A serene escape: Pretty Beach House

While the name sounds simple, the experience at Pretty Beach House is ‘once in a lifetime’. Perched on the Bouddi Peninsula, surrounded by Bouddi National Park, it’s quite easy to drive straight past the discreet entrance to the property. Once you backtrack to the gate, climb the winding escarpment through the mass of angophora trees, you reach the sandstone pylons at the entrance to the Main House. Geoffrey the concierge is there to greet you with a smile as he takes your bags and parks your car. As you enter the Main House, you are welcomed with the magic words: “May I offer you a glass of Pol Roger?” After a long drive, the answer is always yes.

Ninety minutes from Sydney, on the New South Wales Central Coast, Pretty Beach House has recently reopened after a bushfire tore through the property, resulting in a two-and-a-half-year hiatus and restoration project. Proprietors of Bells at Killcare Boutique Hotel, Restaurant & Spa, Brian and Karina Barry, along with distinguished restaurateurs Stefano Manfredi and Julie Manfredi Hughes, have combined a luxurious setting with world-renowned cuisine to create the ultimate experience for guests. Brian explains the concept behind the hotel: “Pretty Beach House is the essence of luxury without the pretence. Guests receive effortless hospitality surrounded by Australian beauty that remains relaxed and elegant.”