Picture this, you’re basking in the warm glow of the sun’s rays, while the calm, rolling waves of the Coral Sea gently hug the shoreline only metres in front you.
You’re sitting in comfort at the deck of a beachfront restaurant while you watch the sun make its way to the horizon. And as day turns to night, you reminisce about your day of discovery at one of the world’s most famous natural attractions nearby.
Most importantly, you’re with the person you love.
How does that sound?
While it might sound a little too good to be true, there is a place in Tropical North Queensland, where this can certainly be your reality.
This place is located in Palm Cove – a sleepy seaside village on the eastern coast of Australia – and is called the Reef House – one of Australia’s most romantic holiday destinations.
What is it about the Reef House that has earned this reputation? Well, this adults-only beachfront boutique hotel has been designed to be the perfect place to celebrate any, and every occasion.
From anniversaries to birthdays, engagements to honeymoons, there is no place in Australia that offers its guests such a perfect combination of action, adventure, relaxation, rejuvenation, and of course, romance.
So, whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, or you’re taking some needed time out with your loved one, keep reading to find out why the Reef House is such a romantic holiday destination.
The Reef House
One of the first properties of the town, the Reef House has evolved from a humble bookmaker’s home into a colonial style boutique hotel in one of the most enviable locations in all of Tropical North Queensland.
The 67 rooms available to guests makes the Reef House the perfect size – big enough to provide you with plenty of activities and facilities, but not so big that you’re in danger of being engulfed by large crowds of other guests.
In fact, the personal touch is what separates the Reef House from other resorts and hotels in the region. This personal touch is also what can help to set the entire tone of your trip to Palm Cove.
Over the last 50 years, the Reef House has worked hard to create a luxurious oasis that instantly instils a sense of tranquillity and comfortability. This is mostly achieved through their highly engaged and personalised service – and perhaps the paradisaic location has a hand in this too.
You have freedom at the Reef House – freedom to create the trip of your dreams, no matter how that looks.
Here’s Why the Reef House is Ideal for Romantic Getaways
To be able to bring your romance novel to life, you need an environment that is completely conducive to this which is exactly what the Reef House is – here’s why.
Outstanding Private Sanctuaries
At the Reef House, the tropical inspired, richly appointed luxury accommodation instantly creates a sense of serenity that you won’t find anywhere else.
There is a variety of accommodation available to guests, from rooms and suites to apartments and villas, so whether it’s just the two of you or you’re travelling with a group, there is certainly something for you.
Each room offers you both indoor and outdoor living options. You could enjoy dinner on your private balcony or patio, unwind with a bottle of bubbly in your private spa, or enjoy the ocean views from your hanging double love swing. Tranquillity knows no bounds at the Reef House.
Beachfront Dining Under the Stars
The Reef House Restaurant, which has been in operation since the 1960s, is the ultimate destination for an intimate and romantic dining experience.
You can bathe in the last glow of the day’s sunshine as it sets into the horizon of the Coral Sea. From your position on the restaurant’s deck, you have a view of the ocean ahead and of course, the palm tree lined beach Palm Cove is so famous for.
The ambiance of the candlelight, along with the delectable dishes that make the most of the local fare and the expertise of the in-house sommelier, makes this a meal you won’t forget anytime soon.
The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as seafood platters you can enjoy from almost anywhere, a degustation menu to die for, and a wine list boasting more than 200 bottles at any one time.
Poolside Service
Spend your day poolside with tropical cocktails and delicious bites delivered to you by the daily butler service. Each day you can bask in the sun’s gentle rays and have everything you could ever need at your fingertips.
At 11am, you can enjoy a cold towel to cool down, while at 3pm you can partake in one of the many signature traditions of the Reef House – indulging in local tropical sorbet by the pool.
The Reef House has two pools, an adults only tranquillity pool and a heated mineral pool. Both pools have the butler service cold towels and tropical sorbet available!
If you love spending time in the pool but you’re not looking for relaxation, you can always take on an aqua aerobics class and get that blood pumping.
Total Rejuvenation at the Reef House Day Spa
Tropical North Queensland is not short of a day spa, however, there are day spas and then there is the Reef House Day Spa.
Offering rituals and treatments that can be entirely tailored to suit you and your needs, you can sink into total calm and start your journey to wellness. You can enjoy a simple massage or indulge in a multiple-day treatment package – your spa journey can be whatever you want it to be.
The Reef House Spa is an award-winning destination that offers various intimate experiences and treatments. You can enjoy facials, manicures, full body massages, as well as botanical-based Waterlily and marine-based Phytomer products and treatments – the Reef House is also the only day spa in Queensland to offer Phytomer products.
Signature Traditions
Tradition has a special place in the heart of the Reef House. Many of the activities and experiences on offer at the Reef House have their beginnings deeply rooted in its history.
Some of these traditions stem back to the 1970s, when the Brigadier, David Thomson, was at the helm of the property. He wanted guests to feel as if the Reef House is as much their home as it was his.
To this effect, he offered guests the full use of the onsite bar, where in the true tradition of an officer’s mess, guests could help themselves to drinks and sign chits, in an honesty charge back system.
He also encouraged guests to gather together at the end of each day to enjoy a glass or two of the Brigadier’s rum punch and get to know each other!
Both of these traditions still stand today, so that you really can feel like you’re at home at the Reef House.
In addition to these traditions, you can bond with your partner during the many other activities and experiences on offer, including:
- Cocktail classes
- Beachfront yoga
- Wine & digestive tasting
- Mindfulness sessions
- Stretch and breathe classes
- Vintage Cruiser Bicycle Rides
- Fishing at the Palm Cove jetty
A Location to Die For
Located along Williams Esplanade, the Coral Sea is only metres away. The coastline is marked by the palm trees that line it, and the calm gentle waves of the ocean help to create that sense of serenity that can’t be found just anywhere.
Many of the Reef House’s rooms and suites offer ocean views, while you can also take the view in from restaurant’s deck or from the beach itself, which is only moments away.
The Reef House is also only a short walk, or bike ride, from the town’s cafes, boutiques and bars, so exploring is easy!
It’s a Launching Pad into a World Waiting to be Explored
Each of these attractions offer numerous ways to explore and experience them. Some of the most amazing ways you can experience these attractions include:
Wet Tropics:
- Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventures
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Waterfall Wanderers
- Mosman Gorge
- Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Cableway
Great Barrier Reef:
- Sailaway Sunset Sail
- Tropical Island Day Trips
- GBR Helicopter Flight
- Outer Reef Diving Adventures
- Sand Cay and Island Hopping Tours
When you stay at the Reef House, you can work with the inhouse luxury concierge to come up with the perfect experience itinerary, so you can make the most of your time and spectacular location.
Capture the Romance at the Reef House
With a variety of packages on offer from one-night mini escapes to 7-night retreat packages on offer, you’ll be able to find a great option for you and your loved one.
The Reef House even offers a romantic package, specifically tailored to help you celebrate your love. Enjoy inclusions like premium sparkling wine, daily breakfast overlooking the Coral Sea, and a candlelit three-course a la carte dinner at the Reef House Restaurant.
You can even up the ante of your romantic trip with private dining options and picnic experiences.
The picnic experience gives you the option of a prepared takeaway picnic where you can take your picnic and find your ideal location, or you can choose the beach front picnic, where the Reef House will set up a picnic, complete with chairs, table, picnic mat and umbrella on the beach in front of the hotel.
These picnics, along with the variety of onsite and offsite activities can be organised with the help of the Reef House’s own luxury escape planner.
Create the perfect romantic getaway with the Reef House today!
