Just an hour and half beyond Sydney’s CBD awaits a retreat that offers some of the finest modern Italian food NSW has to offer. Bells at Kilcare sits amid sprawling National Park and desolate beaches.
There are a few signs of a great meal.
Empty plates.
A large pile of washing up
Pans, lots of.
A lightly soiled tablecloth.
Wine glasses with a residue of Pinot Noir.
But the clearest of all, in my book anyway, is the long portly walk shortly after an affogato in an effort to curb one’s protruding tummy.
Fortunately I was staying at Bells at Killcare, and dining at Manfredi at Bells, so the first five signs of the great meal were not my problem. The sixth necessitated a moonlit stroll through the manicured grounds.
The property fuses notes of an Australian homestead with Italian heritage thanks largely to its acclaimed chef, Stefano Manfredi.
Dotted throughout the sculpted grounds are 25 cottages created by renowned designer Chrissie Jeffery in a style reminiscent of the seaside cottages of The Hamptons. They beckon diners back from dishes such as ravioli filled with slow cooked duck with promises of Ralph Lauren furnishings, luxury bathrooms with deep ornamental bathtubs and serene styling.
Based on the central coast, just one and a half hours out of Sydney, Bells has a plethora of deserted beaches, a sweeping national park and cute inland waterways all within a few minutes drive of the front gate. It is a classic weekend escape for Sydneysiders in the know, but for those travelling interstate it’s a tucked away gem that showcases the very best of New South Wales’ countryside and gastronomy.
At each turn Bells is an all-encompassing food-lovers experience. The gardens, some 500 square meters, supply the restaurant with more than 15% of the produce on its menu, while 50 free range hens delight guests with the freshest eggs possible each morning.
The fortunate few can fly in by seaplane and enjoy a private transfer or even hop in the family chopper (if your dad happens to be race horse trainer and entrepreneur John Singleton, who has ties to the property) and land on the helipad next to the spa. An aviation-born scenic entry really is the way to go. Clients get to take in the sights of the magnificent Hawkesbury River and the sprawling Boudi National Park replete with its hidden beaches, sensational bushwalks and mindblowing vistas.
While the local sights and activities beckon, it’s an altogether real possibility that the best made plans of healthy pursuits will fall apart within moments of returning to the room, especially at weekends when breakfast finishes at 10 and lunch commences at 12. Neither should be missed and the hours in between meals disappear on site in the leathery surrounds of the bar, the sumptuous armchairs of the reading room or at the hands of the spa’s masseurs, who offer treatments such as the Signature Kodo massage combined with a facial and heated Quandong Scalp and Hair Treatment. It’s an hour and a half of relaxation and rejuvenation of the highest order.
From here it’s only a moment until dinner time, and the inevitable waddle back to the room.
Bells is open for staying guests seven days a week. Dinner is served every day and lunch Friday to Sunday.
For more information visit www.bellsatkillcare.com.au
