Skip to content
Please select your location:
Pretty Beach House

Pretty Beach House

New South Wales, Australia

Pretty Beach House is a sophisticated lodge, positioned within the spectacular Bouddi National Park, an ancient angophora forest with water views over pristine Broken Bay. Perched high on the escarpment at Pretty Beach, the lodge is the epitome of relaxed luxury; intimate, laid-back, with personalised service offering a quintessential luxe Australian coastal experience in a world-class setting. Truly a rare find, with just four impeccably appointed pavilions, the lodge houses up to eight guests at one time.

Pretty Beach House offers guests the opportunity to completely restore or explore — a secluded haven and base for adventure, romance, rejuvenation or exploration with golden beaches and bays are easily accessible via hiking trails along coastal sandstone cliffs.

Guests are provided the opportunity to connect with the Traditional Owners of Bouddi Country through a welcome ceremony and cultural tours, showcasing Aboriginal rock art and the significance of the Darkinjung people’s kinship with the ocean and the land of the Bouddi National Park.

Adventure activities include boating and sailing, water sports, mountain biking and tennis. Dining is a highlight at Pretty Beach House with seasonal menus prepared by highly talented chefs incorporating native foods along with fresh produce straight from the kitchen garden. All dining and beverages are included (cellar list additional) along with pavilion minibar, mountain bikes and Wi-Fi.

OUR OPINION:

Relaxed and effortlessly stylish, this private guesthouse offers stunning views, world-class dining and the opportunity to discover more about indigenous Australia. It's the perfect place to start or finish a trip to Australia, and a home away from home.

OUR RATING: Opulent

Speak to someone
who's been there
Audley Travel specialist Lee

Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Australia specialists

Rooms

Pretty Beach House can sleep eight people at any one time, with four private pavilions, three freestanding and one penthouse. The pavilions have names that describe their best feature: Treetops, Bayview, Hideaway and The Retreat and each one has views of the angophoras, across a dramatic escarpment and down to the sparkling bay waters of Broken Bay.

Bayview is a one bedroom split-level pavilion boasting a luxurious king size bed and spacious indoor and outdoor living areas. The wood combustion fireplace, luxurious bathroom with shower and heated flooring, heated plunge pool and outdoor double day bed spoil the senses after a day of adventure.

Hideaway sits high at the tip of the property — this is the most secluded pavilion. It is similar in style but somewhat larger than Bayview, with a decadent double day bed and plunge pool. Add heated flooring, double shower and black slipper freestanding bath.

Treetops is set high up on top of the main residence — this pavilion is in the penthouse position. This luxurious one bedroom pavilion is complete with a king size bed and stunning views across the Bouddi escarpment over to the sparkling waters of the bay. The private balcony beckons relaxation, complete with double day bed, flowing sheer curtains and outdoor firepit. There is a large walk through robe and luxurious travertine bathroom and magnificent copper bath and heated flooring. This pavilion overlooks the deck area and the communal guest pool of the main house.

The Retreat is the largest of the pavilions — spread over two levels, it offers separate living space upstairs with a wood burning fireplace and powder room, whilst downstairs is a king size bedroom and luxury bathroom with bath, separate shower and heated flooring. Outside boasts a generous private deck with double day bed, overlooking the heated plunge pool.

The main house is a shared space for guests, which has been lovingly built with hand-made mud bricks, and huge hand-crafted recycled timber posts. The main house features the spectacular dining room, impressive bar with remarkable views and an open plan Italianate Ambach kitchen, encouraging guest and chef interaction. The hexagonal bar area is designed for conviviality and sharing fine foods and afternoon cocktails with the setting sun.

Rates include: all dining, open bar with premium wines, beers, spirits (cellar list additional), pavilion minibar, mountain bike hire and unlimited Wi-Fi.

Location

A serene escape nestled within the heart of the New South Wales Bouddi National Park high above Pretty Beach, this stunning world-class hotel is an easy 90-minute drive or exhilarating 20-minute seaplane flight from Sydney.

Pretty Beach House is approximately one and a half hours north of Sydney and one and a half hours south of Newcastle, and just across the water from Sydney's Palm Beach. The Bouddi Peninsula is the southernmost tip of the central coast region and is an easy day trip to the Hunter Valley wine region.

Food and drink

Native bush foods, along with fresh produce straight from the kitchen garden, make up the seasonal menus prepared by the highly talented chefs at Pretty Beach House. As part of your stay, all dining and beverages are included (cellar list additional) along with pavilion minibar.

Breakfast is relaxed and casual and can be enjoyed alfresco. For lunch, think local crayfish with a garlic mayonnaise and antipasto with salami, pickled vegetables and eggplant caponata. In the warmer months, there is chilled soup such as tomato with saffron, asparagus or fresh peas. Picnic hampers may contain a delicious array of Italian style panini with house made breads, cakes and tarts. A much-loved treat at Pretty Beach House is Pizza alfresco, as the chef stokes up the poolside wood fired pizza oven, for a casual and entertaining lunch by the pool. As the summer fades, expect hearty seafood and barley stew, winter vegetable minestrone and veal shank with farro, all served with bread baked daily in the house kitchen.

Morning and afternoon tea is available throughout the day offering seasonal fresh fruits and a selection of biscotti, homemade cakes and tarts or a savoury selection of fresh breads, grissini, olives, house made pickles and a selection of cheeses are also available.

In the evening the tables are carefully laid with fine Italian Busatti linens, the cutlery antique Sheffield direct from London. A native flannel flower or wild grass reed will take centre stage on your table, setting the scene for a more formal affair with tailored degustation, every evening. Of course, menus may be personalised to suit specific dietary requirements and wines and beverages are expertly chosen and paired to suit individual palettes.

Families

Pretty Beach House is ideal for an exclusive buy-out of all four pavilions for the one group and welcomes children aged 13 years and above that are travelling with an adult. This is the ultimate luxury getaway for nature-loving families looking for an idyllic escape close to Sydney.

Facilities and activities

Pretty Beach House presents a collection of premium facilities including open-plan kitchen, spectacular dining room for swapping stories, magnificent sandstone open fireplace and guest lounge/library. There is an open bar, wine cellar, private day spa to retreat to, as well as an outdoor infinity pool and poolside pizza oven for casual alfresco dining.

Tour ideas in New South Wales

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Pretty Beach House as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favourite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.

    New South Wales and nearby places