Ten NSW summer holiday spots that will take you back in time

Summer evokes sentimentality for every Australian, whether it’s the scent of sunscreen mingling with salt water, the rush of a line being flung into running rivers, the bottom-of-foot brush before entering the tent, or the relief of pulling into a motel or country pub after a long day on the road. Australia does the classics well. Here are some of our favourite nostalgia-inducing spots across the state.

MOTEL MAGIC

Casita, Batehaven

Why The latest motel revival for the South Coast – at Batehaven, opposite dog-friendly Corrigan Beach, a four-hour drive south of Sydney – Casita combines a neutral blush colour palette and thoughtful details (beach towels, first aid kits in the bathrooms, St Ali coffee pods and communal barbecue area) to provide a restful retreat suited to languid family travel. Each suite is a two-bedroom affair with a full kitchen, but the front suites enjoy ocean views (and an open-air patio if you’re in the penthouse), while suites at the back have a private courtyard. Rooms from $250. casitamotel.com.au

Nearby Pick up battered-to-order mackerel and perch at Berny’s at Batehaven, just down the block. Snag a couple of dozen oysters at Oyster Shed on Wray or at the servo-adjacent Pearly South. Dip in the suds at South Broulee Beach.

Sea Sea Hotel, Crescent Head

Why This 25-room boutique hotel motel in Crescent Head, a four-hour drive north of Sydney, opened in November, channelling yesteryear surf culture and Indonesian design to create a lux stay in a beloved coastal enclave. The original 1980s motel room footprint now features wall-length glass accordion doors, live-edge suar headboards and green-tiled bathrooms with octagonal mirrors. Inhale the frangipani and sandalwood notes of the house-designed body products, which you can purchase from the lobby. Pull up at the on-site restaurant for tuna tostadas, Belmore River sliced sirloin, and a cheeky “coastal negroni”. Rooms – including one accessible – from $460. seaseahotel.com

Nearby Catch waves at Crescent Head Beach or Racecourse Headland. Pick up a post-surf lamb pie at Barnett’s Bakery. Elevate your swimwear with a colourful suit from Cheetah Five.

Holbrook Motel, Holbrook

Why The ideal stopover for Melbourne-Sydney road trips, the recently renovated Holbrook Motel is a small-town gem. Just 40 minutes north of the Victorian border, 18 meticulously refreshed (and generously sized) rooms are anchored by king beds, blue-tiled showers with shampoo scented with native botanicals, and a patio overlooking a central pool. Your undercover parking spot also features a bucket with a squeegee: a thoughtful addition that makes clearing the bugs collected on the Hume that little bit easier. Rooms – including one accessible – from $130.

Nearby Famous for its 90-metre land-bound submarine, HMAS Otway, Holbrook is also home to two ripper second-hand bookstores and the National Pottery Museum. Order locally reared steak at the Holbrook Hotel, just down the road. Soak in the view from the Yambla View “Wambariga” Lookout.

The Kyah, Blackheath

Nostalgic flashbacks: The Kyah Hotel.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Why On the edge of the national park in Blackheath, one hour, 40-minute drive west of Sydney, this motel-turned-boutique hotel features rooms splashed with peachy pinks and pastel greens, which match the leafy Blue Mountains outlook and on-site tennis courts. They all get access to the timber-walled sauna, outdoor hot tub and greenhouse, plus a croissant-and-fruit breakfast buffet. On-site restaurant Blaq trumpets a paddock-to-plate mentality and softly lit interior. Despite the refreshes, you’re still guaranteed nostalgic flashbacks as you peel up the manicured driveway and park alongside classic motel arches. Rooms from $240. See thekyah.com.au

Nearby Grand Canyon Lookout is down the road. Nearby coffee van Roasters With Altitude offers a post-hike caffeine hit. It’s a 20-minute walk (or quick borrowed e-bike ride) into the main strip of Blackheath but stop at the Rhododendron Gardens on the way.

CAMPING OUT

Reflections Moonee Beach, Moonee Beach

Why You’re likely to be visited by sunbathing water dragons and king parrots at this pet-friendly caravan park 15 minutes from Coffs Harbour, tucked away behind Moonee Beach Reserve. Powered and unpowered campsites enjoy views of the Moonee Beach Lagoon, which forms a lazy river each day as the ebb and flow of tides carve through the sand. Fishing is a popular pastime here, and it’s not uncommon to see kids carrying rods taller than themselves. The park’s seven tiny homes are split between the waterfront and the bushland, but all offer a fun way to experience the best of caravan-park culture: peace, nature and jovial neighbours. Campsites from $50. Cabins from $175. Tiny homes from $145.

