Crystal Castle at Byron Bay: Tourist attraction for sale
The tourism hotspot Crystal Castle is being put up for sale for millions as Naren King’s dream comes to an end.
Byron Shire
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One of Northern NSW’s most popular tourist attractions is up for sale - but you’ll need $30 million-plus and the right intentions to be in the hunt to buy it.
Crystal Castle near Byron Bay has over the years been visited by A-listers Princess Mary, Natalie Portman, Pink, Jack Johnson, Russell Brand and of course the Hemsworth family.
It is a venture many said would never fly - but current owner Naren King had a dream, belief and just a little bottle.
Free-spirited Mr King started out with a small business selling crystals out of a backpack in Sydney, and the vision for something so much more was sparked when he came to Byron Bay in 1985.
Mr King attended a New Year’s Eye party at ‘The Bay’ and saw the potential in an empty bare paddock with just two huge trees nestled in the Byron Hinterland.
A house had been built on the land, which remains to this day, and Mr King was smitten with plans to buy the property, live on the hill and create something beautiful with lots of crystals.
But many doubted him.
“When I first came here, there was absolutely nothing. People thought we would go broke, people thought it would fail and that this was a crazy project with big crystals out on the hills,” he said.
The daring venture turned out to be a massive success.
“We were supported by locals and local tourist people - including the shop keepers and suppliers who helped create this place,” Mr King said.
Today, the land now known as Crystal Castle is worth a squillion - and its just hit the market.
“Crystal Castle has been my life since the 1980s. What began as a dream has become a reality,” Mr King said.
The tourist hotspot is home to the tallest crystal geodes in the world, a Buddha Walk and a 12-acre botanical garden boasting the World Peace Stupa – a sacred monument blessed by the Dalai Lama.
It welcomes over 90,000 guests a year and has had over 100 million views of videos featuring its unique assets.
But now Mr King is eager to move onto another chapter, including spending more time with family and “other dreams to fulfil”.
“I want to circumnavigate the globe, I’m looking for an adventure that hasn’t been planned,” he said.
“I’ve got this new dream to leave the land and live on the water for a while.
“Everything we feel we wanted to do here, our lives’ work, is done. It’s time to move on.”
Mr King said he is in the luxurious position to be able to select a buyer for Crystal Castle before he leaves.
He has agents in Melbourne, Nash Advisory, who are handling the sale process.
Nash Advisory director Tom Butler said it’s a unique opportunity to buy Crystal Castle.
“They have the rarest crystals in the world so we are hoping to receive Australian or overseas investors,” Mr Butler said.
“It is a sanctuary for people who want spiritual healing or to browse the gardens ... there is an opportunity to also host weddings or events.”
Nash Advisory manager Kieran Ellis said the property would fetch $30m, “if not above”, and the agency is scouting a potential buyer who “embraces the spirituality and growth of Crystal Castle”.
“It will be transformed into a wellness retreat with 12 luxury cabins and a wellness hub - which will include a massage room,” Mr Ellis said.
Mr King said there are conversations about the value of the facility but stressed it’s not like a normal property or business sale with an asking price - it’s a matter of people “putting in presentations and putting in offers”.
“I’m a bit sad to be leaving behind this beautiful place but at the same time it’s a responsibility for us to find the next people to take it on to retain the culture here, the values and the vision of the place,” he said.
Crystal Castle has been a family orientated place for decades.
“We’ve brought up our family here, we’ve had birds here, and we had pets buried on the hill,” Mr King said.
“We are incredibly grateful for the local community who supported us for the past 37 years.”
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