Serene and quintessentially Australian bushland setting

Your Arrival

Pretty Beach House is surrounded by the idyllic Bouddi National Park and is located on the NSW Bouddi Peninsula which is on the scenic Central Coast of New South Wales. Pretty Beach House is approximately 90 minutes drive north of Sydney, and 90 minutes drive south of Newcastle. The NSW Bouddi Peninsula is the southern-most tip of the Central Coast region and is just across the water from Sydney's famous Palm Beach.

Return airport transfers can be arranged from Sydney or Newcastle airports. Alternatively you may prefer to hire a car from the airport and self-drive.

ROAD

Our address will be provided in your reservation confirmation.

FERRY

The Palm Beach Ferry operates every day of the year. Guests coming to Pretty Beach House should alight at Wagstaffe and the team will be waiting for you.

TRAIN

Our closest train station is located at Woy Woy. The journey from Sydney Central is approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes on the express (recommended) or an 1 hour and a half on the all stops. From Woy Woy station, you would need to catch a taxi to Killcare Heights which would take approximately 20 minutes. Taxis are usually at the station waiting. The scenery north of Hornsby is stunning as you meander over the Oyster Farms at Brooklyn, cross various bridges and cruise through mountain ranges.

SEAPLANE

For the ultimate indulgence, take a memorable seaplane flight from Rose Bay, Sydney to Pretty Beach House. See Sydney’s famous harbour sprawled out far below, the awe-inspiring Sydney Opera House, the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, beautiful golden beaches such as Palm Beach and the Pittwater – the playground of the rich and famous.

The scenery is truly stunning and unforgettable as your seaplane gently glides over the vast bushland of the Hawkesbury region and Bouddi National Park, and then lands at Hardys Bay, where our staff await your arrival at Pretty Beach Wharf. A return seaplane flight to Sydney will complete your indulgent stay. POA with Sydney Seaplanes. 

TAXI

Our local Taxi company is Central Coast Cabs.

Stunning Destination

Surrounded by ancient angophoras and with views through wild eucalypts to a sparkling bay, Pretty Beach House is truly a rare find. It’s a sophisticated lodge in a wondrous setting just 90 minutes’ drive north of Sydney.

The serene and quintessentially Australian bushland setting of Bouddi National Park offers rest and relaxation to nature lovers looking for an idyllic escape within a pristine environment, without forgoing the luxuries of a world-class hotel. Located on the southernmost point of the New South Wales Central Coast, our luxurious retreat is nestled in an area of extraordinary natural beauty. Yet it’s only a 20-minute ferry trip from Sydney’s famous Palm Beach or an exhilarating 20-minute flight from Sydney city by helicopter or seaplane.

Bouddi Peninsula is made of up wild escarpments of apricot-coloured sandstone cliffs and spectacular coastal walks offering panoramic ocean views. Lobster Beach, Box Head and the surf break at Tallow Beach are all within easy walking distance, while Killcare surf beach, Putty Beach, magical Maitland Bay and the quaint seaside villages of Killcare, Wagstaffe and Hardys Bay are all close by.

The word ‘Bouddi’ is the local Aboriginal name for the area. It has various meanings in Aboriginal languages, however, it’s most commonly thought to mean 'heart'. Bouddi Peninsula is a very significant landscape on the New South Wales Central Coast, with around 100 Aboriginal sites recorded in the park and nearby areas, with many more sites, likely to exist. Sites include rock engravings, grinding grooves, rock shelters with drawings and paintings, middens and other archaeological deposits. We are lucky enough to have three Aboriginal artworks (dating back more than 2,000 years) situated right at the doorstep of our luxury retreat. These rock carvings are of animals from the sea: a dolphin and two fish.

Pretty Beach House ~ Once you arrive, you'll never want to leave.

Sacred Ground

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we live – the Darkinjung people. It is upon their ancestral lands that Pretty Beach House stands among the ancient angophoras, wild bush tucker and sandstone cliffs. They are the spiritual and cultural owners of this land.

We acknowledge our Elders past, present and emerging and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

By way of recognising our extraordinary location, Indigenous peoples and spiritual heritage, we are proud to offer you an Indigenous Welcome Smoking Ceremony, incorporating dance and didgeridoo around the fire, as an additional experience. You’ll hear ancient Dreamtime stories, listen to the unique sounds of the didgeridoo and clappers and watch on as the ceremony unfolds. This experience is a highlight for many guests at Pretty Beach House, and offers time to reflect on the true spirit of Australia.

