BELLS IS BIGGER AND BETTER
Bells is bigger and better - Luxury Travel Magazine
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| By: Craig Tansly | ||||||
| CRAIG TANSLY LOOKS AT THE LATEST ADDITIONS TO ONE OF THE CENTRAL COAST'S MOST WELL-KNOWN LUXURY PROPERTIES. Bells at Killcare on the Central Coast has more than doubled in size – expanding its number of rooms from 11 to 25 with the addition of deluxe suites and villas in November 2011. Bells has also launched a new cooking school showcasing the fresh, simple, sustainable Italian food its award-winning restaurant, Manfredi at Bells, is renowned for (it uses produce grown within its own on-site gardens). Bells at Killcare is located in the Bouddi National Park – an 1,189-hectare area of spectacular coastal landform and bush land straddled between the pristine and deserted ocean beaches and bays of the lower Central Coast and the sheltered, sprawling estuaries of Brisbane Waters. It’s set within beautifully manicured native gardens, home to native birds and animals. The 14 new rooms – which are made up of king suites, two storey cottages and lakeside villas – are decorated in classic Hamptons blue and white. They are positioned within the current Bells villas, all set within landscaped gardens and restored lakes and ponds. | ||||||
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| The architectural vision behind the new rooms is to remind guests of summers past based on a palette of washed back blues, bleached linens and driftwood. The king beds have Ralph Lauren bed heads, throw cushions, hand-woven blankets and comforters, with rooms also offering individual fire places. It’s the attention to detail in the new rooms that really impresses, from the French oak desks to the marbled-topped washstands and the large stand-alone baths to the outdoor rattan furniture and day beds which allow you to spend whole days outside listening to the abundant wildlife in the area. You can access over 20 walking trails within Bouddi National Park, all located within 10 kilometres of the property. These include 10 kilometre-long scenic hikes along the area’s stunning, empty coastline amongst wildflowers as well as short walks through forest to otherwise unreachable beach locations like Little Beach. You’re also within a 20-minute drive of some of the state’s best surfing and ocean swimming beaches like MacMasters and Avoca Beach. Bells at Killcare Cooking School began with a master class with Manfredi at Bells head chef Cameron Cansdell in March. However, because of the restaurant’s solid reputation (it has held one chef hat status in the Good Food Guide since its first year of operation in 2008, and also this year won Best Regional Wine List in the Good Food Guide awards), the classes are booked out till June (at the time of writing). The cooking classes are for between eight and 15 guests and cost A$150 per person, running from 9am till 2.30pm and finishing with a sit-down feast matched with wines. | ||||||
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| Adding to the extra accommodation offering and the cooking school, Bells at Killcare is now serving breakfast to in-house guests. The menu covers a large array of dishes, showcasing the garden’s seasonal produce, including spinach and fromart d’aplage cocotte and Eggs Benedict with preservative free ham. Meals are served in the estate’s stunning Manor House, either out on the verandah overlooking the gardens or in the Manor House’s elegant dining room. Bells at Killcare has also just opened The Conservatory – a new purpose-built function room seating up to 120 guests for high-end weddings and conferences. Bed and breakfast packages (which include a night’s accommodation for two adults with breakfast for two) at Bells at Killcare start at A$350 per night, mid-week, A$450 per night on weekends (minimum two nights). For more information go to bellsatkillcare.com.au, or call 02 4349 7000. | ||||||
| Getting there | ||||||
| Bells at Killcare is around one and a half hours drive north of Sydney. | ||||||
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