By Kate Love

Staying at 28 Degrees in Byron Bay as a solo woman is a truly special and empowering experience. The warm and welcoming atmosphere makes you feel safe and comfortable from the moment you arrive. Owner Deb Garske is always on hand to assist and make sure that you have an enjoyable time.

The rooms are beautifully designed, secluded and well-appointed, with stunning views from the upstairs rooms or private plunge pools surrounded by lush gardens. The food in Byron is delicious, with a variety of local and international cuisines available at restaurants just a short walk away. Having a massage in the privacy of your own room is truly relaxing, offering the perfect way to unwind and rejuvenate.

The activities offered, such as yoga, bicycling and surfing, are great for those looking to get out and explore the natural beauty of the area. Overall, I would highly recommend a stay at 28 degrees to any solo woman looking for a warm, welcoming and truly luxurious escape.

We spoke to founder Deb garske about her vision behind 28 degrees, the importance of women supporting women, and what barefoot luxury means in Byron Bay.

Tell us about 28 Degrees.

28 Degrees is a private luxurious guesthouse. It is a place to come and rejuvenate from the rat race we are all living. 28 Degrees was designed to allow you to stop and unwind. Our no TV policy was the first thing we made sure we didn’t buckle and be like everyone else. It was a bold move but one I will never regret. We designed each room with all the luxury touches so that it makes you feel relaxed and not wanting for anything else. 28 Degrees is a place to dip into your very own plunge pool with energising water from Austria, that makes you feel like you are swimming in marshmallows. The water is in all our showers as well and makes it so soft when you are under the shower. The bed, linen and pillows were very carefully chosen for you to have the best night’s sleep. I think 28 Degrees encapsulates all that we are wanting for a true luxurious place to stop, slow down and recharge our bodies; we give you permission to do all of this and without too much ego. Everything is designed so it is not obvious to the guest, but they feel and smell the touches that surround them. Our gardens were all designed to encourage bees and birds all native to the area. So, with all the muted tones and white flowers it’s so easy to completely get immersed in all its offerings.

What makes Byron Bay unique as a destination?

Byron Bay is unique as a destination due to its unbelievable beauty in its beaches, mountain ranges, green rolling hills, and the energy of this place is one of the most special parts. It is the mostly eastern point of Australia with the most incredible sunrises and sunsets. It never gets old…I think Byron has everything for everyone. It’s special because people can be themselves and not worry about keeping up with the Jones’s. Byron is such an electric place and one we are so happy to call home.

What does women’s empowerment mean to you?

Women’s empowerment is so exciting. We are now in a time of our lives where women are getting recognised for their strength, brains, passion, and compassion, with more than ever, women are the forefront of so many businesses. Don’t mess with a woman who has that burning desire to be something other than a wife or mother…it’s our time to shine and I love supporting women who are creative, passionate, forward thinkers, and have a real desire to make a difference to their world, our world and our planet. I get so inspired by the young women I meet these days with the way want so much for themselves, and instead of waiting for man to help they just get on with it and do it themselves. How beautiful to be a witness of that real power.

How have you used sustainable interior design to create the space?

I have tried to use as many products as possible to support sustainability for ourselves and our flora. I have used paint on all the walls that has very low toxicity, my floors are not sealed with a polyurethane as that is so toxic. Our pools have a very stainable process to secure no harsh chemicals get onto our guests but also not on to our gardens. Everything I have in our interiors is from someone I have made a connection with or have known for long time in my life.

How does 28 degrees support other women in business?

28 Degrees set out to support women in business, and it came about into my design and build which was a conscious decision. I have had long standing relationships with a few women, and the inspiration from them was so exciting to me, that I wanted the world to know about each and every one of them. I am attracted to strong, powerful and intelligent women that want to make a difference; it lifts me up to be a better person surrounding myself around these women. I wanted my guesthouse to have that feeling when they came and stayed with me. I didn’t want it to be obvious, just an empowering feeling that they took away with them. I believe when you are authentic it shines through everything you do. We work with a number of female owned suppliers including Queen B beeswax candles, In the Raw, Cloth + Co and Klaylife whom all have remarkable businesses and their own ethical vision.

Explain the inspiration you draw from your global travels.

We travelled a lot growing up and experienced so many different cultures, so it was always fun drawing on all those visuals to bring together a guesthouse that felt like a little part of those countries were in one place. Japan, Canada, The Philippines, Hong Kong, and Norfolk Island taught me about humility toward mankind. There are international elements throughout the guesthouse which have been collected along the way, so it is forever evolving. I have loved being around people with traditions that weren’t our norm, and it taught me so much about people and true happiness, and peace within. I truly believe money doesn’t buy you happiness or good health so it’s so lovely to create spaces that make people feel special. I have tried to bring all those aspects into the guesthouse and make it feel like their own.

What is it like to be a solo female guest at 28 degrees?

We get a lot of solo women, and it’s lovely for them to come and truly relax knowing we are safe and just on the outskirts of the centre of town, but close enough to walk or use one of our bikes to get around. We are completely closed to walk-ins, so it is secure for all our guests, and they feel away from it all if they choose to be. We are so close to the beaches, restaurants, and shops Byron has to offer that it is perfect for a single person to stay and feel relaxed.

In what ways is the deep sense of calm in the space intentional?

The whole guesthouse has been created intentionally for you all to feel an inner peace and calm. It was created as an oasis to enable you to reconnect with yourself. I am a strong believer in using all the senses to put you in the mood. The beeswax candles, the bed linen, the water, beds and even the water feature running all day and night; every single element was intentional for this purpose.

How will you celebrate International Women’s Day 2023?

On International Women’s Day I have always worked, but always go for a swim and walk with my family. I feel it’s very important to teach your children to work and do what you love, then it never feels like hard work. To talk to my daughter on this day is about empowering her to be the best version of herself. And it’s all about balance. I love calling my female friends and talking to them and hearing about their day and what they are all up to, it really does fuel a burning inside me to keep doing better. I would like to keep working on balancing that work/life better, but we are all working on something and forever really if we are truthful. I love being a strong woman and I feel so grateful for all the amazing women that show up in my life. It makes me a better version of myself having them around.

What would you like guests to take away from their experience?

I want people to take home a sense of inner peace; a knowing that they can come here to have that relaxing, rejuvenating feeling anytime they want. I hope they feel inspired to have a better sleep and surround themselves with things that bring them closer to themselves. We always love it when people come in a little uptight from their busy lives, and 2 days later they look so calm and relaxed. Some people look completely different, and it puts the biggest smile on my face.