12 Sep Mantra on Salt Kingscliff – Accommodation Review

On the northern New South Wales coastline not far from the village of Kingscliff you’ll find the great white holiday digs at Mantra on Salt Beach.

I love Mantra on Salt Beach Kingscliff.  It’s like your fav couch that is so comfortable sink right into and immediately feel your home.

I could be a little bit bias though.

Ten years ago, on a sweaty summer’s day, with 120 of our favourite people looking on, we said ‘I do’  there.  It turned into a three-day weekend with late buffet breakfasts, get to know you barbecues and Thai takeaway on our balcony.

Mantra on Salt Beach is a great place to take a holiday whether you have no kids or two in tow and a third on the way.  We have returned to the scene of the crime several times and the crime scene never gets boring.  It’s always so relaxing.

Staying there as a couple is awesome and it’s all dining out, drinks by the pool and takeaway from your ocean view balcony.

So is staying there on my own writing blog posts, reading Anita Shreve, and sipping flat whites at Saltbean espresso and sleeping.

As a family destination, though, it comes into its own.  I know that because two weeks before we became a family of five, we took a family moon to Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff.

This was how we spent our time…

We spent morning sessions in the ocean side pool and afternoon sessions in what the kids describe as the hot pool (spa). We sip fresh juices from saltbean espresso while we watched the kids in the park between the accommodation at Salt and Peppers (no I’m not joking they’re the two main accomm venues).

After lunch we got very technical building sandcastles on the patrolled beach and eating choc mint gelato at Piccolo. Then it was putting on our haviana’s and heading to Salt Beachbar and Bistro for surf n turf.

We sipped cold Semillion and lemon, lime and bitters and actually got to hear ourselves speak while the kids watch the movie of the night and scream around the sound proof kids corner.  When we were all worn out it was just a short wander back to our room and past the best stocked IGA Express ever to pick up some chocolate and more ice cream.

Mantra on Salt Beach is totally set up for families.  With self-contained hotel, one, two and three bedroom units there’s plenty of room for a start.  Most rooms have some kind of view whether it’s the ocean or the second resort pool and tennis courts.

Feeding everyone is not a problem either.  When we got sick of cooking spaghetti bolognese in our room or sausages on the barbecue we would head out to Salt Village Fish and Chips, Mahsuri Thai, Sea Salt Ristorante or fabulous Fins.

Your beauty needs are catered for too. Needing a haircut and colour while I was there in readiness for those ‘I’ve just had a baby and I’m going to pretend it was effortless shots’ I tried several times to get an appointment.  The first time I was thwarted by a wedding party being booked in and the second time by an overnight stay in the Mater Mothers Brisbane to monitor pesky contractions that stopped. Which was lucky because nothing was stopping me getting back from the Mater to my last holiday pre-baby no three.

We got back to Mantra on Salt Beach in time for Kids Club in the ballroom.  Running from 4-6pm it’s a perfectly timed session for the grown ups to enjoy happy hour and enjoy it we did with cold drinks overlooking the pool.

In need of a dress that I could look forward to wearing after baby arrived, I picked up a new dress for me and polo’s for the boys at the Witchery sale but I decided to leave behind a new white shirt at Sunburn.

But alas all good things must come to an end and nine months of pregnancy had to end sometime.

And so we left two days before the baby came, and after we’d gotten through just the right amount of gelati, flat whites, chicken nuggets, hot chips, bacon and eggs.

Hugo arrived on Thursday 14 April, all nine pounds or 4.07 kgs of him and life as a family of five began almost ten years to the day after we said ‘I do’ at Mantra on Salt, Kingscliff.

Can’t wait to go back, maybe before baby no.4 comes 😉

Tricked you!

Kidding! Three is most definitely enough.

Bouquets: clean, modern well thought out self-contained rooms with laundries, a good kitchen and great views.  Away from the hustle and bustle of bigger beach side towns like Surfers Paradise or Mooloolaba.

Brickbats:  Even though it’s supposedly heated, the massive front pool is quite cool in April and really only good for swimming when the sun is high in the sky.

THE FACTS

Mantra on Salt, Kingscliff

(02) 6670 5000

1800 811 454

Cost:

From Mantra on Salt Kingsliff website:

School Hols June/July

3 nights

– 2 Bed Ocean Spa Suite $1085

-2 Bed  Ocean Spa Deluxe $1175

-3 Bed Spa Suite $1325

WiFi: Free at Saltbean Espresso, paid in the resort

Parking: lots and it’s free

Darkness of rooms: 7/10

Service: 8/10 but once you get there you don’t really need them.

Toiletries: 6/10

Bed & Linen: 9/10

Stay again? Definitely

Check on Air BnB and L J Hooker Kingscliff. There are a few units privately owned that people let for a better rate.  We found a private unit owner on Air BnB and it made our holiday really affordable.

Facilities: Tennis courts, bikes, kids club during school holidays, two pools, spa, gym, bar, restaurants, beachside, restaurants, clothing shops, bottle shop, hairdresser, beauty spa, event facilities.

Getting there:

From Sydney – Fly to Coolangatta and then 10 minute drive/taxi ride to the resort

From Brisbane – Drive 1hour 24 mins – 116.7klm via the M1

Train – Central to Varsity Lakes station and taxi or bus the rest