The Sails Motel

The Sails Motel had been on my radar for its trendy, nautical aesthetic and its location in charming Brunswick Heads, a once sleepy fishing village in Northern New South Wales. It was our second wedding anniversary and we wanted somewhere that embodied the quintessential coastal getaway, without the crowds and a hefty price tag.

Simple, clean and comfortable. You could tell it was an older style motel that had been revamped, the bathrooms gave that away, but the queen sized bed was comfortable and neutral décor matched the coastal vibe. 

The Sails Motel is a retro motel, with a contemporary touch. It’s still got that old-school motel vibe, but has been thoughtfully updated.  Think polished concrete, white walls and fiddle leaf figs in the common area and modern furniture, air-conditioning and flat screen TVs in the rooms. It’s located on the ‘main drag’ of Brunswick Heads, but is only a short stroll to the shops and beach. Better yet, we didn’t have to drive anywhere, so had a margarita glow for the whole weekend.

Brunswick Heads is quite simply heaven. It’s what comes to mind when you think of a classic Australian coastal town, that hasn’t been completely taken over by tourists. There are high quality restaurants and bars, but it’s also home to the famous Brunswick Heads Hotel… where you may even win a meat tray for dinner.

Brunswick Heads is a friendly community and no one is ever too busy for a chat. We met locals while having our morning dip at Torakina Beach, while enjoying drinks at Trawlers Bar & Kitchen (below The Sails Motel), chats with the owners of The Sails Motel, while cooing over their revamp of the motel and friendly families who were swimming in the motel’s pool.