Pretty Beach House, Pretty Beach, NSW, Australia

After a pleasant 90-minute drive up from Sydney, we drive up the steep, tree-shadowed driveway to Pretty Beach House.

We are met by Geoffrey Veivers, the general manager and learn the lay of the land of this magnificent property that has hosted many celebrity guests, including business magnate Bill Gates and his family. Tucked away in Bouddi National Park, the property is absolutely beautiful with luxury, nature and elegance dancing together to create an enclave of peace and tranquillity.

Sit in the library upstairs overlooking the pool and lovely Hardy’s Bay in the morning sun, near the bar in the afternoon admiring the Arthur Boyd painting and relax by the fire downstairs before dinner, gazing at the John Olsen classic hanging over the fireplace. One evening, we adjourn to the outdoor lounges around the fire pit and are treated to a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country by local indigenous elder Tim and his friends. It is fascinating.

There are two accommodation options in the main house – Treetops and The Retreat – and two stand-alone pavilions – Hideaway and Bayview – planted among the eucalypts, Gymea lillies, lilly pilly, banksia and bottlebrush. We are in Hideaway and the name truly suits. We love the adjustable bed with its divine Busatti linen, the bathroom is magnificent and the lounge room has a turntable and a good selection of albums to play. Outside, we have a private plunge pool with a day bed – perfect for reading the book of the moment with an accompaniment of tuneful bird calls. As for the food, it is absolutely outstanding. Breakfast and lunch are wonderful and chef Duncan Kemmi outdoes himself with the degustation dinner. A walk through the National Park to

Box Head dissolves some calories and a blissful massage at the spa downstairs evaporates any guilt over food intake. With food this good in a place this wonderful, it is so easy to forget all about the worries of the world. prettybeachhouse.com