Sea Sea Hotel

The place

Near Killick Beach in Crescent Heads, a 1980s roadside motel given a second life. The mood is vintage surf — 1970s nostalgia handled with modern sensibilities. The 25 rooms and suites carry dark pine walls, bespoke furniture, patterned bed throws, hand-carved lights, and photographs by Peter Crawford.

The turquoise-tiled pool is the heart of it, edged by a wooden deck and retro sun loungers. A sauna, an ice bath, a surf shop, a large audio lounge, and a garden fill out the rest.

Sea Sea Sane Kitchen, the open-air all-day restaurant and bar helmed by chef Daniel Medcalf, keeps a casual contemporary menu alongside an innovative drinks selection.