Callala Bay Accommodation: Tour this Barefoot Luxe AirBnb House

Where lush parklands spill over onto white sandy shores and beach shacks sit in awe of Jervis Bay's pristine wilderness. Callala Bay's blissful lifestyle of sun-kissed days is the perfect setting for Melanie Horner's Callala Bay accommodation, Mandala Beach House. A newly built holiday home designed for people to gather away from their every day. 
 
"We wanted to build the ultimate holiday house by the beach, and we spent a couple of years looking for a block of land with ocean views. Then we found our little piece of paradise in Callala," says Melanie.  

Having grown up on NSW's South Coast and regularly holidaying in Jervis Bay, Melanie wanted the beach house to reflect the relaxed coastal lifestyle that the region is renowned for. Mandala's barefoot luxe vibe goes hand-in-hand with the slow-pace of Callala Bay, perfect for the family-friendly holiday home Melanie's created.

Together with interior stylist, Jessi Eve, Melanie created a comfortably stylish Aussie beach house. Heavily influenced by Melanie's childhood by the sea, Jessi took inspiration from her relaxed coastal style.

Mandala Beach House - The Palm Co.

"I find coastal colours such as blues and greens relaxing, so I knew they had to be in the colour scheme," explains Melanie. "Jessi helped me bring my vision to life by pulling together a palette of sandy neutrals and grey stone tones paired with soft sky pastels and ocean blues."

Organic and natural textures (cotton, linen, rattan and timber) combined with the artwork bring that holiday vibe into the home.

When designing the six-bedroom, five-bathroom holiday house with her building designer, Andrew Fogarty of AJF Designs, Melanie had a list of must-haves, that to her, would create the ultimate beach home. Spacious bedrooms with en-suites, including a master bedroom with a deep-set bathtub that soaks up views of the bay. Ducted air-conditioning, gas fireplace, outdoor kitchen, covered alfresco area and a heated saltwater swimming pool. 

Mandala has all of this, plus a spacious, open plan living area which flows effortlessly out onto an expansive balcony. With uninterrupted views of Jervis Bay, it's the hub of the home, with a fully-equipped kitchen, bespoke dining table, reading nooks, and a lounging zone with an oversized rustic Rajasthan mirror reflecting views of the bay.    

Mandala Beach House - The Palm Co.

"We knew our guests would spend most of their time socialising and creating memories in this part of our house, so we wanted a large, light-filled area to wow them! We also wanted to ensure that we had a wide balcony for our guests to be able to sit outside on our lounge suite/bar table and enjoy the sunrise and sunset over the water," says Melanie.

Then there is the backyard with a saltwater pool, grassy area and an alfresco dining area complete with a bar fridge and gourmet barbeque. Perfect for summery days.  

"We created Mandala Beach House so that people could experience the wonderful Jervis Bay region from a comfortable, stylish, and family-friendly setting," Melanie says. "We also wanted it to be a place that groups of friends and couples could enjoy."

Along the northern shores of Jervis Bay, Callala Bay is all about easy-breezy living by the sea. A quiet place where time slows down and summer days linger. Where white sandy beaches meet the pristine wilderness of Jervis Bay National Park, and water play and exploring the Jervis Bay Marine Park is always high on the agenda. And although Callala Bay has a small selection of shops, nearby Huskisson delivers on the goods. On-trend cafes and restaurants celebrate local produce, and boutique stores nod to the coastal lifestyle. 

Top: Huskisson, Left: Few and Far, Right: The Butter Factory

For coffee and breakfast 

Remo's Bakery at Bayview Plaza (Callala Bay Shopping Centre) are a passionate local team serving great coffee, along with a wide selection of pies, sourdough, and baked goods.

For lunch

The Butter Factory in Pyree (15-minute drive from Mandala) is rich in character and history. Set in an old butter factory dating back to 1889, the restaurant looks over countryside and grazing cows. Local chef, Andrew and his wife Maria love making rustic seasonal dishes from local produce.  

For dinner

Callala Bay is quiet after dark, so put your feet up and call a chef for a special night in, with either Mirritya Mundya and Citrus Catering.
 

For drinks

Our balcony is the best place for sunset drinks! We have sweeping views across Jervis Bay and plenty of seating for a large group. And the balcony is just a few metres from the fridge.

Go-to local boutiques

It's no secret the best homewares/clothing boutiques are in nearby Huskisson. It's a 25-minute drive from Mandala, or you can catch the Husky Ferry across Currambine Creek from Myola. Our top homewares picks are Indigo Love and Few and Far, followed by lunch at Pilgrims vegetarian café. 

Best kept secret

Callala Beach has fine white sand, aqua blue water and is one of the longest beaches (5.6km) in Jervis Bay. It's also the perfect beach for swimmers offering crystal clear, shallow water, gentle waves and it's uncrowded, even in summer. Families will love Callala Creek, which is a protected swimming spot.