Serene and quintessentially Australian bushland setting

Your Arrival

For the ultimate indulgence take a panoramic flight to or from Pretty Beach House. See the famous Sydney Harbour in its entirety from the sky, the awe-inspiring Opera House, the iconic Harbour Bridge, the beautiful golden beaches including Palm Beach & Pittwater - the playground of the rich and famous.
The scenery is truly stunning and unforgettable as you gently glide over vast bushland of the Hawkesbury region and the Bouddi National Park, and then land at Hardy's Bay where our staff await your arrival at the Pretty Beach Wharf.

POA

Stunning Destination

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

The serene and quintessentially Australian bushland setting of the NSW Bouddi National Park, offers rest and relaxation to nature lovers looking for an idyllic escape within a pristine environment without forgoing all of the luxuries of world class hotel. Located on the southern most point of the NSW Central Coast, our luxurious retreat is nestled within the beauty of mother nature and is only a 20 minute ferry trip from Sydney's famous Palm Beach or an exhilarating 20min flight from Sydney (by helicopter or seaplane).

The Bouddi Peninsula is made of up wild escapements of apricot 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 is more commonly thought to mean 'heart'. The Bouddi Peninsula is a very significant landscape on the Central Coast with around 100 Aboriginal sites recorded in the park and nearby areas and many more sites are likely to exist. Sites include rock engravings, grinding grooves, rock shelters with art (drawings and paintings), middens and other archeological 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, fish & whale.

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 amongst the ancient angophoras, wild bush tucker and sandstone cliffs. They are the spiritual and cultural owners of this land.

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

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

There are over 100 significant Aboriginal sites that have been recorded within Bouddi National Park. Sites include rock engravings, grinding grooves, rock shelters with art (drawings and paintings), middens and other archeological deposits. Aboriginal sites provide valuable insight into traditions, lifestyles and interaction 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 is most commonly known to mean 'heart'.

There is a rare piece of rock art at the doorstep of our lodge dating back approx 2,000 years. The drawings are of totem figures of two fish and a dolphin. In Aboriginal culture, Totems represent all living things of the environments, that includes all 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 perfect example of relaxed luxury.

Interior designer, Michelle Leslie collaborated with many local artisans and craftspersons, to create an inviting, warm and luxurious guesthouse in its purist form. The overall feeling is that of a true connection to the earth. 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 and embracing a new chapter of its life. The main building is intimate, it feels safe, solid and authentic, with a mix of repurposed and new, brass and stone, timber and travertine. The sandstone is locally sourced, the mud bricks each touched by hand, there is character and rawness, with incredible beauty and charm throughout the main house.

A sophisticated and timeless home design that is sensitive to the beautiful natural surrounds of Pretty Beach House, is the acclaimed final result. Collaborations with other local designers like Christopher Boots (Melbourne based industrial designer) and Kate Nixon (Sydney based interior creative) have resulted in an extraordinary level of style and sophistication for this remarkable retreat.

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

The décor is simple and strong, with handcrafted furniture and fine Italian Busatti linen, hand loomed by a third generation artisan loom which is over 350 years old. Hand made brass pendant lights are suspended from the exposed beams, and the incredible hand-forged brass counter top stands strong and purposeful in the communal bar. All interiors and the unique bespoke soft furnishings are inspired by the colours and textures of the surrounding bush and landscape.

With 4 luxurious pavilions, 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 and private pavilions have names that describe their best feature: Treetops (penthouse position above the main house), Bayview, Hideaway & The Retreat (2 stories). All have views through a mass of ancient angophoras down to the sparkling bay waters of Pretty Beach.

Ethos

Our guests memorable experience is the core of our philosophy at Pretty Beach House. Guests are welcomed as if in a private home where all dining, premium beverages, local transfers and mountain biking are included. Our all-inclusive rate make the total experience effortless for a luxury weekend getaway.

Upon opening 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 Conde Nast Traveller USA that same year.

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

The cuisine is a highlight of any visit to Pretty Beach House and guests may choose to dine in the main dining area, al-fresco on the beautifully landscaped property or a quiet dinner in your pavilion. The daily menus feature seasonal  cuisine, including freshly picked produce from our vege patch.

An extensive range of premium wines and spirits have been selected to complete the gastronomic experience. For those looking even further, the wine cellar (carefully curated by 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 that have been thoughtfully designed to rebalance the synergy between mind, body & 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.