Bells at Killcare’s New Architecturally-Designed Lodges Are Just About Perfect / By Madelin Tomelty

At the NSW Central Coast favourite Bells at Killcare, luxe new lodges are catering to a discerning traveller with an eye for design and detail – and they don’t disappoint

There is a moment in the cult 90s film, Four Weddings and a Funeral, where Andie MacDowell’s character, Carrie, being wooed by Hugh Grant’s Charles in the middle of a torrential downpour, famously says: “Is it still raining? I hadn’t noticed.” I could say the same of my current situation at Bells at Killcare Boutique Hotel, Resort & Spa on the NSW Central Coast.

Sitting in front of a cosy gas fire with a glass of Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve in hand, a delicious snack of crumbed suckling pig fritter with celeriac remoulade before me, and feeling the zen after-effects of a massage so good it lands in my top ten massages ever – I’m finding it’s not such a bad thing for your holiday to be rained out when it means staying put in one of the hotel’s luxe new lodges.

Bells at Killcare, with its gorgeous location surrounded by the Bouddi National Park, has long been an institution on the NSW Central Coast. Since it opened in 2007, this family-run hotel has been a popular weekend break for Sydneysiders in particular, thanks to it’s proximity to countless stretches of sandy beaches, ample bush walks and, of course, the promise of beautiful, Hamptons-inspired accommodation.

While the Hamptons aesthetic is still the signature style on show at the property (think lush green lawns, box-hedge-trimmed gardens along with cottages and suites showcasing driftwood walls, wide-striped awnings and Ralph Lauren furnishings), it’s a very different experience in the property’s four architecturally-designed lodges, which opened in February this year.

The Lodges’ design

Gone is the white and blue palette, the signature Adirondack chairs and pops of rattan and wicker in my Bouddi Lodge – the most private of the four.

Instead, our expansive three-storey free-standing house showcases a decidedly on-trend interior of neutral tones with splashes of sage green, warm woods, brass, leather, stone and layers of cosy, textured soft furnishings. I am taken aback by the scale of the accommodation, which I had not expected, and the impeccable quality of the design and finishes as I explore the open-plan living area, occupying its own level.

There is a full kitchen and fully stocked bar – ideal for those enjoying a longer stay and keen to alternate dining out with staying in – and the light-flooded living room features two three-seater lounges, that lovely gas fire and wraparound balcony. But it doesn’t stop there. An outdoor stairwell takes you up to the third level to an alfresco conversation pit – aptly named the Sunset Deck – boasting views over the National Park and out to Broken Bay, Palm Beach and the city.

Downstairs, two beautifully designed bedrooms feature their own enclosed terrace looking out to the bush, and each king size bed can be made into twin beds at your request – ideal for couples travelling with kids (like my husband and me). Each bedroom boasts a striking oversized ensuite with underfloor heating that has me taking mental notes for the day when, if I’m lucky, I can design my dream bathroom.

The shine of the dark green tiles and brass tapware is softened by an inviting egg-shaped freestanding stone tub and warm wooden accessories, while sliding doors open to an outdoor shower, altogether creating a spa-like retreat that nods to the bushland surrounds.

The amenities are considered, and the fragrance of the hotel’s branded Bouddi toiletries, made using Australian botanicals, is deliciously addictive. A full laundry is also on offer – again, designed for longer stays – and, outside, there’s a magnesium salt water pool (heated to 24 degrees), daybeds, an outdoor shower and a neat barbecue dining area.

It’s absolutely clear: this is no ordinary accommodation. And that, of course, was precisely the point when owners Karina and Brian Barry decided to debut a new category of accommodation at Bells that nodded to the Australian style of the couple’s other much-loved NSW coastal retreat: Pretty Beach House.

“The beauty of bringing high-end wilderness lodges to Bells at Killcare is that you can feel worlds away, within a pleasant 90-minute drive North from Sydney,” Karina Barry says. I couldn’t agree more: From my home in Sydney’s Upper North Shore, it takes just 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to Bells – barely more than many an office worker’s daily commute.

And the moment my family and I arrive, my husband and I seem to audibly exhale, plonking ourselves down on the lounge without a word, to admire the Australian flora in the rain beyond the glass doors.

Dining & amenities

The experience on offer at The Lodges matches the quality of the accommodation itself: five star. All stays in The Lodges are fully-inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner (excluding alcohol).

Each evening, guests of the Lodges can choose an evening tipple – from an extensive menu of cocktails, champagne, wine and beer – by calling or texting lodge manager, Emma Barry, on the mobile number provided. Before you know it, she’s at your door with your chilled drinks and a generous, chef-prepared snack to whet your appetite for the evening ahead.

For dinner, guests can choose to dine at the on-site restaurant, The Wild Flower Bar and Dining, and enjoy a three-course a la carte menu or the Chef’s Tasting Menu; or order room service. We do both during our stay, and the meals are delivered in beautiful wooden boxes and set up on the dining table, creating an environment that makes you feel right at home.

Dining at the restaurant is a surprisingly casual affair, and I can’t help but feel that the business, bright lighting and noisy semi-exposed kitchen is at odds with the elegance of the rest of the property, and certainly, of The Lodges.

The food itself is excellent, though, and we sample plenty of dishes from the menu across our two days at the property, from the melt-in-your-mouth chicken liver parfait to the delicious Murray Cod fillet with sea succulents, the tender 200-gram grilled 2GR wagyu rump and, of course, freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters with mignonette dressing.

For lunch, we opt for a delicious beef pie from the artisan Bells Bakery & Larder to enjoy in our lodge during another deluge, but when weather permits there is also the option of a barbecue hamper to cook on the outdoor barbecue by the pool, or a picnic hamper to take with you if you plan to head out and explore the area.

Special touches

Other considered touches guests of The Lodges experience include freshly baked bread delivered to your lodge each morning in a wicker basket (you can find jams and butter in the fridge); and nightly turndown service.

The Bells Day Spa, too, as I hinted at already, exceeds expectations and is an absolute must-do while at the hotel. The spa might be small, but the treatments are mighty.

I experience the property’s Signature Bouddi Massage, and am lulled into a state of deep relaxation by my excellent therapist, who executes the perfect balance of relaxing strokes and tension-melting pressure. Meanwhile, the sounds and smells of Indigenous Australia fill the air, adding an authentic, local aspect to the experience.

As for what’s in the hotel’s backyard? Trickling streams, swathes of green and chickens roaming just beyond the hotel’s gorgeous Hamptons-style pool (replete with a quirky pool bar that works on an honour system).

Then there’s the area surrounding Bells at Killcare. You could easily spend every daylight hour over a weekend exploring the bushwalks (Bouddi coastal walk, Maitland Bay track, Bullimar spur trail, to name a few) and beaches (Killcare, Tallow, Little Tallow and Bullimah), located a stone’s throw from the hotel.

But, with the property’s luxe new lodges on offer, why would you want to leave?

Rates at the Lodges at Bells at Killcare start from $750 per person, per night for 4 adults, inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner, for a minimum two-night stay.

Children aged 0-3 years are free of charge, while children aged 4-13 years are offered a child rate. The hotel is currently running an all-inclusive seasonal special offer of $599 per person, per night for four adults, or $898 per person per night for two adults. The offer is valid for stays from April 1st 2024–30th September 2024.

bellsatkillcare.com.au