Amarna Resort

White sand runs from the pool deck straight to the water at Dutchmans Beach. Floor-to-ceiling windows in every apartment frame the bay toward Myall Lakes National Park, and at low tide the sand stretches wide and pale below the balconies. Amarna Luxury Beach Resort holds eleven apartments across three buildings, ranging from one to five bedrooms, each fully self-contained and serviced daily. Three moorings sit just off the shore, so guests can arrive by boat and leave it in the water for the stay. It is a quiet, low-key spot. The main pool runs 25 metres, heated year-round, with a spa alongside it and views that hold through winter and summer sunsets alike. Some upper apartments come with their own plunge pool and invisible-edge spa, screened by garden and opening straight onto the beach. Interiors favour stone and American oak floors, gas fireplaces and separate media rooms in the larger units, with full-length balconies fitted for outdoor dining and barbecues. You can watch for dolphins from the balcony, and whale season brings sightings from the shoreline too. Massage and beauty therapists work in-apartment, from deep tissue to facials, by appointment. Nelson Bay's cafés, dive operators and walking tracks into Tomaree National Park sit a short walk or drive away.