Hotel Spotlight: Halcyon House

Tropical Pool Vibes| | Halcyon House

Steps from the shores of picturesque Cabarita Beach, Australia, a classic surf motel has been transformed into an ultra luxe beach oasis.

Halcyon House is a twenty-one room boutique hotel located in Cabarita Beach, New South Wales just a short drive from Byron Bay. Traces of it's 1960's surf motel origin can be found throughout the hotel.

The word Halcyon means idyllically happy and peaceful; that is exactly what you can expect from a stay at Halcyon House. From the blue and white hues adorning the property to the tropical foliage, it's a place where the biggest worry you have is deciding between laying by the pool or at the beach. It's exactly the "tough" life decisions we should make on vacation. 

With only twenty-one rooms, Halcyon House has an intimate vibe; guests are treated with the utmost care from the moment their room is booked. A dedicated specialist will reach out to confirm your arrival time and to see if they can arrange dinner reservations or special activities during your stay.

It's the exact kind of personal travel service Sapphire & Elm expects, seeks, and recommends.

The white facade of the building is instantly inviting and not to mention Instagram worthy. We arrived early afternoon after driving in from the Gold Coast. Reception was warm and welcoming and knew exactly who we were when we arrived, even gave us a handwritten personal note. A really nice touch to make that guest feel extra special and something that is not likley to happen at a large hotel.

Halcyon House| Cabarita Beach, NSW

We were given the option to head straight to our room or head to the bar for a welcome drink. After a long day of travel, we of course opted for the bar.

While we were basking in the beauty of the decor and the cozy seating area, hotel staff took our car keys and unloaded our car. Can't say that level of service happens all too often!

It was really difficult to pull ourselves away from the bar with perfectly crafted cocktails and decor. I mean check out the gold pineapple barware.

The Bar at Halcyon House

After the entry, I was dying to check out our room. We stayed in an ocean superior room on the third floor which meant unobstructed ocean views. I was practically giddy waiting to see my new home for the next few days!

One step inside the room and I was delighted by the charming decor.

The blue hues were continued in our room which gave me an overwhelming since of calmness. That was  coupled with the ocean view that could be seen through the floor to ceiling sliding door the instant you step through the door.

It's the type of room where you never want to leave but Halcyon House is the type of hotel that offers guest so much to explore. It's impossible not to leave the room eventually. Again, life can be so rough.

The bathrooms are spacious with marble counters and brass accents, white subway tile as a backslash and pretty patterned blue tile on the floor; the perfect coastal bathroom. It's everything you would want out of a hotel bathroom or one in your own home.

Cozy at Halcyon House
Halcyon House Interiors
Halcyon House Room

Can we just admire how the lamp fits into the gallery wall like art? We are gushing over here!

Speaking of decor, Halcyon House was masterfully designed by Anna Spiro. Anna turned a bare bone space into a beautifully curated hotel that pays homage to not only the coastal location but the original motel. From the art on the walls down to the tile, no detailed is left untouched. In fact, no two guest rooms at Halcyon House are alike. Anna also designed the hotels restaurant and bar.

Halcyon House is home to Paper Daisy Restaurant. This isn't just a typical hotel restaurant but an award winning establishment headed by young and celebrated chef Ben Devlin (Queensland’s Chef of Year 2014). The restaurant not only serves the hotel but attracts hoards of locals from surrounding areas. Reservations are a must.

For dinner, Paper Daisy offers a three or four course tasting menu highlighting local coastal cuisine. Paper Daisy also serves lunch in the restaurant or snacks pools side. This isn't your average pool food. Think kangaroo tartar or tomato and handmade mozzarella salad. 

For those staying at Halcyon House, breakfast is included with your room. Nothing like waking up to coffee and pancakes with passionfruit and fresh berries on your oceanfront balcony!

Paper Daisy | Halcyon House
Pool Side Snacks| Halcyon House
The Patio at Halcyon House.jpg
Breakfast with a View| Halcyon House

Amenities & Experiences at the Halcyon House

In terms of amenities, for a small hotel, Halcyon House packs a big punch. The rooms come with a well stocked, complimentary mini bar that includes snacks, beer and wine.

Headed out for a beach day but forgot a beach bag? Each room comes with a complimentary tote that is yours to take when your leave.  A lovely touch since I always forget to bring a beach bag with me when I travel.

If you don't have a car with you but want to explore the region, you can use one for their two Audi A1s. The hotel has bikes available to ride around town, lawn games like croquet and bocce ball, board games for when you need a rest, and they can set up a beach picnic for you.

Halcyon House Pool

If you simply want to relax, look no further than the pool at Halcyon House. It is truley one of the prettiest hotel pools I've seen in my travels. The plush loungers are white and blue stripped and line the pool on each side. Sit back and relax and the friendly staff is there to help you stay hydrated with pool side drinks.

My personal favorite of all the amenities? The pillow menu. If you don't like the pillow on the bed you can choose from a selection that best fit your preference. I thought the pillows on the bed were perfect but it's always nice to have options!

 The Spa at Halcyon House was  in the final stages of construction during our stay but is now open to hotel guests and the community. In keeping with the Halcyon House theme it is of course to die for.

Getting to Halcyon House and Exploring the Region

Cabarita Beach, NSW
Views from Cabarita Beach

Halcyon House is a two hour drive south of Brisbane International Airport and just 15 minutes south of the Gold Coast Airport. Transportation from the Gold Coast Airport can be arranged by the hotel if you don't have a vehicle.

Halcyon House is in the perfect location where you feel like you are in a secluded oasis but have access to surrounding areas. Cabarita Beach is stunning and  never feels crowded. The hotel has beach access just steps from the pool. It really feels like you are cheating the system to have such a pristine, gorgeous beach to yourself. There is a also a headland a short walk south of the hotel that offers pretty epic ocean views and is the perfect spot to watch the sunrise or sunset.

Byron Bay is a 40 minute scenic drive from the hotel and makes for a perfect day trip, especially The Farm in Byron Bay; a haven for sustainable foodies.

Dying to stay at Halcyon House? Contact us to book your stay and plan your one-of-a-kind trip to Australia. 

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