Escape: Halcyon House - Cabarita Beach, Australia -

Seaside 60’s motel vibes packaged up in a 5-star luxe coastal package with an enviable location in sleepy Cabarita Beach, Halcyon House exudes coastal cool and laid back style while still being glamorous enough to attract the international jet-setting crowd.

Since it’s revamp and arrival on the hotel scene in 2015, the hotel has received a ton of accolades and been featured on every hip travel bloggers Instagram pages and it’s pretty easy to see why, the hotel is like a tricked-up, glamorous version of Aussie holidays of years gone by – surf, sunshine, sandy feet and lazy hazy summer days, albeit a little more glamorous than you might remember.

Interiors have been designed by Australian designer Anna Spiro, and it truly is a nod to her style of clashing prints and liberal use of fabrics. Each of the 21 rooms is unique, and feature luxurious king size beds with balconies or terraces.

There is an on-site restaurant, Paper Daisy, which serves up high quality casual fare using locally sourced ingredients and delicious Australian seafood. There is a great terrace bar for afternoon cocktails and the adjoining pool is a real highlight, with striped sun loungers being the perfect spot to relax on a balmy afternoon.

There are vintage bikes available for exploring the coastline and the hotel has two Audis available to hire for those wanting to travel further afield. Surfboards and beach bags are also available and the addition of an onsite day spa will help you truly relax.

Service at Halcyon is friendly and efficient, particularly in Paper Daisy where the team are ready to cater to your every need. Mornings spent sitting on the terrace sipping espresso listening to the crashing waves is truly a highlight.

For us though, the true beauty of Halcyon wasn’t the hotel, but rather the location – endless stretches of uncrowded white sandy beaches in a peaceful coastal town that is guaranteed to help you unwind, slow down and remind you of simpler times. With busier Gold Coast and the Byron Bay to its north and south, Cabarita Beach is the sweet spot along this gorgeous stretch of coast.

Halcyon isn’t cheap, when we visited prices were north of $850 a room per night, so our advice would be to go out of season when it is slightly more affordable. It’s also worth noting that the hotel is a revamped motel so open walkways and adjoining balconies with neighbors may not be suitable for those seeking a truly private retreat.