Mr & Mrs Smith

Annalilli

Byron Bay, Australia

Stylish holiday house Annalilli offers a luxe yet laid-back escape in Byron Bay. A bright and breezy three-bedroom cottage, Annalilli is tucked into a quiet nature reserve, just five minutes' drive from the town's famous beaches, eateries and boutiques. Light-drenched living areas are designed with entertaining in mind, cleverly bringing the outdoors in. With its cherry-picked artworks and strict 10pm noise curfew, this is no party shack, however, but more a chilled-out escape for family and friends.

Need to know

• Rates information From AU$500 a night, but if the house is only occupied by a couple, lower rates may apply. Rates include free local phone calls.
• Ideal for Couples, groups of friends and families.
• Sleeps 2–7
• Property style This renovated Queenslander home has all-wood interiors, soaring ceilings and an intriguing mix of modern art and Aboriginal artefacts.
• Grounds Annalilli is set in a residential estate on a bushland reserve that's filled with lush tropical plants. Tall palm trees, ginger blossoms and vines provide privacy.
• Minimum hire Three-night minimum stay. From 15 December–31 January, over Easter, and during the school holidays, there's a one-week minimum.
• Children This hotel is better suited to couples - leave the children at home!
• Booking process For bookings made more than four weeks in advance, a deposit of 50 per cent is required. The balance of payment will be charged to your credit card four weeks prior to arrival. If the booking is made less than four weeks prior to your arrival date, payment is required in full.
• Also A few house rules... you can't smoke indoors, pets aren't allowed, and this isn't a party pad – you have to hush after 10pm.

Floor plan

• Annalilli sleeps six, with three bedrooms and an optional fourth bedroom on request.

• Bedrooms

  All rooms have good-quality linen on the beds, polished wooden floorboards and screened windows that open on to the garden. Ceiling fans ensure you'll keep your cool over summer (December–February), when the humidity is at its worst.

  The Master Bedroom is spacious and modern, with a king-size bed, large walk-in robe and an ensuite bathroom. Indigenous woven baskets hang from the high ceilings and a large modern Australian painting dominates the white wooden walls.

  Bedroom two is located towards the centre of the house, opposite the kitchen and next to the living area. This second bedroom has a queen-size bed, two built-in wardrobes, hand-crafted Aboriginal pieces, pastel paintings and plenty of natural light.

  Bedroom three is a slightly smaller room with two king single beds, a simple wooden hanging rack in place of a wardrobe and a striking tribal wall-hanging. It’s located next to the second bathroom.

• Kitchen

  Running the length of the open-plan living and dining area, the kitchen is one of Annalilli's main drawcards. Features include modern appliances, a large fridge, an espresso machine, five-ring gas-burner stove, oven, microwave, dishwasher and a blender for those all-important daiquiris.

• Living room

  The main living room is lined with windows, so it's flooded with natural light. With a central fireplace surrounded by bench seats and a wicker day-bed, it's a room that's hard to drag yourself away from. The standout feature is the set of double glass doors that open out onto another living area, which effectively doubles the space. This indoor/outdoor room has a barbecue, a long bench seat, two rustic tables with eight chairs, and a cane swing-seat suspended from the ceiling. There's a second lounge room inside that has a flatscreen TV, DVD player, double lounge chair, built-in desk and a king-single bed (this becomes the fourth bedroom on request).

• Dining room

  A wooden dining table in the kitchen seats eight.

• Other

  The main bathroom features a double-sized shower, streamlined white fittings and windows that open onto the garden. The ensuite bathroom has a large double bath tub and a separate rain shower, as well as a tiled bench seat that runs under a line of louvered windows. The tiled floors in both bathrooms are heated during winter (June–August).

• Gardens A tropical delight, the lush gardens are filled with palm trees, native bush and all manner of exotic flowers.
• Private parking The garage isn't for guest use, but two cars can park in the driveway.
• Other There's an outdoor shower near the front steps so you can rinse your sandy feet and salty limbs before heading indoors.