Want to take a sleep back in time and play lighthouse keeper for the weekend?
Here are five Australian lighthouses which have seen the light, offering comfortable cottages and quirky accommodation:
1. Montague Island, NSW South Coast
Montague Island Lighthouse, off Narooma, NSW.
Two lighthouse keeper’s cottages on Montague Island (NSW South Coast ) have reopened to guests. With a penguin colony (of around 12,000), visitors can tour the island on a day trip (eurobodalla.com.au ), explore on a night tour, or sleep overnight in one of the refurbished cottages. A two-night package with transfers, tours, plus the five-bedroom head keeper’s cottage is $3600 (sleeps up to 12).
2. Cape Byron, Byron Bay
Lighthouse Keepe,rs Cottage, Cape Byron, NSW.
Overlooking Cape Byron, each of these two three-bedroom keeper’s cottages has a kitchen, laundry and period furniture, with the added privilege of rising with the sun at Australia’s most easterly point. The Byron Bay Lighthouse . from $697 per night.
3. Sugarloaf Point, Seal Rocks, NSW
Sugarloaf Point, Seal Rocks, NSW.
Relax in one of three cottages at this secluded Seal Rocks lighthouse, which boasts beach views from the master bedrooms. From $450 per night during whale season (May–September).
4. Cape Otway, Great Ocean Road
Cape Otway Lightstation, Great Ocean Road, Victoria.
The Southern Ocean can be volatile, but Australia’s oldest lighthouse has guided sailors safely to shore since 1848. The Cape Otway Lightstation sleeps up to 16 in four renovated bedrooms and has a beautiful old-style wood stove and open fire place. From $450 per night.
5. Cape Borda, Kangaroo Island
Cape Borda lighthouse, Kangaroo Island.
Located at the south-west tip of Kangaroo Island, Cape Borda lighthouse getaway offers a more secluded option for travellers in a three-bedroom lodge, a self-contained cabin, and a quaint single-room stone cabin. From $219 per night.
Luxury meets hyper-local hospitality with an exclusive Christmas stay package and menu you’ll want to be present for.
An Aussie Christmas is like no other. December signals the start of summer, celebrations and festive cheer. While Mariah Carey might not have defrosted just yet, we’ve got less than 100 days left of the year. So it’s time to start planning. Christmas at Park Hyatt Sydney is reimagined with a luxurious festive stay package. Celebrate with a curated summer tote, a special seasonal menu that captures the flavours of a Sydney summer and cocktails crafted to capture the spirit of a harbourside Christmas.
This is your sign to skip the end-of-year chaos and let Christmas be taken care of for you.
A stay at Park Hyatt
Gaze out from your balcony to see Sydney’s icons.
If you love a room with a view, imagine waking up on Christmas Day to the sound of waves and a sunrise over the iconic Sydney Opera House. Step out to your private balcony to soak in the sun, and you’ll find you’re on the doorstep to the coastal cobblestone charm of Sydney’s very own Christmas boulevard, The Rocks.
Enter Park Hyatt Sydney, a 155-room harbour-side hotel, centered in the beating heart of a historic neighbourhood, seamlessly blending life’s little luxuries with living like a local. Spend long, summer days lounging by the rooftop pool with 360-degree views of this harbour city or indulge in tailored treatments at The Spa.
Spend summer days by the rooftop pool.
Be seated in The Dining Room, overlooking sparkling waters, to taste the vibrancy of an Australian summer. Led by Executive Chef Tyson Gee, discover a lunch and dinner menu that heroes coastal ingredients.
The festive stay package
Park Hyatt Sydney has introduced a festive stay package to up the Christmas spirit. Guests will enjoy an overnight stay in a guest room or suite with uninterrupted views, valet parking and a full breakfast for two in The Dining Room.
The Summer Kit
Take home a branded tote bag.
Because it’s an Aussie Christmas, guests booking the package will also receive a curated, limited-edition Summer Christmas kit stocked with seasonal luxuries, including the hotel’s first-ever branded merch.
Think a signature Park Hyatt Sydney sun cap and Aesop sunscreen valued at $300, all in a branded luxury tote bag. This kit will also be available for purchase throughout December, if you’re in need of any gift ideas.
The details
The festive stay package applies to stays from 1 – 27 December, with a limited number of suites available. Guests can book using the exclusive offer code XMAS25 on parkhyattsydney.com . They can also call +61 2 9256 1234 or email sydney.park.accommodation@hyatt.com.
Christmas dining
Taste a special Christmas menu at The Dining Room.
For the gourmands who want to participate in the festivities but are unable to stay as an overnight guest, Park Hyatt Sydney can still be your Christmas go-to. Taste Chef Tyson Gee’s themed culinary creations throughout December .
From 1 – 24 December, diners can book a Christmas Afternoon Tea from $95 pp. Prepare for Christmas flavours like braised turkey pie with cranberry gel, plus gingerbread and salted vanilla bûche de Noël and a chocolate hazelnut bauble for dessert.
On Christmas Day, The Dining Room and The Living Room will both offer a five-course menu from $425 per person. Start with a glass of NV Taittinger Champagne on arrival – accompanied by Sydney’s finest seafood – and end with a reimagined mango pavlova, with rice pudding and pink peppercorn.
“Our vision was to capture the flavours of a harbourside Australian Christmas,” says Gee. “Guests will enjoy seafood at its best, from fresh oysters to cured ocean trout, paired with tropical fruit accents and festive touches like glazed Berkshire ham and roast duck. Every dish has been imagined for a harbourside Christmas celebration.”
Guests can also enjoy a range of seasonal cocktails crafted by Head Mixologist Kevin Botte, including the Christmas Negroni, Christmas Mulled Wine and a Christmas Cocktail/Mocktail.
Exploring Sydney
The best of Sydney is right on your doorstep.
For those planning a visit, Christmas at Park Hyatt Sydney means you’re perfectly situated to explore the best of Sydney.
The hotel is mere steps away from the icons, from Sydney Opera House to the Harbour Bridge, along with the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Add open-air galleries full of murals and explore the nearby cobblestone streets.
Head to the charming Rocks Markets, where the streets transform with seasonal Christmas creations, of the artisan and foodie variety. Then head over to Dawes Point Park for a picnic under the bridge.
Find more 360-degree rooftop views at the Glenmore, or listen to live music at Brewhouse at Squire’s Landing from Wednesday to Sunday (times vary). There’s something for everyone.
