Retro motels are making a comeback in road trip itineraries – and these charming motel stays are far from old-fashioned.
Motels were once a popular choice in Australia for road trip stopovers with their neon signs, bold colours and budget prices. But a shift in tastes saw these icons disappear, making way for beachside high-rise developments. Fast forward a few decades, and retro motels are enjoying a resurgence, with a growing collection reviving the quintessential Aussie beach holiday.
It’s a trend we don’t see waning, with Australian travellers looking to support local businesses with a focus on sustainable travel, upcycling and vintage. From the modest to the ultra-glamorous, these reimagined motels offer nostalgia, style and charm in spades.
1. The Monty, Anglesea, Vic
The Monty's breeze-block pool area channels serious Palm Springs energy.
The Monty’s bathrooms are bright and playful.
Nina is in the main reception building.
The Great Ocean Road’s motel scene has had its own glow-up with The Monty, a Palm Springs-inspired reinvention right on the Anglesea River. Vintage meets modern throughout the property’s 16 rooms, with playful, locally commissioned artwork, blackout drapes and minibars giving each space its own personality, while dedicated DDA-compliant rooms ensure the retro glow-up hasn’t left accessibility behind.
Outside, a breeze-block pool area surrounded by desert-inspired plants is the obvious drawcard on a warm Surf Coast afternoon, while onsite cantina Nina serves up coastal Californian-Mexican dishes and margaritas overlooking the river. It’s an easy walk to Anglesea’s Main Beach and boardwalk from the front door, making it one of the better-positioned retro stays for anyone road-tripping the Great Ocean Road.
2. Dolphins Motel, Mollymook, NSW
Step into the Retro King room.
Just moments from Mollymook Beach, Dolphins Hotel reopened in June. Previously a regular roadside stay, it’s been transformed into a retro-inspired coastal retreat with 10 boutique rooms, a three-bedroom apartment for larger groups, a pool, native gardens and on-site Dolly’s Cafe. Think mid-century-inspired design, paired with a tasty menu championing regional South Coast producers. All wrapped up with that surf-town flair.
3. Kyneton Springs Motel, Vic
The neon sign is hard to miss.
The Kyneton Springs Motel has debuted a new eye-catching retro aesthetic following a refurbishment. The motel is bold and adventurous, with its fizzy neon sign and individually curated kitschy-cool rooms. While its design leans towards Palm Springs’s classic design, the experience is a nod to the great Australian road trip.
Filled with nostalgic vibes, the motor inn offers 20 curated suites, each boasting luxurious comforts and an Insta-worthy décor. Outside their rooms, guests can enjoy a cocktail in the pastel-hued shade of The Patio, grab a bite from the diner-inspired menu at Cathie’s Kiosk or browse the gift shop.
4. Blue Water Motel, Kingscliff, NSW
Blue Water Motel sports fresh peach and lemon tones of the 60’s to complete the coastal vibe. (Credit: Blue Water Motel)
Just down the road from the iconic Halcyon House, you’ll find Blue Water Motel in Kingscliff. This modest motel has had a modern makeover by renowned designer Jason Grant, sporting fresh peach/lemon tones of the 60’s that will have you craving gelato to complete the coastal vibe.
“From the very start, it was clear what the Blue Water Motel should be – relaxed and a bit retro. We didn’t want to lose any of the original charm or nostalgia to the Aussie surf coast motel," Grant said.
“Painting the exterior soft pale blue was a given. We kept the best elements and added details that felt like they belonged, and also improved and streamlined the spaces. We stripped it back and opened it up, injecting colours and materials that made it feel relaxed but elevated, coastal but not too beachy. And in the process created a little bit of modern retro coastal cool in Kingscliff".
The result is luxe for less, an indulgent stay without the premium price tag.
5. Mysa Motel, Palm Beach, Qld
The kidney-shaped swimming pool and retro sun loungers are the stars of the show. (Image: Soda Shades)
The Mysa Motel (pronounced mee-sa) ethos is a modern twist on retro Gold Coast. Husband and wife team Eliza and Jason Raine rescued the Palm Trees Motel from demolition and lovingly transformed the motel with great consideration and sustainability in mind. Many design elements have been upcycled to reduce the environmental impact, including the original hardwood ceiling trusses repurposed for the carport.
Dusty pink hues and dreamy tiles feature throughout, but the star of the show has to be the kidney-shaped magnesium swimming pool and retro sun loungers for a truly relaxing GC vacay.
6. The Beach Rooms, Nambucca Heads, NSW
The Beach Rooms overlook the Nambucca River and the ocean beyond.
Formerly The Blue Dolphin, locals Paul & Shannon Scott spotted potential in the old motel that had been lying dormant for years.
