Want to make sparks fly, or sloth it out? Whether you want to get wild or get pampered, find bucolic bliss or urban buzz, max out that 48-hour window with our annual round-up of bright, beautiful escapes across the country. 4 Ocean St, Yamba; 0477 518 770. This renovated jewel spills down to the sea in a fishing town seven hours north of Sydney.
Five apartments of varying layouts – each with a balcony and buckets of Amalfi Coast charm – are terraced into a sparkling white stucco building high on a hill above one of Yamba’s six beaches. A seaside inn since 1948, its Spanish Mission bones have been lovingly updated by creator Sheree Commerford, who grew up nearby. Terracotta tiles, rattan, striped linen, hand-painted ceramics and sea-creature motifs bring the Med chic, while each bathroom is a more-is-more clash of Edwardian and Marrakesh style.
Clever architecture gives each apartment (named after Italian coastal towns) ocean views. There’s nothing between you and the blue horizon, which means maximum privacy and minimal noise (unless you count the waves). Lazy days might be spent on the shared terrace under a rust-coloured umbrella, watching for dolphins through the binoculars provided, or playing backgammon indoors.
Surfboards and a list of recommended beaches are on hand, along with intel on nearby walks and towns to explore. Well-appointed kitchens with white Smeg appliances, a shelf of cookbooks and a hamper service (from breakfast to aperitivo) make it entirely p.