Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, NSW

Halcyon House is a unique boutique hotel which is just a hop, skip and jump away from Cabarita Beach in the Tweed area of northern New South Wales. It’s also a charming place to head for a romantic getaway - here’s why. 

• Location: The Tweed Coast, just 15 minutes from Gold Coast Airport. 
• Accommodations: There are 19 rooms and a couple of two-bedroom suites, all of which feature a different design. Options range from a simple Classic Room, coming with a private furnished courtyard and access to the lawn, through to an Ocean Deluxe Room with a private furnished balcony. At the top end of the scale, the Halcyon Suite offers pool, beach and ocean views. All rooms have free Wi-Fi and mini bars.
• Dining options: The onsite restaurant, Paper Daisy, is the brain child of Chef Ben Devlin, who was awarded the Brisbane Good Food Guide Young Chef in 2014 and has worked with some greats overseas, including Rene Redzepi’s Noma in Copenhagen. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering set-course menus, and a choice of modern contemporary dishes.
• What else is there: The Halcyon Spa, which is located on the ground floor, has treatment rooms, a relaxation area, and a unique dome-shaped steam bath.
• What’s nearby: Beyond the beach, nearby attractions include the Tweed Regional Art Gallery, featuring Margaret Olly, and Bucks Farm in Chillingham for the country’s best finger limes in the world. You can also enjoy some of the best seafood on this side of Australia cruising on the Tweed for lunch with Mount Warning Tours.
• Why go: This unusual, modern hotel is small, quiet and has everything for a romantic getaway. It’s the perfect couples’ retreats without the tourists.

The Space

Halcyon House began life as a humble motel, but since its rebirth as a boutique, luxury hotel, it has evolved into a popular venue for romantic escapes and weddings, and is one of Australia’s most “instagrammable” places to stay. The hype includes eye-popping interiors by Anna Spiro and Sydney-based architect Virginia Kerridge, fusing eclectic and beachside paraphernalia with strong, bold patterns and colours. Located just off the sandy-white beaches of Cabarita, the hotel brings some California-charm to New South Wales Tweed Heads.

Where We Stayed

We were staying in a cozy Classic Room which is one of the most basic in the hotel, and enjoyed the laid-back, beachy ambiance and decor overall. It came with a king sized bed, a private courtyard, Foxtel and Apple TV, and featured a nice collection of antique furniture, fabric upholstered walls, and a small sitting area. The bathroom was adorned with English tapware, marble vanities and hand made floor tiles. Unfortunately our shower had a few issues and was clogged, and the tiling in the bathroom was showing its age despite the hotel only being open for a few years, but it didn’t take too much away from our stay.

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• The California-meets-The-Hamptons vibe.
• The hotel has on-site Audi A1s for hire, and free bikes if you fancy exploring the local area.
• The pool has a Cote d’Azur touch to it with delicious home-made ice-cream from a vintage gelato cart to entice you.

Insider Tips  

• The suites are all different so ask the front desk when booking for the best room to suit your needs. The higher up you go - literally - the better the view.
• Byron Bay is just a 30 minute drive, giving you another arrival or departure option if you’re flying.

The Details

Halcyon House is located at 21 Cypress Crescent, Cabaret Beach, NSW, www.halcyonhouse.com.au.

About Our Guest Writer

Michelle Tchea is the bestselling author of four books on travel, food and culture, and her work has been published in over 100 international magazines. She is also the owner of the Organics Company, Healthy Spoon, in Australia and a consulting firm in Europe, PopIntel Group, a luxury strategy firm in F&B. Michelle was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, and has a steady stream of followers on social media reaching millions. Michelle's new book, Chefs Collective, is out now.