The Anchorage... The perfect escape with that special someone...
It's hard to imagine a better place for a romantic getaway than The Anchorage at Nelson Bay.
Absolute waterfront.
A timber boardwalk that winds alongside the marina.
A jaw-dropping coastal panorama on one side; bushland backdrop on the other.
An intimate two-storey resort. Every room with a balcony. What's not to like?
That's certainly what the guests are thinking as they laze around the pool or soak up the atmosphere from their sun-drenched balconies.
And I haven't mentioned the fabulous restaurant that champions local produce - seafood a specialty as you'd imagine - and overlooks the pool, the luxury yachts and the magnificent bay and stone breakwall.
Welcome to paradise.
It’s down the end of a cul-de-sac on a scenic headland at Corlette with no passing traffic so it’s secluded and ever so serene.
The day of our visit, the sun is shining and it’s a balmy 20C as we stroll along the boardwalk and admire the sleek luxury yachts and smaller, more modest, boats bobbing at their moorings as fishermen cast a line off the rock breakwall that shelters the marina’s waters from the rippling sea of the Bay.
We imagine boarding one of the luxury yachts and setting sail into the wide blue yonder (the resort can book you a sunset sail, a particularly romantic voyage) but we’ve decided to enjoy a long lazy alfresco lunch at The Galley Kitchen restaurant and catch some rays.
We settle at a table overlooking the pool on one side and the marina out front, relishing the gentle sea breeze. The sparkling bay is just a stone’s throw away, so ordering seafood from the pristine waters around Port Stephens is a no-brainer. And we’re happy to see the compact but interesting wine list includes four Hunter Valley semillons – our go-to wine when eating seafood.
Local home-grown Port Stephens oysters are offered either natural or baked and we opt for natural with shallots and a red wine vinaigrette. We slurp down six delicious freshly shucked oysters with an oyster-friendly Krinklewood biodynamic semillon - the lemony acidity a perfect foil for the clean, briny flavour of the oysters.
And if you really want to indulge yourself, the wine list also features the acclaimed Tyrrell’s Vat 1 semillon. And speaking of indulging, if you love bubbly like I do you’ll be happy to know there are half a dozen Champagnes on offer, including Louis Roederer Cristal and Dom Perignon, and the restaurant also holds Veuve Cliquot dinners throughout the year.
But back to lunch. We’re tempted by the dishes to share between two, like the slow-cooked lamb shoulder or seafood paella but order two mains instead. Balmain bugs are halved and served simply with garlic and herbs with a salad combo of tomato, feta and rocket… and thick crunchy house cut chips. Simple but satisfying. And a good sized portion of barramundi, baked in paperbark, is pepped up by a macadamia and lemon myrtle pesto, the nutty flavours balanced by the gentle tang of the lemon. A coriander, green bean and lime leaf salad is a refreshing accompaniment.
We could have lingered longer and got stuck into desserts such as coconut pannacotta or melting chocolate pudding but the waistbands were already decidedly tight – although one of us (okay I’ll put up my hand) was very interested in the Decadent High Tea menu that’s served from 2.30pm.
My husband had heard about Hemmingway’s Bar, named after the famous author who had a fondness for whisky, so we headed upstairs to check it out. Apart from selling a wide range of single malt whiskies (and cocktails and the usual tipples) it also holds daily whisky tastings where you can try four aged whiskies with a plate of charcuterie for $60.
Other onsite amenities include Spa Lucca, where you can unwind and enjoy a spa treatment while listening to the soothing sounds of the ocean, and then chill out in the relaxation room with steam and spa tub. Plus there are yoga classes several days a week and did I mention the outdoor swimming pool is heated so you can enjoy a mid-winter dip without turning into a popsicle.
There’s a protected swimming beach at Corlette, just a short walk from The Anchorage, and it’s only a five-minute drive to the heart of Nelson Bay with its many restaurants, cafes and marina where the dolphin- and whale-watching cruises depart.
With 80 rooms decked out in a plush Hamptons-style decor, there’s no denying The Anchorage is a real head-turner. Perfect for a special weekend with someone special.