HILLCREST MERIMBULA
By blending the old and new so adeptly, Hillcrest has set itself miles apart from humdrum hospitality offerings. Hillcrest is a vision built on community, connection and shared experience.
Call it a stroke of retro genius - this heritage hideaway, ensconced above Merimbula Lake has spent the last 50 years redefining coastal hospitality (even through a change of hands). Hillcrest blends time-honoured traditionalism with a novel approach to hospitality, demonstrating how retro roots can foster - rather than hinder - a sophisticated stay.
Hillcrest has crafted an experience that balances heritage reverence with contemporary comfort. Expect well-executed midcentury motifs, like sleek wooden cabinetry and exposed brick. Outside, surrounded by the lofty date palms, you will find the terracotta tennis court and Palm Springs-inspired pool.
However the real gem of Hillcrest lies within the newly-restored vistas; where each room frames the panorama of Merimbula Lake and the ever-shifting tableaux of rolling bushland.
If you manage to peel yourself away, local haunts like oyster shacks and quaint bars will be waiting. At the very top of our list is Valentina - a tiny restaurant with a whole lot of soul. Picture diners lingering over shared Mediterranean plates and local vintages, all set against floor-to-ceiling windows that wash over sleepy Lake Merimbula.
Indeed, by blending the old and new so adeptly, Hillcrest has set itself miles apart from humdrum hospitality offerings. Here, easy luxury has been tailored to restore and unwind, entirely removed from pretence or pomp. Hillcrest is a vision built on community, connection and shared experience.