{"id":41536,"date":"2022-08-21T02:47:24","date_gmt":"2022-08-20T16:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.australiantraveller.com\/bells-at-killcare\/"},"modified":"2023-02-16T12:35:08","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T01:35:08","slug":"bells-at-killcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.australiantraveller.com\/nsw\/bells-at-killcare\/","title":{"rendered":"Bells at Killcare: everything you want from a 5-star coastal break"},"content":{"rendered":"
This boutique hotel on the Bouddi Peninsula with its own award-winning restaurant is the perfect retreat, as Quentin Long discovered.<\/h5>\n

Bells at Killcare boutique hotel on the NSW Bouddi Peninsula is a world-class retreat with dreamy rooms, a day spa, bakery, vibrant restaurant and acres of tranquil gardens. Owned by husband-and-wife team Karina and Brian Barry, who bought the stylish retreat from Australian entrepreneur John Singleton in 2016, Bells at Killcare offers all the charm and sophistication you want from a five-star coastal break.<\/p>\n

The location<\/h2>\n

The Central Coast,<\/a> just an hour\u2019s drive north of Sydney, has evolved to become an incredibly accessible and beautiful seaside destination where some seriously sophisticated retreats<\/a> and luxury places to stay<\/a> have sprung up over the years.<\/p>\n

The Bouddi Peninsula is located at the southern tip of the Central Coast, across from Sydney\u2019s northernmost suburb, Palm Beach and is dotted with high-end holiday destinations such as McMasters Beach, Pretty Beach, Patonga and Killcare.<\/p>\n

\"Bouddi

The Central Coast has evolved to become an incredibly accessible and beautiful seaside destination.<\/p><\/div>\n

This is the spiritual heart of the Central Coast \u2013 Bouddi means heart in the local Aboriginal language \u2013 and there is evidence of rock carvings and middens found in numerous locations around the area\u2019s idyllic national parks.<\/p>\n

Pack walking shoes and swimmers as, all up, there are seven pristine beaches<\/a> and many spectacular walking trails<\/a> that wind around the coastal headland at Killcare. You can also take the scenic route and visit the sleepy, picturesque seaside villages of Pretty Beach, Hardy\u2019s Bay and Killcare itself, where Bells isn\u2019t. (It\u2019s located up the hill at Killcare Heights.)<\/p>\n

The accommodation<\/h2>\n

Bells\u2019 at Killcare boutique hotel recently refurbished 10 of its most popular rooms to include heated flooring in the marble bathrooms, beautiful brass and copper claw-foot freestanding baths and elegant English tapware.<\/p>\n

All up, Bells at Killcare boutique hotel comprises a series of 25 cottages and villas with a main lodge that houses the bar, restaurant, library and event space.<\/p>\n

The underlying aesthetic, according to the Bells at Killcare branding, is \u2018East Coast Hamptons\u2019, the relaxed, luxurious beach retreat for New York\u2019s well-to-do set.<\/p>\n

\"Bells

The exterior of the Garden Villa at Bells at Killcare.<\/p><\/div>\n

The food<\/h2>\n

The pool bar<\/h3>\n

Bells at Killcare has a new garden bar and poolside service so that you can enjoy a cocktail and oysters al fresco as well as an honesty bar tucked into a dinky 1950s caravan where guests can pour their own drinks.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the perfect place for The World\u2019s Most Beautiful Wife and I to relax before visiting family further north. The relaxed pool area, tucked into a private corner of the property, also follows the Hamptons theme, with blue-and-white umbrellas and lounges.<\/p>\n

\"The

The pool bar is an ‘honesty’ bar tucked into a dinky 1950s caravan, where guests can pour their own drinks.<\/p><\/div>\n

Onsite bakery<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s also a beautiful bakery and larder onsite, which turns out freshly baked pastries and artisan sourdough and offers both guests and locals the chance to pick up picnic goodies to take away or back to their cottage.<\/p>\n

\"Freshly

Bells Bakery churns out freshly baked pastries and artisan sourdough on the daily. (Image: Dom Cherry)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Wild Flower Bar & Dining<\/h3>\n

The onsite restaurant, The Wild Flower Bar & Dining<\/a>, has been shaped by celebrated executive chef Sean Connolly and is inspired by the theme: Bouddi by the Sea.<\/p>\n

The restaurant\u2019s recent redesign includes specially commissioned Kate Swinton wallpaper and cushions and framed etchings of native flora. The light fittings that feature so prominently in the dining room are also woven from local Killcare grasses by local artist Lee Cavendar.<\/p>\n

\"The

The Wild Flower Bar & Dining has been shaped by celebrated executive chef Sean Connolly and is inspired by the theme: Bouddi by the Sea. (Image: Dom Cherry)<\/p><\/div>\n

We skip the bakery treats to save some room for dinner and instead start our epicurean experience in the bar with a Bellini and olives. The main dining room here is on the balcony, which overlooks the beautiful, manicured grounds and, thanks to floor-to-ceiling louvres, has an al fresco feel. Connolly\u2019s Mediterranean-inspired food is hard to beat, with lots of local prawns, crayfish and lobster.<\/p>\n

