Page 167 - Marie Claire Australia (January 2020)

ESCAPE

amily holidays are all about ratios: time with the
brood, couple time and time apart. Something like
50:30:20 is a good place to start. When the kids are
little, it’s about making memories before they get too SRI PANWA , THAIL AND
F cool for the parentals. As they get older, it’s more Family holiday heaven can be found at this super
about keeping them occupied through long school holidays and luxe hotel between beach and jungle in Phuket.
perhaps connecting on a higher level. Every break also needs Sure, it might take most people two planes to get
at least a few moments where you can forget you’re a parent. there, but the one-two punch of kids’ club plus day
The perfect spot has to be easy to get to (or worth the slog) spa will usher you into holiday mode on arrival.
with multi-generational, multi-room accommodation, and Steal away as a couple at Baba Nest, a
a cool-but-kid-friendly vibe. Adventure, good food and rooftop bar surrounded by an infinity-edge pool
photo opportunities await. And, with a little tag-teaming, seating just 30 people (book ahead – there’s a
so does your summer reading list.
waiting list) or at Japanese fine-dining restaurant
Baba Iki. The Poolclub, Baba Soul Food and
Baba Chino (Chinese), on the other hand,
are multi-generational crowd-pleasers.
On the accommodation front, Habita is
the newest and most design-forward branch
of the resort. It boasts 20 luxury pool suites and
10 penthouses, as well as a deluxe club lounge
and an Olympic-size forest waterfall pool.
Elsewhere, the options range from one-bedroom
villas to five-bedroom residences.
Kids will love the games room and kids’ club

Sri Panwa’s activities, which include batik art classes. Parents
waterfall pool. can even get an in-house certified swim instructor
OPPOSITE PAGE to take the little ones for a splash while they zone
The resort’s pool
at dusk; and out in a day bed. Heaven. Visit sripanwa.com
Baba Poolclub.

RIGHT Sails at Port
Macquarie is the
perfect place for
families, with its
outdoor heated
pool and spa.
BELOW The hotel
has manicured SAILS, PORT M ACQUARIE
lawns, waterfront This once-sleepy coastal town has had a specialty coffee
views and
a surrounding hit, followed by a food and wine booster. However, the
town with a hip, scenery is as stunning as ever. Think rainforest meets white
holiday vibe. sandy beaches, with farms and wineries all around, drawing
a wave of entrepreneurs to establish their dream projects.
The place to stay in town is Sails, a four-and-a-half-star
waterfront hotel operated by Rydges. In house, there’s
kayaking, tennis and a pool, while The Boathouse Bar &
Restaurant has your family meals covered. Farther afield, you
can take the kids strawberry picking at Ricardoes Tomatoes,
then to Bago Vineyards for cheese platters and wine tasting
for adults, Russian chocolates and a hedge maze. For
wildlife, swing by the Koala Hospital and Billabong Zoo.
GUTTER CREDIT and Salty Crew Kiosk. Then book the babysitter for dinner
For elevated family food, check out Bandwagon cafe
at Whalebone Wharf, so you can enjoy executive chef
Peter Ridland’s fare uninterrupted. Visit rydges.com.au

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