Rooms

On the top floor are 3 double bedrooms. All of them are light, sunny and very simply decorated, with white walls and ceilings, white counterpanes, and seagrass matting on the floor. The master bedroom has French windows opening onto its own balcony overlooking the sunbathing deck and Barrenjoey Head. The bed is kingsized and there is a colourful woven armchair and a built-in 1940s dressing table and mirror, as well as a floor-standing fan. A saucy nude hangs over the bed. The second kingsized bedroom has the same white linen and plump pillows, fitted furniture, ceiling fan and TV, and looks serenely out over the pool to the ocean beyond. The third has a queensized bed and is smaller, but has its own small balcony overlooking the pool.

Downstairs, off the kitchen, is a bunk bedroom with an old liferaft on the wall and lovely pre-war photos of Palm Beach. It too overlooks the Ocean and pool. All bedrooms have built-in cupboards and good storage.

The main bathroom is above the kitchen, with a bath and shower done in original Art Deco blue tiling. The downstairs bathroom, off the kitchen, doubles as the laundry room and has a shower only.

Features include:

• Fan
• Safe box
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The pure white kitchen runs off the hall, its white appliances and crockery offset by Indonesian pots and masks. Fully equipped with fridge freezer, oven, microwave, and a laundry room next door with washing machine and dryer, there's all you need for a comfortable stay - including bottles of Moet and Chablis in the fridge on arrival!

Take your pick where to eat. You can have breakfast in the kitchen - there's a small table with refectory benches - or on the sun deck overlooking Barrenjoey Head (beware the cheeky rainbow lorikeets who will cadge food from you!). For lunch, there is a BBQ area on the shady side of the house, with table, chairs and a gas-fired grill. Or inside there's a table for 6 in the open plan living-dining room, with great views over the ocean.

There are plenty of delis and grocery shops around; the nearby suburb of Avalon is renowned for the quality of its food shops.

But don't work too hard in the kitchen - there are excellent cafes and restaurants in Palm Beach, Pittwater and Avalon. We particularly liked Barrenjoey House; others nearby include Ancora, Beach Road, Prontos Cafe and Jonah's (the nearest, at about 800m). A list of recommended places with contact details is in the house. You can also arrange dinner party catering for that special occasion.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• In-house cook
• Kids' meals
• Microwave
• Oven

Activities

• Walk down to famous Palm Beach - the steps are just across the road - for an early morning swim, a walk or a picnic lunch; it's also a mecca for surfing
  
• Its a 1/2 hour hike to the Victorian Barrenjoey Lighthouse which thrusts above the bush to command views west over Pittwater to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, and north across Broken Bay and the mouth of the Hawkesbury River
  
• There's a very good 9-hole golf course on the Pittwater side of Barrenjoey Head
  
• You can go sailing on the Pittwater side of the spit
  
• Keen walkers will love the extensive Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, a classic mix of sandstone, bushland and water vistas, which also hides Aboriginal engravings; either drive round to the other side of Pittwater, or get a boat across
  
• Make the most of your pool, balconies, terraces, sun room, shady garden and hammock; if you need help relaxing, book a masseuse

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Golf
• Hiking
• Sailing
• Surfing
• Swimming

Kids

Children are welcome and will love scrambling around the bushy garden, the pool and trying to stay in the hammock. The house is less suitable for toddlers given the steep slopes below. Older kids who like watersports and exploring National Parks will enjoy the local area's attractions.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

There's a bunk room for kids downstairs

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport 1 hour
• Hospital: 20 minutes
• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The villa is situated overlooking Palm Beach, the most northerly of Sydney's 'Northern Beaches', and 45-60 mins' drive from the city centre.

By Air:
Sydney (60km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines.

From the Airport
Most people rent a car to travel to Palm Beach as a taxi is very expensive (approx AU$100) and there are no direct public transport links from the airport.

By Car:
It's easiest to travel here by car, and it takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour from the Harbour Bridge, depending on traffic and how often you stop at other beaches on the way up. Hire cars are available at Sydney airport and in the city - see our car rental recommendations.

By Seaplane:
You can also take a seaplane back to Sydney Harbour, the house is a few minutes from the wharf. The journey takes about 15 minutes (prices start from $A185pp) and you'll have spectacular views.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com

More on getting to Australia and getting around