Perched on prime land overlooking the Nambucca River and ocean beyond, the intrepid couple have transformed the dilapidated digs into a welcoming oasis with a central pool, communal spaces and a choice of rooms to accommodate couples and families.
Shannon is a friendly host, escorting guests to their room and sharing local tips and recommendations, making The Beach Rooms the perfect stop on a North Coast road trip.
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7. The Sunseeker, Byron Bay, NSW
Sunseeker offers family-friendly facilities with all the adult trimmings.
The Sunseeker reimagines ‘80s brick motel nostalgia with breezy coastal vibes for slow holidays in Byron Bay.
Not just a hipster haven, Sunseeker offers family-friendly facilities with all the adult trimmings. Kids will love the nature-inspired playground and scoot around the complex on complimentary skateboards.
Adults may sip cocktails by the mineral pool (heated in winter), browse the library featuring a carefully curated collection of books on art, culture and architecture and snack from locally sourced minibar items.
Don’t leave without some Sunseeker merch, from mugs to totes and classic t-shirts emblazoned with Sunseeker’s mantra ‘Holiday Often’.
8. Loea Boutique Hotel, Maroochydore, Qld
The Loea is a revitalised 1980’s brick motel turned into a modern marvel.
The brainchild of Andrew and Lucy Pink, the couple revitalised a 1980’s brick motel into a modern marvel. And while ownership may have changed, the legacy of the Florida-inspired beach motel continues, complete with vintage food truck cafe, magnesium swimming pool, communal garden and classic cruiser bikes for hire.
9. The Bower, Byron Bay, NSW
Step into the quaint white-washed cottage.
With an unassuming façade, the true beauty of The Bower lies behind the palm tree-fringed fence, where you’ll find an oasis of cool with a stunning circular pool at its heart.
Presented with a tired, old 1970s-style motel as their canvas, the Bower design team retained the original shell while repurposing and re-imagining it into a contemporary and sophisticated Australian beach motel. The result is a collection of luxe rooms and suites, thoughtfully provisioned with the latest must-haves, a moody cool-colour palette and signature freestanding bathtubs.
The ethos of The Bower is to seek out places with character and history that have a story to tell that can be acknowledged, honoured and enhanced. Escape to paradise and create your own story at The Bower.
10. The Brunswick, Brunswick Heads, NSW
The Brunswick is all about calming natural tones and textures with a laid-back style.
The sign as you enter Brunswick Heads says “Simple Pleasures", and what could be more pleasurable than a simple, classic retro motel vacay? Brunswick is the epicentre of retro cool motels, with your choice of The Brunswick, The Chalet Motel and The Sails Motel all located on the Old Pacific Hwy.
The Brunswick is all about pared-back simplicity of calming natural tones and textures with laid-back style. Retaining the standard motel layout and convenience of being able to park directly outside your room, rooms also overlook the lagoon pool for resort-style vibes.
11. The Chalet Motel, Brunswick Heads, NSW
The Chalet is surrounded by some of Bruns’ best eateries for the perfect endless summer holiday.
The Chalet Motel is a boutique 60s-style motel revived by the owners, Louisa Bligh and Ryan Bowman, who were inspired by their travels in LA.
They wanted to recreate that simple, cool motel style in Australia. They achieved this with 12 comfortably stylish rooms, a saltwater swimming pool and a cabana. A bonus? The Chalet is surrounded by some of Bruns’ best eateries for the perfect endless summer holiday.
12. The Sails Motel & Pool Club, Brunswick Heads, NSW
Stocking a curated selection of local signature sips, the pool club is the place to be.
The Sails Motel & Pool Club features 22 classic-style motel rooms plus a Palm Springs-style pool and bar. Stocking a curated selection of local signature sips, the pool club is the place. Also enjoy relaxed nights at the onsite restaurant, Saint Maries Pizzeria and Wine Bar.
13. The Isla, Batemans Bay, NSW
Find 1970s coastal chic with tech-forward modern touches. (Credit: Destination NSW)
The Isla sits in the heart of Batemans Bay. This chic, 18-room boutique motel merges a 1970s coastal motor lodge with modern (if somewhat nostalgic) style and tech-forward amenities. Besides the restored outdoor pool, The Cantina is a fun standout. This reimagined minibar/vending machine room features sparkling water on tap, a selection of artisan snacks, local craft beer and pre-mixed cocktails
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14. The Hillcrest Merimbula, NSW
The vibe in the rooms is coastal elegance with design flourishes that wink back to the 60s and 70s. (Credit: David Rogers)
The modern two-storey Hillcrest Merimbula motel faces seaward and is everything you’d expect from a quintessential mid-century motel. Dating back to the late 1960s, the vibe in the rooms is coastal elegant with design flourishes that wink back to the sixties and seventies.