Nearby Snag a steak sandwich at the Moonee Beach Hotel. Venture into Coffs for the outstanding seafood from the fisherman’s co-op. Borrow a rod and fish Moonee Creek for mangrove jacks.

Forster Discovery Park, Darawank

Why You’ll witness swish waterskiing from your cabin or campsite at this caravan park on the banks of the Wallamba River. Forster – a 3 ½ hour drive from Sydney – is known for its waterways, but if the popular downtown beaches don’t appeal, there’s a private patch of sand here, plus a skate park, sparkling pool, dog park and a handball court on its way. Paddleboard, kayak and scooter rental are bookable and included in your fee. The edible garden is available year-round, the on-site cafe runs daily, and there are yoga classes starting this summer. Campsites from $35. Cabins – including five accessible – from $105. See discoveryholidayparks.com.au

Nearby Forster-Tuncurry is a 12-minute drive. Nibble on grilled prawns and sip local gin at Wharf Street Distillery. Bike at Myall Lakes National Park. Fish for bream and Mulloway at the Forster Breakwall.

BIG4 Paradise Resort, Tamworth

Why In the heart of the country music capital and right on the Peel River, less than five hours from Sydney, this caravan park is split by Peel Street, with spacious modern cabins and powered campsites (some with ensuite bathrooms) on both sides. In the full-service cabins, generous gas stoves, king beds, and aromatic Herbology body products elevate the stay into a realm of affordable luxury. It’s a five-minute walk to the Country Music Hall of Fame, 10 minutes to Woolies and a four-minute drive to the lovely, leafy Anzac Park. Campsites from $46. Cabins from $96. See big4.com.au

Nearby Eat crumbed lamb cutlets at the Nemingha Tavern. Snag a selfie at the Golden Guitar. Catch local talent on the mic at the Longyard Hotel. Visit Nundle, 45 minutes away, for a day trip to a trout farm or to pick up yarn at the Nundle Woollen Mill.

PUB LIFE

The Nyngan Hotel, Nyngan

Why The revitalisation of this 1883 pub on the Mitchell Highway in Nyngan, a six-hour drive west of Sydney, has resulted in a 12-room boutique hotel (and eatery) celebrating community spirit. It was a labour of love for a fifth-generation local and her husband, who reopened the historic hotel as a stylish modern destination in June. Some rooms have full kitchens, others have separate sitting areas, but all enjoy queen beds, Australian-made bathroom products and Little Italy Coffee Roasters coffee. Getting a little warm? Grab a scoop at the ice-cream bar in the beer garden; flavours change weekly. Rooms – including one accessible – from $180. See thenynganhotel.com.au

Nearby Visit the six-metre-tall Big Bogan statue. Recount the journey of Cobb & Co at the Nyngan Museum or learn about the area’s shearing history at Mid-State Shearing Shed Museum.

The Huskisson Hotel, Huskisson

Why This water-view pub on Huskisson’s main thoroughfare has a grassy beer garden and on-site smoker, turning out racks of pork ribs smoked for 30 hours. Upstairs, the queen rooms are tidy and well-executed, some with large patios overlooking the colourful Jervis Bay Marine Park and adjacent ocean pool. Tins of Australian-made Tea Tonic tea await your morning routine, and large ensuites make the post-ocean shower a breeze. The staff are kind and thoughtful, and the free drink upon arrival sweetens the deal. Two-and-a-half hours from Sydney, it’s a central launchpad for the Jervis Bay region. Rooms from $179. See huskissonhotel.com.au

Nearby Wander the flat Round the Bay Walk to Vincentia. Devour an affordable Asian fusion degustation dinner at Wildginger. Drive three minutes to the industrial precinct for flaky Kraken Sourdough pastries and bags of Jervis Bay Mussels.

The Pacific Hotel, Yamba

Why This pub might just enjoy the best headland views in Australia, but the prime position doesn’t impact the humble heart of this Yamba staple, a seven-hour drive north of Sydney. The accommodation was renovated a few years ago, and the 21 rooms now offer “boutique coastal escape” rather than “oceanside pub” energy. Epic sunsets from the ocean-view rooms make it hard to leave, but try: there’s live music downstairs four times a week. From $119. See pacifichotelyamba.com.au

Nearby Enjoy Australian native produce with dinner at Karrikin. Get your fill of locally caught prawns at the local co-op. Pick up vintage gems at Flots & Jets. Ride the waves (perhaps among dolphins) at Convent Beach.

The writer travelled both self-funded and as a guest of certain properties.