Crowne Plaza Terrigal: Inside the new Pacific suite that rival Sydney’s best
Just 90 minutes from Sydney, seven luxurious rooms await. And with just a stones throw from the beach and a host of bars, this corner of NSW needs to be on your bucket list.
Sometimes in life, you have an experience so enjoyable, so unexpected and so close to home — you wonder why on earth it’s taken so long to explore.
After cruising the 90 minute journey from my home in the Hawkesbury up the M1 and into the surrounds of the NSW Central Coast, a not-so-hidden hotel awaits.
Terrigal’s Crowne Plaza has been a family-getaway destination for decades — given the hotel’s waterfront location and ease of access to shops, bars and cafes. But in the past five years, elements of the hotel have undergone refurbishments so summery and sophisticated, you’ll be able to indulge in that holiday feeling all year round.
On a recent overnight stay at Terrigal’s Crowne Plaza, I experienced one of the hotel’s newly refurbished suites.
Dubbed thePacific Suite,a handful of rooms and a single expansive suite have been extensively overhauled to ooze luxury and coastal relaxation at every corner.
These specific rooms that make up the Pacific Club offering (and yes, at this stage there are just seven of them) have been renovated and refurbished to compliment the property’s stunning ocean views.
The six rooms and single spacious suite currently on offer, the latter of which is positioned on the corner of the hotel and gives guests 180-degree views of the ocean, have all got a similar theme across the decor and furnishings.
The suite, however, is next level — and also includes a large lounge area and a six-seat dining table for a long lunch or intimate dinner.
Renovated using Coco Republic decor and furnishings, the three-room suite gives ample space for a couple (and even if you have a little one in tow, like I did).
The entire fifth floor (whether you’re staying in the Pacific suite or not) is filled with light, but the real standout is the circular bathtub in the corner of the over-sized ensuite. And with the ocean lapping outside your window and a few touches of personal concierge and in-room wellness kits on hand within the suite (hello Endota face masks), you’ll relax here for hours.
You won’t want to leave your room or suite with Crowne offering a delicious in-room menu — including perhaps one of the best chicken soups I have ever had — but if you do, make sure it’s for a cocktail and degustation at the newly opened Meribella restaurant on the ground floor.
Just like your room, the restaurant has been renovated to ooze sophistication without removing guests from the stunning views of Terrigal Beach.
We started our night with a dozen Coffin Bay Pacific oysters, accompanied by a glass of Mumm champagne.
If you’re after something a little stronger, the cocktail menu is extensive, as is the beer and wine list.
The atmosphere is cosy and intimate, with a large fire in the centre of the room. And with the floor-to-ceiling glass opening up your view to the beach below — it’s easy to lose hours at the bar itself.
Next door in the dining room, strap in for a degustation that will utterly delight. Having the choice of a five-course or seven-course (I opted for the smaller of the two) your tastebuds will be absolutely delighted with a range of local produce and impeccable presentation.
At $145 per person, or $225 with matching wines — the five-course degustation features a starter of Balmain bug, followed by a Cauliflower tart and a delicious crudo of scallop with remoulade, burnt orange, cucumber and lime.
Towards the end of the culinary journey, leave room for the Heirloom beetroot, kohlrabi and a goat’s curd salad alongside barramundi with pumpkin and fennel.
To end, undo the buckle because the lamb rack with parsnip and spinach was well worth the wait. Oh, and desert? Chocolate crémeux cake, blackberries and hazelnut with cream. You will literally need to roll yourself back upstairs.
Three must-do experiences while visiting the Central Coast in NSW
Outside of Terrigal there’s plenty to see and do if you’re keen to step away from the sand and into the nearby countryside. Here’s three stops you must make while spending a long weekend on the Central Coast.
Fires Creek Botanical Wines
This is a really unique experience, and as someone who loves a glass — you cannot visit the Central Coast without stopping by Fires Creek.
Relaxed and a local’s favourite, this boutique winery doesn’t use grapes — but rather the natural flavours of the fruit and flowers grown on the property.
The property and tasting area sits on 2.5 acres of lush gardens, and because of the nature of the wine — the flavours are constantly changing as the seasons change.
For our particular tasting, which paired four glasses of Fires Creek wines with some local chocolates from Luka, it was the perfect experience to compliment the rainforest and lily pads that surround the tasting gazebo.
Owners Nadia O’Connell and Francis O’Connell provide a warm welcome upon entry, and along with a chocolate and wine pairing, also offer visitors other unique experiences such Foraging and Mixology workshops and the Firescreek Aboriginal Storytelling and Wine Tasting Experience.
Alpaca Farm
Cute and cuddly and within a 20 minute drive from the hotel through stunning Central Coast hinterland, take the drive to Iris Lodge Alpacas for a truly memorable experience.
Home to home to 140 alpacas, 12 llamas, and a variety of other animals, the property is stretched over 93 stunning acres.
Cosier up to one of the friendly alpacas (especially if you have a bowl of their dry food in hand) and learn a little about these cuddly creatures.
If you’re in the mood for a bite to eat, you can also check out the farm’s ‘brunch with the alpacas’ experience — where you not only get to feed some of the farm animals yourself, but you'll also be able to enjoy a delicious brunch yourself.
Terrigal Beach House
Sitting just at the base of Crowne Plaza Terrigal, the Beach House is the ultimate place to spend a sunny afternoon soaking up the salt and sand of the beach just metres away.
As the days start to get longer, Terrigal Beach House has launched an Aperol Cabana Experience which truly is the ultimate way to spend any afternoon of the week.
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For $69 per person (and a minimum of six), guests can enjoy exclusive use of one of the ocean-view cabanas for three hours, with the package including bottomless Mulled Aperol (yes, it’s a thing), Aperol Spritz or Aperol Margaritas. And if you’re feeling peckish, you’ll also be given an incredible spread of cheeses, cured meats, crackers and bruschetta to munch on throughout the afternoon.
If you’re looking for a way to end your day on an absolute high, this is it.
This journalist visited the Pacific Suite as a guest of Crowne Plaza Terrigal.
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