Aussie location in running for White Lotus Season 4

As HBO’s search for a new White Lotus location continue, there is one Aussie location proving to be a real contender.

Most of the time, travelling for work is far less glamorous than its portrayal on social media.

An early morning alarm, followed by a flurry of meetings before a “networking dinner” which inevitably leads into a couple of “nightcaps” at the hotel bar.

Hopefully before 10pm, you finally get the chance to embrace the harder-than-concrete mattress, that often boast picturesque views of the hotel’s car park.

Not quite the private jet, laptop by the pool experience they sell to us in movies.

So when I stayed at Elements of Byron during a recent work trip, I took every opportunity to live out the social media dream.

A quick dip in the adults-only pool. A shore-side Yoga session in the morning. A coffee brought to me via QR code while typing away at my sunlounge.

Pretty soon, while having an (off the clock) gin and tonic by the communal fire, I was feeling a constant sense of deja vu.

Not me, but you get the picture. Picture: Elements of Byron.

But not deja vu in the sense that I’d been here before, more than I had seen this before.

I’m not sure whether it was the fluffy bathrobe, the attentive staff or simply the fact that I watch too much television, but suddenly I realised – I felt like I was playing a role in White Lotus.

For anyone who has seen the show, each season revolves around a group of mostly self-entitled individuals who end up finding themselves at the centre of a murder at the ultra-luxurious White Lotus hotel.

The location and sets are always lush, exotic and full of affluence, with the first three seasons in Maui, Sicily and Thailand.

Element’s Osprey Spa which features products from vegan skincare brand Vanessa Morgan. I mean, come on. Picture: Elements of Byron

If ice cubes on your face isn’t White Lotus-esk; I don’t know what is. Picture: Elements of Byron

And as someone who has spent most of their 20s in hostels and Airbnbs, my stay at Elements was an introduction to the White Lotus lifestyle.

It was also confirmation to me that Season 4 needs to be in Byron Bay.

Potential location

Since Max – which apparently, is now back to HBO Max again – announced earlier this year that Season 4 would begin production in 2026, the internet has been abuzz with rumours of the new location.

The page said they were simply “manifesting” the decision. Picture: Instagram

Buzz about Byron Bay began after satirical Instagram page LordsOfByronBay posted a fake poster of White Lotus Season 4, writing: “Leaks suggest it’s heading to Byron Bay – where the sunsets are spiritual, the influencers are unhinged and linen shirts are worn with deep emotional consequences”.

Since then, Vogue Australia and Harper’s Bazaar have also put Byron Bay forward as a contender, noting how well it hosted Nine Perfect Strangers.

Many have scrubbed Byron Bay off the list as it doesn’t have a Four Seasons, which is where White Lotus is usually set.

Elements of Byron first light yoga. Picture: Elements of Byron

However, a hotel like Elements of Byron would make for a perfect beachside substitution to bring much-needed funds into Australia’s film and television sector.

This week, HBO executive Casey Bloys said White Lotus director Mike White had given him a “general outline” of what Season 4 would be.

“He’s going to be scouting, seeing what location he gets inspired by, and then giving us more of an update of what he’s thinking, but it’s percolating in his head,” Mr Bloys said.

If I were Mr White, I’d be percolating Byron.

This writer stayed as a guest of Elements of Byron