Checking in: Halcyon House | Cabarita Beach, AUSTRALIA
Halcyon:
/halsɪən,-ʃ(ə)n/
adjective
1. denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.
Without sugar-coating it, Halcyon House used to be a surf motel built in the 1960’s.
I came back from our weekend getaway to Halcyon House and one of my colleagues asked me, “Isn’t that just a little motel?”
Well, it’s a motel that I’m more than happy to pay over $500 a night for.
I was immediately attracted to the beautifulness of Halcyon House when I came across it on the internet then a few days later, when the new issue of the Conde Nast Traveler arrived at our doorstep, I knew that a visit had to be planned as the newly designed and renovated boutique hotel was featured in the magazine, A.K.A my travel bible.
The rooms are not cheap with the entry level room starting from $550 a night. However, for this 21-room property, the price-tag creates a sense of exclusivity. We pulled up at the car park in front of the three-storey whitewashed building with the words “Halcyon House” elegantly placed on it in navy blue. Reception is on the ground level, next to the corridor, lined with vintage looking bikes in powdered baby blue, each equipped with a wicker basket at the front.
Prior to checking in, we were offered housemade lemonade at Paper Daisy, which was a nice touch. Our room was located on the first level, room 202 - a superior room with high ceiling and, white and blue coloured fabric upholstered walls. Underneath a glass lantern ceiling pendant, was a king-size bed that provided us with comfortable sleep for the next two nights. Timber flooring that extends to the floor to ceiling glass door which leads onto the balcony finished with white and blue tiles that reminded me of countless umbrellas which can be found on the beaches of Positano. On an antique looking wooden table was a plate of fresh fruits, a bottle of Prosecco chilled in an ice bucket (how very Italian) and a greeting card from the management. The other travel bunnie popped opened the bottle while I quickly checked out the bathroom – white tiles, English tapware and aged brass decorative items (which can be found throughout the property). Placed on top of the marble vanity were products from evo®. There wasn’t one single bit of the room that I didn’t like. We enjoyed both breakfast and dinner at the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, Paper Daisy. The food there is absolutely incredible, the menu is fresh and coastal chic, think grilled and fried soft shell bay lobster w’ broad beans & macadamia, and grilled pippies with smoked almond, garlic & lemon myrtle for dinner, and coconut & chia, w’ honey, mint & strawberries for breakfast, all to be enjoyed with the relaxing sound of the crashing waves from the hop-skip-and-a-jump away beach. Not to mention the perfectly sized pool that sits at the centre of the hotel complex.
The bunnies always get a spa treatment when we travel, but unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to this time around as the spa at Halcyon House was under renovation. The perfect excuse for our next visit in my opinion!
Yes, it was an idyllically happy and peaceful stay that I will not forget! ♥
Bunnies’ Travel Notes
Bunnies’ Room Number: 202 – Superior Room
Bath products: evo®
Perks that we loved: bedtime treats placed on the bedside table every night during turndown service and complimentary minibar
Bonus point for Minibun: definitely the Stokke extendable cot
Check-in/check-out times: 3pm - 11am
Time of stay: August 2015
What we paid: $1,120 AUD for two nights
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