Mr & Mrs Smith

For a refined atmosphere, head for Barrenjoey House, at 1108 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach (+61 (0)2 9974 4001). It's a beautiful room, where the wicker furniture is a lovely contrast to the sandstone bar topped with antique railway sleepers. Choose champagne or a cocktail to match the romantic mood. At Clareville Kiosk, at 27 Delecta Avenue, Clareville Beach (+61 (0)2 9918 2727), chef Cameron Johnston presides over the contemporary European-style menu. Dishes span confit of duck and crisp-skinned ocean trout at this much-loved restaurant that manages to feel cozy and bright all at once.

The hotel can hook you up with local attractions, from whale-watching, surfing, fishing and sailing to land-based pursuits, such as golf, beachcombing or walks to the nearby Barrenjoey Lighthouse, at the tip of the Northern Beaches peninsula. Ferry trips on PIttwater, a scenic bay behind Jonah's, which divides the peninsula from the adjacent Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park further inland, are a fun day out too. The area's fabulous beaches are a must-see too: nearest to hand, Whale Beach is gorgeous and suits families and surfers; Palm Beach, further north, boasts beach pools for kids; Avalon, to the south, is medium-sized with tough surf but tempting cafés, shops and picnic tables; and Bilgola, further south still, has good swimming and saltwater pools. Expect plummeting headlands for added drama.