Retro Luxe Meets Coastal Wonder At The Hillcrest

Women's Fitness

There’s a particular kind of joy in stumbling across somewhere you never expected to fall for, and that’s exactly what happened on our recent escape to Merimbula, on the New South Wales Sapphire Coast. My daughter, my dog and I set off on what we affectionately dubbed our “Mer-adventure,” and came home already planning our return.

9Perched at the top of the town, looking out over Merimbula Lake, is the Hillcrest, a beautifully restored 1969 motel that’s become something of a design icon on the South Coast. Owner Casper has approached the restoration with an artist’s eye, blending mid-century bones with playful, design-forward touches throughout.
It’s just so comfortable, yet nothing is lost when it comes to the artistic details. How Casper has transformed this retro-inspired motel is absolutely incredible. The property has commissioned original work from two artists: a striking painting by Justine Taylor, and pieces by Adela Kusur woven throughout the apartment, both of which sit beautifully against the motel’s warm, sun-bleached palette.
The little details are where it really sings. In the apartment-style accommodation, the basin is carved from pink marble imported all the way from Turkey especially for the space, a small, luxurious surprise in a building that still wears its 1970s roadside-motel heart proudly.
Beyond the standard rooms, Hillcrest also offers apartment accommodation, and, very importantly for us, a selection of dog-friendly rooms. Our four-legged travel companion came along for the whole trip, tail wagging the entire way.

Why You Might Never Want to Leave
Part of the charm of the Hillcrest is that it’s a genuine destination in its own right. There’s a fire pit for evenings under the stars, a swimming pool, a tennis court, and a bar area where the day’s adventures get recapped over a glass of something cold. Honestly? I want to live there.
For dinner, we headed a short drive from the Hillcrest to Metro, a relaxed, welcoming restaurant that captured the same warmth as the motel itself. We started with local Merimbula oysters, moved on to pasta so good we practically licked the bowls, and finished with gelato made right there on the premises. We rolled out of there very happily full.

Out on the Water: An Oyster Adventure
Merimbula Lake has been farmed for oysters since the 1920s, and the town has earned its reputation as one of the Sapphire Coast’s great oyster destinations. We booked in with Pip Boyton, “The Oyster Girl,” whose farm sits at nearby Millingandi, to see the cultivation up close: cruising out through the leases that cross-hatch the lake, learning how the oysters are grown and tended, before tasting them freshly shucked right on the water.
The unexpected highlight? Spotting an octopus gliding past the boat mid-tour, a reminder of just how much life this pristine estuary supports. Between the wildlife and the hands-on look at oyster farming, it’s an experience that works just as well for curious kids as it does for the adults doing the slurping.
If you time your visit right, you can also head out on a whale-watching cruise with Sapphire Coastal Adventures, departing from nearby Eden, a fantastic way to build extra adventure into your stay.

Small Town, Big Welcome
What struck me most about Merimbula was the warmth of the locals, genuinely friendly, accommodating, and happy to point you toward their favourite spots. It’s the kind of place that rewards a slower pace: a boardwalk stroll along the lake, a long lunch by the water, an afternoon that turns into an evening without anyone really planning it that way.
I hadn’t been to Merimbula before this trip, and I was genuinely surprised by how much there was to love: the natural beauty, the food, the sense of welcome. It’s fair to say it won’t be my last visit. Between the town itself and the Hillcrest’s pull of the fire pit, the pool and that view over the lake, this is one Sapphire Coast escape that’s very hard to say goodbye to.
Getting there is refreshingly easy too. Merimbula’s airport sits just five minutes from the Hillcrest, with direct flights available via Qantas or Rex, so the journey barely eats into your holiday time.