\"Fresh

The Mediterranean-inspired food features lots of fresh, local seafood. (Image: Dom Cherry)<\/p><\/div>\n

The wine list is also extensive\u00a0with a globe-trotting mix of international \u2013 particularly Italian \u2013 and local wines. TWMBW tucks into the salt-crusted snapper, and spaghetti vongole and both are unfussy and excellent. My scallops crudo with local finger lime is the right balance of flavours and technique.<\/p>\n

When Bells opened in 2007 there was much hype about the kitchen garden, and the garden\u2019s harvest is evident in their dishes with about 20 per cent of the just-plucked produce informing the ingredient-led menu.<\/p>\n

\"Garden

The manicured garden entrance to The Wild Flower Bar & Dining Restaurant. (Image: Nikki To)<\/p><\/div>\n

There are also chickens that supply the eggs and beehives that supply the honey within the ever-expanding farm located at the Bells at Killcare boutique hotel. There\u2019s also Lupo, the Italian sheepdog, who protects the chickens and loves visits from the guests.<\/p>\n

As with all great destination diners, the accommodation at Bells at Killcare boutique hotel matches the food \u2013 casual, relaxed yet totally indulgent and Connolly and his team have brought a bit of theatre into the restaurant, wheeling trolleys to the table in order to toss salads and pasta and exchange a bit of banter with guests.<\/p>\n

\"Table

Bells at Killcare boutique hotel matches the food \u2013 casual, relaxed yet totally indulgent. (Image: Dom Cherry)<\/p><\/div>\n

The room<\/h2>\n

Our King Suite has a bath as well as a shower. Every room has a fireplace and it\u2019s a lovely touch during a winter escape to curl up beside the fire with a book from the library. The plantation shutters on the windows also accentuate the relaxed feel of the suite and the signature blue-and-white-striped awnings stand the test of time.<\/p>\n

TWMBW loves a snooze in front of the TV, and the Smart TVs have on-demand movies that are complimentary, along with the wi-fi. The snooze made stellar due to homespun blankets and oodles of pillows on the massive bed.<\/p>\n

Breakfast is served a la carte in the dining room and includes options such as homemade granola, eggs from the resident chickens and thick-cut bacon with tomatoes from the gardens and mushrooms.<\/p>\n

\"The

The rooms and villas have a Hamptons-inspired touch. (Image: Dom Cherry)<\/p><\/div>\n

The day spa<\/h2>\n

Another drawcard at Bells at Killcare is Bells Day Spa<\/a>, a stylish sanctuary that is anchored to the garden and thoughtfully designed with warmth and intimacy in mind.<\/p>\n

The day spa is hugely popular for its botanical iKOU products, which are used in treatments such as the Mindful Wellness Ritual, which involves both a massage and a facial.<\/p>\n

Its bespoke beauty and bathroom products are hand-made exclusively for Bells at Killcare and include a beautiful high-end signature candle (in collaboration with Lumira), Botanical Shampoo & Conditioner, hand wash and hand lotion, which are all available for purchase.<\/p>\n

The beach is not far away, and there\u2019s magnificent hiking around the Bouddi National Park. But that\u2019s for the next visit \u2013 this trip was to relax and recharge.<\/p>\n

\"Entrance

The Bells Day Spa, a stylish sanctuary thoughtfully designed with warmth and intimacy in mind. (Image: Anson Smart)<\/p><\/div>\n

The review<\/h2>\n

What\u2019s the Gossip?<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s what other reviewers have said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boutique hotel is a pocket paradise\u2026 It feels more like Lake Como than the Central Coast.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>The Sydney Morning Herald Traveller<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBells could be the closest approximation of a European country-house hotel you could reasonably find in an Australian coastal setting.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>The Weekend Australian<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE AT Verdict<\/h3>\n

Quentin Long, who paid his own way and visited anonymously, says:
\nA magnificent couples\u2019 retreat where the accommodation matches the superb dining.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Details<\/h3>\n
\"Bells

A little piece of paradise on the Central Coast. (Image: Anson Smart)<\/p><\/div>\n

Where:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0107 The Scenic Road, Killcare Heights.<\/p>\n

Notes:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0We booked the Relax Package; from $1062 for one night\u2019s accommodation in a King Suite, including a three-course dinner, two massages, happy hour drinks nightly and a welcome hamper and daily breakfast. There are loads of packages on the website. Standard rates for a King Suite start at $527 per night midweek.<\/p>\n

Contact: \u00a0<\/strong>(02) 4349 7000; bellsatkillcare.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This boutique hotel on the Bouddi Peninsula with its own award-winning restaurant is the perfect retreat, as Quentin Long discovered. Bells at Killcare boutique hotel on the NSW Bouddi Peninsula is a world-class retreat with dreamy rooms, a day spa, bakery, vibrant restaurant and acres of tranquil gardens. Owned by husband-and-wife team Karina and Brian […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":244363,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"article.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[857],"tags":[903,6301,967,1022,5517,4628,1905],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nReview: Bells at Killcare, Central Coast - Australian Traveller<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Bells at Killcare sits on the Bouddi Peninsula with an award-winning restaurant. But does the 5-star stay live up to the hype? 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