Peninsula hotspot the perfect place to pucker up this New Year’s Eve

Spicing up New Year’s Eve celebrations may have become a challenge but a Sorrento hotel that’s become the go-to venue for local stars is offering a unique way to ring in 2025.

The InterContinental Hotel at Sorrento.

Let’s face it New Year’s Eve for over 40s has become a snoozefest.

In fact even make that for over 25s as the passing of the last day on the calendar becomes more of a challenge to find the right way to celebrate.

Gatherings at a friend’s house are a good idea until you have to think about driving home or taking out a loan to pay for the Uber.

And hearing the same old stories over and over again with the same group of friends does have an expiry date.

Remember the youthful times where you were footloose and fancy free, raged the night away, danced your socks off and met lots of interesting people for sneaky New Year’s Eve pecks.

Well, the InterContinental Hotel at Sorrento has decided to do all the heavy lifting for you this year.

An all-in-one stay and play New Year’s Party has been organised at the statuesque hotel which sits at the top of the hill overlooking the Bay.

No wonder it’s become the go to spot for local stars from Lindy Klim, to Bec Harding, Laura Henshaw and Morgan Mitchell to name a few.

The old gem has had a recent refurbishment with gun chef Scott Pickett putting his Midas touch to the restaurant Audrey’s, named after his grandmother.

There is a lot more to the InterContinental that meets the eye but the jewel in the crown is the pool.

But before we worry about food — and trust us it’s worth it — all roads lead to the pool although finding it can be an adventure if you take the wrong turn in the maze of different wings of the five-star dwelling.

At any time you can find yourself in a scene from Wedding Crashers by innocently stumbling onto a wedding in the ballroom, barging into a Hen’s Lunch in a special dining room or cutting moves in what resembled a blue-light disco for schoolies at the ground level.

There is a lot more to the InterContinental that meets the eye but the jewel in the crown is the pool which sits perfectly just above the house line of the streets below meaning you get a spectacular view of the stunning blue water of the Bay.

What awaits you on The Sunset Terrace is as close to an European beach club vibe as you will get anywhere in the Melbourne area.

What awaits you on The Sunset Terrace is as close to an European beach club vibe as you will get anywhere in the Melbourne area.

Deck chairs and umbrellas line both sides of the pool, every table has a number which makes life easier for the energetic bar staff who deliver drinks with pace and frequency.

There are tables and chairs under cover for those wanting a sit-down food break or you can nibble while you read the latest fairy porn novel as you lie down getting rays.

Seriously, it’s not a stretch to let your senses think you’re momentarily being transported to a Greek Island, the south of France or the Amalfi Coast.

All of this sets up the perfect scenario to meet new friends. There is no better way to strike up a conversation than standing in a pool, sunglasses on and Pina Colada in hand.

That’s a fact anywhere around the world and throwing in the New Year’s Eve adrenaline rush, this is the perfect scenario for making acquaintances.

If things are going well, the conversations can then continue in the stunning dining room at Audrey’s.

If things are going well, the conversations can then continue in the stunning dining room at Audrey’s. The entrance is cleverly located right next to the kitchen so your first glimpse is of the chefs preparing the seafood delicacies which gets the mouth watering.

The fit-out isn’t over-the-top modern blow-your-mind decore but more in fitting with the historic feel of the hotel, white high ceilings with a sea feel which lends itself to a bottle of bubbly from the local Baillieu vineyard.

What happens over the next two hours is a masterclass in degustation.

The brioche to start is beyond fluffy and gorgeous followed by three small bursts of amazingness featuring cod, truffle and yellow fin tuna before some immaculate kingfish is let loose on your senses.

While seafood is a common theme, the pasta dish in the middle of this mind-blowing experience is the star. Handmade macaroni, mushroom, pine nuts and a parmesan foam which is crazy good.

Scott Pickett, Lydia Schiavello and Tom Parker Bowles at Audrey’s Sorrento. Picture: Supplied

The desserts and palate cleansers which follow don’t disappoint including Audrey’s vacherin, peach, raspberry and almond creation which is next level.

One of the keys to Pickett’s menu is you don’t feel like you need a nap afterwards, rather the lightness of the meal means party time is still very much happening.

But the good times don’t end at midnight at the InterContinental.

There is a quality hangover breakfast in the beautifully natural light atrium the next morning - wearing your robe and slippers from the room is applauded - and then a recover spa session and beautification at Aurora Spa to wash away the hangover in magnesium spas and an ice plunge pool.

Now, that’s what you call a New Year’s Eve party experience.

To book, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-eve-at-the-continental-tickets-1006491482117?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_campaign=skedlink&utm_medium=button&utm_source=skedlink