow and out towards the Great Diving Range, offering stunning sunset views from the property's outdoor firepit. The rest is ensconced within a sheltered green valley that feels nice and cosy.

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Described as '70s Californian Ranch style (complete with horses, hay bales and employees in cowboy boots), you'll feel you hopped in a time machine and became a member of Fleetwood Mac in their golden days. The property is split between the main house (Rambler Longhouse) where guests chill out in a dreamy open-plan lounge and dining space and amenities spread across the rest of the rambling property. The emphasis is on communal gathering - but couples on romantic retreats have plenty of nooks to escape to. Kids are welcome - but oddly, don't seem to spoil the 'outside world doesn't matter here' vibe.

It's your choice. There are four private adults-only rooms within the Rambler Longhouse - which means you're always close to the action, but your room's private and you can access a private pool shared between the rooms. There's also a private suite next door should you wish to go a little more fancy. Or take a walk (or drive - there's a Jeep on-site to take you whenever you like, or drive your own car) up the hill to one of six two-bedroom off-the-grid luxury barns with stunning views out to the Byron Hinterland.

A ranch-style buffet breakfast is included - home-made granola, fresh local fruit salad, Bangalow bacon, eggs from up the road and enough coffee to have you rambling to fellow guests for hours. Guests can choose food packages to cook on their own barbecues or a selection of meals are available and can be delivered wherever you want them on-site. Regulars like lasagne with salad picked from their gardens intersperse with random feasts prepared by resident chef Pip Sumbak.

Sure, Byron Bay's only a quick drive away, but take a tip: don't bother leaving the property. There's a 25-metre-long magnesium swimming pool that's part of the communal pool club, an ice bath and sauna with a view over a dam, as well as horse-riding tours, e-bikes you can use and if you do think you'd like to check out Bangalow, take a kayak and paddle there from the property. There's also free yoga classes each morning, meditation spaces (of course) and other nooks designed for you to sit and stare at a tree. Oh, and don't forget badminton.

The property is insane and yet that's not even what Sun Ranch is about. It's the communal aspect to everything. You won't meet nicer staff anywhere else: they're not just there to serve, they're there to be your friend. And guests are encouraged to mix with other guests, without it ever being weird or out of place.

Don't let the fact it's out the back of Byron and that it features a healing circle put you off - it's the real deal. You can't hate this place.

Where: Sun Ranch, 17 Byron Creek Road, Coopers Shoot, NSW

How much: From $1700 for two nights (there's a two-night minimum) for two in a Rambler Pool Room, or two nights in a barn for $2900

Explore more: sunranch.com.au

The writer was a guest of Sun Ranch.