10 Coastal Towns We Loved As Kids Are Making A Major Comeback
All along the Australian coast, the towns we loved as kids are coming back cooler than ever. Some of my earliest and fondest memories of travel in Australia have also been the simplest. I remember peeling prawns at picnic tables, all salty hair and bare feet; eating pies and finger buns outside beach-town bakeries; tumbling in the surf and searching for cowrie shells in rockpools with my grandparents.
According to a survey earlier this year of Aussie families during Covid, “nostalgia travel” is on the rise as generations seek to rehash the holidays of their youth. Beyond the shiny new allure of our biggest resort towns, sentimentality is playing an influential role in shaping the way we travel. From motel makeovers to new pub fit-outs courtesy of the Hemmes empire, “glow-ups” are reviving old-school Aussie coastal towns and putting the sleepy spots of our childhood holidays back on the map. From Yamba to Narooma and Portarlington to Esperance, these are the retro seaside towns living their best life all over again.
Narooma, NSW - The Whale Motor Inn and Restaurant
Before Justin Hemmes snapped up Narooma’s historic Quarterdeck pub earlier this year, closely followed by The Whale Motor Inn and Restaurant, it was best known as one of the oyster capitals of Australia. Now the Hemmes-haute coastal township in the Eurobodalla region of the South Coast of New South Wales is on the radar for another reason as the Merivale magnate moves in some of his best culinary and hospo talent. Marking Hemme’s first acquisition outside Sydney, the Quarterdeck, overlooking Forsters Bay, retains its tiki charm with a revamped menu, while farm-to-table French-Aussie pop-up Chez Dominique launched last month at The Whale Inn.
Coolangatta, Qld - The Pink Hotel
Once the domain of backpackers and surfers, this southern Gold Coast town known by locals as Coolie is coming into its own. Half-dressed surfers cram its seaside carpark for its world-famous breaks, but across the road, influencers are bringing the “likes” to retro chic The Pink Hotel Coolangatta. Originally built in the 1950s, it underwent an overhaul in late 2018 and emerged as a louder, bolder, more eclectic version of its former self, with large murals, neon signage, flamingo robes and record players in most rooms.
Ya m b a , N S W - S u r f e r s h e a d i n g o u t f o r a m o r n i n g s u r f a t Tu r n e r s B e a c h , Ya m b a
Just 45 minutes south of Byron Bay, this New South Wales fishing hamlet in the Clarence Valley is fast becoming an attractive alternative to that most coveted and crowded holiday spot. Retro fishing co-ops offering takeaway fish and chips, prawns and oysters now sit alongside buzzy cafes, small bars and hip independent beachside stays. Surfers and sunseekers are spoiled with their choice of beaches, including Angourie with its incredible Blue and Green Pools and abundant pandanus palms.
Ye p p o o n , Q l d - S u r f s i d e m o t e l , Ye p p o o n s e r v i n g u s a l l t h e v i n t a g e v i b e s
If this town were an ice-cream, it would be a Banana Paddle Pop. A gateway to the islands of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, this chilled-out coastal spot is situated on Queensland’s Capricorn Coast and was popular among families in the ’80s and ’90s. But now with a hip new motel to its name, it has emerged fresher than ever. Reopening last year on the beachfront, the low-set Surfside Motel offers 13 recently refurbished semi-self-contained rooms with Hamptons-style interiors, a pool and barbecue area.
Esperance, WA - Esperance Chalet Village
Close your eyes and picture the world’s most perfect beach and there’s a good chance it looks a lot like those surrounding this small Western Australian town. Holidaymakers and surfers come here for the natural beauty of Blue Haven, Lucky Bay and West Beach with their fine white sand and piercing turquoise coastlines. Beyond the coast, fur seals and sea lions frolic among the islands of the Recherche Archipelago, while Middle Island is the home of cotton-candy pink Lake Hillier. Sleep in the bush in a stylish A-frame chalet at Esperance Chalet Village, one of the town’s original hotels that now offers reimagined accommodation.
Brunswick Heads, NSW - The Sails Motel and Pool Club
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