There are over 100 significant Aboriginal sites recorded within Bouddi National Park. Sites include rock engravings, grinding grooves, rock shelters with drawings and paintings, middens and other archaeological deposits. These sites provide valuable insight into the local Aboriginal peoples’ traditions, lifestyles and interactions with the environment, and are an important part of our culture today. The word 'Bouddi' is the local Aboriginal name for the area and has become synonymous with the national park and the surrounding lands. It has various meanings in Aboriginal languages, however, it’s most commonly known to mean 'heart'.

There is a rare piece of rock art at the doorstep of our lodge dating back approximately 2,000 years. The drawings are of totem figures of two fish and a dolphin. In Aboriginal culture, totems can represent plant life, insect life, the sky world and animals of the land and sea.

There are many Dreamtime stories about their creation. Come along and hear them with us.

The Design

With a sophisticated style of Australian casual elegance and luxury, Pretty Beach House is the embodiment of relaxed luxury.

Interior designer Michelle Leslie collaborated with many local artisans and craftspersons to create an inviting, warm, luxurious guesthouse in its purest form. The overall feeling you’ll experience is of a true connection to the earth. A spirit of place in its most raw of form. A place where heart and soul have been the driving force for all of the artists working on the house. The main building is intimate, solid and authentic, with a mix of repurposed and new, brass and stone, timber and travertine. With locally sourced sandstone and hand-made mud bricks, there is character and rawness, and incredible beauty and charm.

The acclaimed final result is a sophisticated and timeless design that is sensitive to the beautiful natural surrounds. Collaborations with Australian designers such as Melbourne-based industrial designer Christopher Boots and Sydney-based interior creative Kate Nixon have resulted in an extraordinary level of style and sophistication in this remarkable retreat.

The main house is the heart of the property, built with hand-made mud bricks from Bowral, in the Southern Highlands south-west of Sydney, and huge hand-crafted timber posts from a decommissioned bridge in Queensland. The main house is a shared space for guests, with a spectacular dining room, lounging area, cocktail bar, intimate dining space, wine cellar, open fireplace, infinity pool and a hand-made Stefano Ferrara pizza oven.

The décor makes a simple, distinctive statement, with handcrafted furniture and fine Busatti Italian linen hand-made on an artisan loom that’s over 350 years old. Hand-made brass pendant lights are suspended from exposed beams, while an incredible hand-forged brass countertop stands strong and purposeful in the communal bar. All of the interiors, including the bespoke soft furnishings, are inspired by the colours and textures of the surrounding bush landscape.

With 4 luxurious pavilions in and surrounding the main house on the seven and a half-acre property, Pretty Beach House can sleep 8 adults at any one time. The 4 exclusive, private pavilions have names that describe their best feature: Treetops (with its penthouse position above the main house), Bayview, Hideaway and The Retreat. All have views through a mass of ancient angophoras down to the sparkling waters of Pretty Beach.

Ethos

Creating memorable experiences for you is the core of our philosophy at Pretty Beach House. You’re welcomed as if you were a visitor to a private home, where all dining, premium beverages, local transfers and mountain biking are included. Our all-inclusive rate makes a luxury weekend getaway an effortless experience.

Not long after we opened our doors, Pretty Beach House was awarded the Harper's Bazaar Luxury Reborn Award for Experience in Travel for ‘creating the quintessential Australian getaway’ in the Contemporary Hotels, Beach House and Villas category. Pretty Beach House was also listed first on the Hot Hotels of Australia list by US Condé Nast Traveller that same year. US Condé Nast Traveller also added our lodge to its Gold List.

Whether it be for a honeymoon or simply a romantic weekend away, our small lodge offers unsurpassed luxury to ensure your stay is unforgettable.

Dining is a highlight of any stay at Pretty Beach House. You can indulge in our chef’s creations in the main dining area or al fresco on the beautifully landscaped property, or have a quiet dinner in your pavilion. The daily menus feature seasonal cuisine incorporating freshly picked produce from our vegetable patch.

An extensive range of premium wines and spirits has been selected to complete the gastronomic experience. For those looking further, the wine cellar (carefully curated by owner Brian Barry and the house sommelier) is stocked with rare old- and new-world wines.

Bouddi Spa is a private haven for in-house guests to escape and de-stress with spa treatments thoughtfully designed to rebalance the synergy between mind, body and soul. Pure Australian botanical products from the premium organic iKOU skincare range are featured in our boutique spa.

At Pretty Beach House, your luxury getaway experience will be above and beyond.