Stay for a long weekend, and you’ll meet a cast of characters: hipsters from Sydney, architecture enthusiasts and high-end holidaymakers who simply want to soak up the sun poolside for the duration of their stay. Inside, the rooms are like shrines to the 70s with contemporary touches such as concrete tables, delicate linens, and funky feature mirrors.
15. Berry View Hotel, NSW
The hotel captures the essence of Mid-Century design.
The lightness and brightness of the Berry View Hotel is one of the key elements that will make you feel contained and comfortable during your escape to the Shoalhaven. While white sets the tone at the refurbished motel, there are also pops of colour from the burnt orange doors that will brighten your day.
Enjoy the nostalgic experience of driving right up to that signature door, which screams of Palm Springs. Once inside, find flashes of charcoal and ochre that bring on more of the breezy vibes.
The boutique hotel has paid homage to the bones of the original 1950s motel with 13 individually styled rooms and a new pool, all of which have been given a vintage-style glow-up. The property is full of colourful and original décor and captures the essence of Mid-Century design. It’s a masterpiece.
16. Kyah Boutique Hotel, Blackheath, NSW
Step into the charm of the original 1970s-era motel, with an updated Palm Springs-esque design. (Credit: Steven Woodburn)
Hidden away in the Blue Mountains village of Blackheath, less than two hours from Sydney, you’ll find the luxe Kyah Boutique Hotel. The 1970s-era motel has been reimagined with a Palm Springs-inspired design by Sydney-based design firm, MKD Architects.
The final result is a 46-room mountain retreat with Art Deco-inspired furnishings, on-trend archways, curves and cosy nooks tucked away throughout the communal areas of the hotel. There are three separate buildings – each named after one of Katoomba’s famed Three Sisters – all connecting to the central lobby and Blaq restaurant and bar. Other hotel facilities include a pool, tennis court and vegetable garden to explore.
There are four types of guest rooms on offer, starting with the king suite that sleeps two, twin queen rooms that sleep up to four guests, two-bedroom suites sleeping up to five guests, and the family rooms sleeping up to six people. Each room features a luscious colour palette of blush and blue hues or more earthy tones of olive and rust.
17. Surfside 22, Wollongong, NSW
Step into the perfect amount of nostalgia.
Surfside 22 presents a strong case for the comeback of Australia’s roadside motels. This coastal-chic stay embraces its retro bones – think white breezeblock walls, pastel hues and a palm-fringed garden. But the Wollongong motel also repackages the original formula with the sort of comforts modern road-trippers actually want.
There’s a plunge pool and sauna for post-surf recovery, North Beach and City Beach are both an easy stroll away, and rooms range from king studios with kitchenettes to interconnecting options for families. It’s nostalgic without being naff.
18. The Whale, Narooma, NSW
Mix retro-chic with incredible views.
Having just opened in June, Merivale’s The Whale offers a boutique hotel overlooking Wagonga Inlet in NSW’s Narooma. Walk into decor drawing inspiration from the spirit of 1970s Ibiza. Here, natural and earthy decor nod to the building’s motel origins and supply a gentle retro twist.
With 18 rooms total, find a two-bedroom Oceanview Penthouse and nine Premium Suites. Elsewhere, dive into a heated magnesium pool, have a hit on the pickleball court, warm up in the traditional sauna, brave the ice bath and relax by the sunset-facing firepit.
Dining is covered with breakfast and all-day dining menus served poolside, in the extensive gardens, or by the sunset-facing firepit, with in-room dining also available. Think fried prawn sandwich and a katsu chicken burger, using local suppliers like Narooma bakery Honorbread.
Restaurant Queen Chow has also reopened inside The Whale, with refreshed interiors and a menu of fresh seafood, dumplings and signature dishes – like its iconic barbecued duck.
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Sally Scott is a seasoned travel writer based on Bundjalung County (Northern Rivers) who knows a thing or two about luxe holidays. Whether it's road tripping regional Australia or jetting off on an overseas sojourn, Sally seeks out unique...
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology...
Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.
Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans
“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.
Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten, the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.
Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)
Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.
Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.
Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)
For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.
You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery, a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.
How Ballarat is preserving the past
The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.
While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.
The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.
Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.
Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.
A city steeped in food and flavours
Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)
One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho, José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.
The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.
Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)
The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits. At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.
The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)
Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.
The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury
The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)
New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.
Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.
Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.
A traveller’s checklist
Getting there
It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.
Staying there
Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial, which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.
Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.
Eating there
The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)
Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.
Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.
Dining at Grainery Lane.
Playing there
An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)
Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle, ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.
