BEYOND BEACHES

Escape Down Under for everything your heart desires a romantic intimate wedding, or a cruise along Sydney's picturesque harbour. The world is your oyster and the best thing is you can eat it too.

- KENNETH GOH

When people think of Sydney, they think sun, surf, sand, the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. These are not bad references, and are world class attractions at that. But there's really a whole lot more to this blessed city Down Under that goes far beyond its sunny beaches. I recently got married in Sydney and wanted to spend a short honeymoon in the same state as I had family and close friends staying on after the wedding. The over-thinker in me wanted to ensure that should anyone get into an emergency situation, we could rush back within the hour and attend to them if need be. So I picked venues outside of Sydney that were all within a one or two hours' drive away. And what a pleasant surprise it was for me. I wanted a quiet respite away from the magnificent marital weekend event that concluded with a beautiful lunch cruise around the harbour (more on that later). I was mentally and physically exhausted, the seven months of careful planning and execution down to the smallest detail for my wedding, finally hit me like a ton of bricks. I didn't have any energy left, and was in desperate need of a recharge.

Enter Pretty Beach House, a private guesthouse 90 minutes north of Sydney on the spectacular NSW Bouddi Peninsula. The property is set high on the escarpment above Pretty Beach and nestled in the Bouddi National Park. The journey to this quiet haven of luxury was delightful the sweeping views of the Central Coast from the car window as the winter sun created long shadows and dramatic skyscapes.