Who
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Style
  • Health
  • Beauty
  • Sexiest People
  • The Travel List
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Who
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Style
  • Health
  • Beauty
  • Sexiest People
  • The Travel List
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
Louis Tomlinson Calls James Corden Out
Watch 0:36

Louis Tomlinson Calls James Corden Out

{headline}

{headline}

Inside Australia's Best Holiday Homes

Inside Australia's Best Holiday Homes

Best Australian Farm Stays

Best Australian Farm Stays

This hotel is officially one of the world's best!

This hotel is officially one of the world's best!

Best Bucket List Experiences

Bucket List Breaks To Plan Now

{headline}

{headline}

A luxe rural retreat

A luxe rural retreat

Where To Go Glamping In NSW

Where To Go Glamping In NSW

World's most glamorous hotels

World's most glamorous hotels

{headline}

{headline}

Aussies can now fly direct from Brisbane to these hip cities...

Aussies can now fly direct from Brisbane to these hip cities...

Huge news for Karl Stefanovic

Huge news for Karl Stefanovic

Qantas will fly direct from Brisbane to these US cities...

Qantas will fly direct from Brisbane to these US cities...

The world's first rideshare submarine launches in Oz

The world's first rideshare submarine launches in Oz

BREAKING: Egg recall due to salmonella fears

BREAKING: Egg recall due to salmonella fears

48 hours in Noosa

48 hours in Noosa

This iconic Aussie island resort has reopened!

This iconic Aussie island resort has reopened!

  1. Home
  2. The Travel List

Motel Revivalism

Savvy hoteliers have reimagined the humble Aussie roadside motel for the modern traveller - by Amy Mills
  • 29 Jun 2020
Motel Revivalism
Jessie Prince, The Quarter Acre

Coastal Cool

The Sails Motel & Pool Club

There’s a lot to love about the laid-back hamlet of Brunswick Heads.

More low-key and family-orientated than its popular neighbour Byron Bay, this coastal town is also home to The Sails Motel & Pool Club.

Owned and operated by former fashion editor Amanda Newman and her partner Simon Johnson, this reimagined Palm Springs-inspired motel is a welcoming little oasis in the heart of Brunswick Heads.

The original 1960s property has 22 classic motel-style rooms – which can cater for couples and families – and a pool area where you can soak up the sun and enjoy a handpicked selection of craft beer and wine.

Like the retro roadside motels that boomed in popularity in the '60s and '70s, Sails offers on-site parking so guests can easily access their cars.

Foodies will love the Saint Maries Pizzeria – and its inspiring list of natural and vegan wines, no less - and Old Maids Burger Store, both of which will deliver to guest rooms for those who are too relaxed to get dressed for dinner.

The couple used the forced COVID-19 closure to give the property a facelift with fresh paint, new beds and carpet and air purifiers in all of the guest rooms ready ahead of its June 5 reopening.

https://thesailsmotel.com.au/

The Sails Motel

Soak up the sun at Sails

Jessie Prince, The Quarter Acre

Relaxed Luxury

Halcyon House

Once a former ‘surfing motel’, Halcyon House appeals to the desires of the discerning modern traveller while paying respect to the building’s history.

Queensland sisters Siobhan and Elisha Bickle purchased the rundown 1960s motel, The Hideaway - then popular with backpackers, road trippers and budget travellers - in 2011 and transformed it into one of Australia’s most exclusive and unique beachside properties.

The luxury travel destination – located between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast - combines top-tier service, hatted culinary experiences and acclaimed design, with the 19 bespoke rooms and two luxury suites individually designed by celebrated Brisbane interior designer, Anna Spiro.

Prior to the July 2 reopening, the multi-award-winning hideaway underwent a deep clean and implemented stringent new health and safety practices including a number of hand sanitising stations located throughout the hotel.

Halcyon House’s restaurant, Paper Daisy, will be open exclusively to in-house guests for breakfast and lunch, and only open to the public for dinner for the time being.

https://halcyonhouse.com.au/

Halycon House

A surfing motel-turned-luxury destination

Madeline Johnson

Urban cool meets barefoot luxe

The Bower Byron Bay

The brainchild of Taliah and Sein Lowry, this moody, sophisticated space brings urban luxe to the popular coastal bohemian playground of Byron Bay.

Inspired by Manhattan’s hip Bowery neighbourhood during a trip to New York in 2016, the Lowrys and their team, including interior designer Kate Sacks and architect John Burgess, repurposed an original 1970s roadside motel on Bangalow Road, giving it new life as a sleek boutique hotel.

Combining the barefoot, free-spirited ethos of Byron with considered urban design, The Bower offers beautifully appointed guest rooms, Deluxe King Rooms as well as a 100-year-old cottage and a self-contained barn on site.

The piece de resistance, though, is the circular, heated natural mineral swimming pool surrounded by lush tropical gardens and towering palms.

https://www.thebowerbyronbay.com.au/

The Bower

Nostalgic Kitsch

Ventura Beach Motel

With its candy pink and powder blue exterior and hipster elements, this repurposed Gold Coast 1970s motel is a hit with social media-savvy millennial travellers.

The brainchild of three brothers, and property developers, this Mermaid Beach motel retains nostalgic kitsch but the nine rooms – one, two and three-bedroom apartments – have been completely renovated and styled to cater for modern travellers.

Contemporary coastal-inspired décor, brand new appliances and a communal pool area, put a modern and playful spin on the original drive-in motel concept.

https://www.venturabeachmotel.com.au/

Ventura Beach Motel

The Ventura Beach Motel is a hit with social media-savvy millennial travellers

  • Travel
  • The Travel List
Amy Mills
Amy Mills
An experienced journalist and travel writer, WHO's Travel Editor has a particular interest in wellness and immersive travel and enjoys sharing must-visit secret spots from her adventures around the world with her two little boys in tow.

Subscribe to Who & receive 4 bonus issues of Better Homes and Gardens-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Who & receive 4 bonus issues of Better Homes and Gardens

Subscribe to Who & receive 4 bonus issues of Better Homes and Gardens-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Who & receive 4 bonus issues of Better Homes and Gardens
Who
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
Who Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • marie claire
  • Bounty Parents

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Who

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to Who & receive 4 bonus issues of Better Homes and Gardens-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to Who & receive 4 bonus issues of Better Homes and Gardens