When T and I celebrated our wedding anniversary in May we toyed with the idea of going away for the night; but after looking at hotels around Montreal we decided there was nowhere we particularly wanted to go. This, and with so much going on in the months of May and June with the move, we decided we would save our night away for once we were in Australia. We also had a particular hotel in mind: Jonah's
Fast forward to Saturday, and we began to think we should make the most of T's situation working from home and take advantage of being able to be somewhat flexible with getting away. If we went away on a Sunday night and came back Monday morning, he could easily make up the hours later Monday evening or have a couple of longer days midweek. This would mean we could dodge the busy, more expensive Friday and Saturday nights.
We looked a Jonah's website and saw the hotel had a winter offer on, but it was due to end 31st August. Looking at the weather forecast for the week, it was rain, rain, and more rain. Given the hotel's position by the beach, we felt it kind of had to be reasonable weather to get the most of the views and take advantage of the scenic walks in the area. So we decided to sleep on it...
Sunday morning we got up at 6am and headed to the beach to surf/walk. It was touch and go wether I would be tagging along as the rain had been pretty non-stop the previous days, but making my decision on the silence outside when the alarm went off, I forced myself out and was greeted with glimpses of sun through the fog.
The fog cleared to a beautiful sunny day - and warm! Still getting used to the sun being very warm, even in winter, I had gone dressed in layers of fleeces and long sleeved tops...and was melting at the end of my 7km walk.
The fog cleared to a beautiful sunny day - and warm! Still getting used to the sun being very warm, even in winter, I had gone dressed in layers of fleeces and long sleeved tops...and was melting at the end of my 7km walk.
We had a coffee sat in the sun at the beach, and then climbed back into the car. Just about to drive off, T asked what I wanted to do for the rest of the day.
Well...
I had looked at the weather and the sun was due to stay until late afternoon Monday - should we check out if Jonah's had any availability that evening?
Car engine still running, we rang the hotel, and they did indeed have availability!
So we drove home, had breakfast, showered, wore Albie out, packed, and then hit the road up to Whale Beach.
Checking in, we were told that our winter package included a welcome drink.
So after dumping the bags in our room, we went back to the main hotel to have our drink in the last rays of the sun.
The receptionist who had checked us in had told us to go to the bar area and we would be given our drink. We went to the bar area and waited...and waited...feeling like lemons as waiters and staff walked past.
We weren't desperate for the drink at all, and were wondering wether to jack it in and go back to our room, when someone came and showed us to the small terrace area. We managed to grab the last seat, although it wasn't in the sun.
So after dumping the bags in our room, we went back to the main hotel to have our drink in the last rays of the sun.
The receptionist who had checked us in had told us to go to the bar area and we would be given our drink. We went to the bar area and waited...and waited...feeling like lemons as waiters and staff walked past.
We weren't desperate for the drink at all, and were wondering wether to jack it in and go back to our room, when someone came and showed us to the small terrace area. We managed to grab the last seat, although it wasn't in the sun.
We sat overlooking the ocean with our welcome glass of prosecco in hand. Most other people on the terrace were couples, but there was a large family...with two young kids... who proceeded to run riot everywhere. Literally. The little boy even went and stole one of the petit fours presented to two ladies as part of their Birthday Sunday lunch. The mother didn't even apologize and the poor ladies looked pretty bewildered!
Then the little boy disappeared...and the father went to find him only to return and say, fondly; "Oh he was just in the carpark playing with the cars..."
Ahh...how sweet...ahem.
Then the little boy disappeared...and the father went to find him only to return and say, fondly; "Oh he was just in the carpark playing with the cars..."
Ahh...how sweet...ahem.
Needless to say, there was a huge sigh of relief from everyone else outside when the family left.
The views from our room were breathtaking - and why we had wanted to go to this particular hotel.
The beach, Whale Beach, was one we had been to before, and must be said is one of our favourites. Small and pretty.
Regarding the name, some thoughts are it came from Whaling, but others - and the one I'm going with - is the name comes from the shape of the peninsular:
Regarding the name, some thoughts are it came from Whaling, but others - and the one I'm going with - is the name comes from the shape of the peninsular:
Being Whale season, we kept a close eye out for whales but disappointingly we didn't see any.
Just an hours drive away from central Sydney (around 12 by seaplane), Mick Jagger, Kevin Spacey, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Bono, Sir Michael Caine are a few of the celebrities who have made the most of the luxury and privacy the hotel offers.
Despite arriving to a packed restaurant - Sunday Lunch - in the evening there were only a handful of other couples which made for a nice atmosphere. In the long summer evenings the views from the restaurant would be breathtaking, more of overlooking the ocean. It was dark by the time we sat down to eat, but the twinkling of lights from the houses dotted over the slopes was in itself beautiful.
The following morning, waking up to blue skies, we opted for breakfast in our room.
Offered at no extra cost we wondered why anyone would want to go to the restaurant really. But maybe we are just antisocial first thing in the morning...
Offered at no extra cost we wondered why anyone would want to go to the restaurant really. But maybe we are just antisocial first thing in the morning...
Refreshed, we had a walk along the beach before heading home. Not quite believing we had dodged the only gap in the cloud in a fortnight, the mist lying at tree top height was beautiful.
Arriving home at midday on the Monday it felt as though we had been away for longer than twenty-four hours.
But it's nice to make the most of places on your doorstep. I often find once an area feels more familiar, the local places get overlooked. Hopefully not this time...
Oh, and yes the clouds rolled in in the afternoon, and it has been raining since - we definitely timed it right!!
But it's nice to make the most of places on your doorstep. I often find once an area feels more familiar, the local places get overlooked. Hopefully not this time...
Oh, and yes the clouds rolled in in the afternoon, and it has been raining since - we definitely timed it right!!