Erica Packer and chef partner Shannon Bennett have been blending their sprawling broods as their romance progresses.
Last week, the pair headed out for a large family lunch to Byron Bay hinterland’s The Hut restaurant.
The model cut a casually chic figure in a powder blue T-shirt dress with a rolled neck design.
She appeared to have on a natural makeup look with a pink lip gloss and wore her brunette hair down around her face.
Erica carried a denim jacket over her arm and chatted warmly with Shannon as they headed inside.
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 2 Erica Packer and chef partner Shannon Bennett have been blending their sprawling broods as their romance progresses. Both pictured](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338183-12900723-image-a-113_1703579613450.jpg)
Erica Packer and chef partner Shannon Bennett have been blending their sprawling broods as their romance progresses. Both pictured
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 4 Last week, the pair headed out for a large family lunch to Byron Bay hinterland's The Hut restaurant](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338201-12900723-image-a-112_1703579608911.jpg)
Last week, the pair headed out for a large family lunch to Byron Bay hinterland’s The Hut restaurant
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 6 The model cut a casually chic figure in a powder blue T-shirt dress with a rolled neck design](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338185-12900723-image-a-117_1703579836209.jpg)
The model cut a casually chic figure in a powder blue T-shirt dress with a rolled neck design
The MasterChef Australia star wore a long sleeved graphic T-shirt and black shorts and wore his hair in a ponytail.
Shannon, 48, is the ex-partner of actress Madeleine West.
Eric and Shannon are reportedly staying at Bennett’s $2million beachfront property on the Belongil Beach peninsula, with his six children Phoenix, Hendrix, Xascha, Xanthe, Xahlia and Margaux.
Erica’s children Indigo, Jackson and Emmanuelle – who she shares with ex James – are also apparently staying in the sprawling mansion.
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 8 She appeared to have on a natural makeup look with a pink lip gloss and wore her brunette hair down around her face](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338197-12900723-image-a-115_1703579826076.jpg)
She appeared to have on a natural makeup look with a pink lip gloss and wore her brunette hair down around her face
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 10 Erica carried a denim jacket over her arm and chatted warmly with Shannon as they headed inside](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338189-12900723-image-a-116_1703579829666.jpg)
Erica carried a denim jacket over her arm and chatted warmly with Shannon as they headed inside
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 12 The MasterChef Australia star wore a long sleeved graphic T-shirt and black shorts and wore his hair in a ponytail](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338195-12900723-image-a-118_1703579844095.jpg)
The MasterChef Australia star wore a long sleeved graphic T-shirt and black shorts and wore his hair in a ponytail
James and Erica married in 2007 and later split in 2013, but are on good terms as they co-parent their three children.
Erica reportedly received a $100 million divorce payment, and purchased a family home in Los Angeles shortly after the break-up.
James also bought an $80million Los Angeles mansion so he could be closer to Erica and their children whenever he was in town.
When Erica visits Sydney, she often lives with her former husband and their children at James’ $72 million Crown penthouse home.
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 14 Shannon, 48, is the ex-partner of actress Madeleine West](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338199-12900723-image-a-119_1703579852242.jpg)
Shannon, 48, is the ex-partner of actress Madeleine West
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 16 Eric and Shannon are reportedly staying at Bennett's $2million beachfront property on the Belongil Beach peninsula, with his six children Phoenix, Hendrix, Xascha, Xanthe, Xahlia and Margaux](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338193-12900723-image-a-120_1703579856764.jpg)
Eric and Shannon are reportedly staying at Bennett’s $2million beachfront property on the Belongil Beach peninsula, with his six children Phoenix, Hendrix, Xascha, Xanthe, Xahlia and Margaux
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 18 Erica's children Indigo, Jackson and Emmanuelle - who she shares with ex James - are also apparently staying in the sprawling mansion](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338187-12900723-image-a-121_1703579863673.jpg)
Erica’s children Indigo, Jackson and Emmanuelle – who she shares with ex James – are also apparently staying in the sprawling mansion
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 20 James and Erica married in 2007 and later split in 2013, but are on good terms as they co-parent their three children](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338181-12900723-image-a-122_1703579867400.jpg)
James and Erica married in 2007 and later split in 2013, but are on good terms as they co-parent their three children
The ex-couple are so close that they often enjoy family holidays together.
In contrast, Shannon’s relationship with ex partner Madeleine is not as amicable.
Shannon, who rose to fame on MasterChef Australia, split from Madeleine in September 2018 after 13 years of dating.
Madeleine later stated the separation process ‘turned love toxic’.
Two years after their breakup, she left Melbourne and moved to the Byron Bay area to be near their six children, buying her own $4.6million property overlooking Tallow Beach.
In May 2022, Shannon said Madeleine saw their children fortnightly, while they spend the remainder of the time with him.
‘The kids live with me full time and they visit their mother every fortnight for a few days,’ he told the Herald Sun at the time.
![Erica Packer and Shannon Bennett, along with their extended families, enjoyed a cozy lunch date in Byron Bay 22 In contrast, Shannon's relationship with ex partner Madeleine is not as amicable](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/26/08/79338191-12900723-image-a-114_1703579820908.jpg)
In contrast, Shannon’s relationship with ex partner Madeleine is not as amicable