Motor into these 7 retro NSW motels

Engage in a time-honoured Australian tradition in a new way with a stay at a reimagined drive-in motel on an epic New South Wales road trip. Reminisce about holidays gone by as you make new memories at your retro-styled stay. Here are seven characterful options worth seeking out, from north to south. 

Relive childhood beach holidays at the Blue Water Motel in Kingscliff 

Memories of childhood beach holidays come rushing back in low-key Kingscliff, a low-rise and low-key beach town on the far North Coast. Even more so at the Blue Water Motel, where renowned interior stylist and designer Jason Grant has recast an 1980s motel into an effortlessly stylish homage to the area's early days as beach holiday destination. Feel soothed by the pastel-blue hues of your room as you cosy up in bed, switch off the clam-shell lamp, and drift off to sleep to the sounds of the ocean, less than 200m from your door.  

Retreat to The Sunseeker in Byron Bay 

Step back into '70s Byron Bay at The Sunseeker, a red-brick motel transformed into an oasis of retro-styled relaxation in this buzzy North Coast holiday town. Check into one of the 12 spacious guest rooms furnished with custom pieces, or perhaps one of the nine bungalows if you're travelling with kids, and proceed directly to the poolside tiki bar. Claim a lounger by the kidney-shaped pool, surrounded by subtropical gardens, and savour a specialty cocktail while your kids hit the nature-inspired playground. When you're refreshed and ready to venture out, it's only a short walk to the beach or into the heart of town.  

Kick back at The Cubana in Ballina 

Rewind to the golden era of travel in an affordable way at The Cubana, the newest old hotel in the peaceful coastal town of Ballina, a 30-minute drive south of Byron Bay. Here vibrant pops of colour and '60s-style furnishings (geometric cushions, round mirrors and neon signs) have breathed new life into the motor inn, setting the scene for a fun stay in easy reach of central Ballina. Enjoy a splash in the pool and a cocktail from the retro-caravan bar, as well as the convenience of a fully equipped kitchen for those nights you prefer to stay in. (If you loved The Cubana in Ballina, look out for its sister hotel, around a three-hour drive south in Nambucca Heads.  

Find an art deco sanctuary in the Blue Mountains 

Lean into the bohemian charm of Blackheath in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, with a stay at The Kyah, a '70s resort reimagined into a graceful 46-room boutique hotel with a chic art deco aesthetic. Furnished in a made-for-cosying-up palette of soft pink, forest green, rust-red and moody grey, it's the ultimate retreat after an invigorating Blue Mountains ramble. Settle in for a memorable meal at on-site restaurant Blaq (also open to non-guests), where you can taste the freshness of produce plucked straight from The Kyah's gardens as you savour the beauty, diversity and terroir of the NSW wines featured on the expertly curated wine list.  

Uncover a '50s-style stay in the Shoalhaven region 

Get an unexpected taste of desert chic in historic Berry, a two-hour drive south of Sydney, where a mid-century motor inn has been lovingly restored in a palette of tangerine and mustard hues that transports you straight back to the time this small motel was built. Take advantage of The Berry View's seamless car-to-door check-in — all 13 rooms have Smart-Lock technology — and enjoy the relaxing countryside views through the picture windows as you sink into your comfy bed after a busy day exploring Berry.  

Be a kid again at The Isla in Batemans Bay 

Indulge your inner child at The Isla in Batemans Bay on the South Coast, where the motel makeover features a 'Cantina' housing two custom vending machines dispensing everything from canned cocktails and local craft beer to microwave popcorn and toothpaste. Enjoy your drinks by the pool in the shade of a retro umbrella, or retreat to the stylish poolhouse to curl up with a good book on a rainy day. After a day at the beach, enjoy a blissful rain shower in your contemporary room fused with retro design staples like oak and terrazzo, before flopping onto a king-size bed.  

Drive into a mid-century dream in the Murray 

It's hard to resist the allure of the retro neon sign marking the entrance to the Astor Hotel Motel, just off the Hume Highway in the Murray region hub of Albury. Fresh from a full-colour facelift of its façades, this '60s motel is more inviting than ever. While a renovation of its 45 comfortable guestrooms is still in the works, weary travellers will be delighted to discover that the bar, bistro, coffee cart and beer garden have all had a mid-century makeover. Order some Southern fried chicken and pretend you're on Route 66.

*Website: https://www.destinationnsw.com.au