The Sails Motel in Brunswick Heads offers the total motel experience

As you wind along the Pacific Highway in northern NSW, with exit signs dotting the way and marking the small coastal towns that have long since been bypassed, pay close attention to the turnoff for Brunswick Heads, a quaint little seaside town and home to The Sails Motel.

Built in the 1960s and originally known as The Casablanca Motel, the inn was purchased in 2015 by its current owners, Simon Johnson and Amanda Newman, who have given the motel a new lease of life.

For this reason, it now attracts far beyond the weary traveller looking for a simple rest stop, reaching new clientele who are seeking a relaxing coastal getaway.

“The idea was to find a place that ticked all our boxes – from the right amount of rooms, swimming pool, restaurant, climate and location – and we certainly found all that here,” Johnson says.

“The property appeared surprisingly under the radar, with great bones and potential to upgrade the facilities – it was just in need of a thorough overhaul.”

With the goal of being sympathetic to the motel’s era by retaining its nostalgic appeal and not rushing things, the couple got to know how the building functioned prior to the refurbishment, which proved to be worthwhile in its transformation.

“There’s a great mishmash of style … hacienda archways, Mediterranean paint job and plenty of nods to the classic American roadside motels,” Johnson says.

“From the quintessential swimming pool to the meticulously paved courtyard, it all seems to work well together, reminding you of someplace, somewhere, that you’ve seemingly been before.”

Besides the 22 modern and comfortable rooms, all of which have access to a shared terrace or balcony, The Sails Motel provides guests with many ways to unwind.

“The swimming pool and adjacent Pool Club provide the best place to worship the sun with a drink in hand, while our restaurant and wine bar, Saint Maries Pizza Restaurant, serves great food and drinks,” Johnson says. “Our hope is that our guests are able to get into holiday mode and slow down.”

With the centre of town a short walk away, there are plenty of other reasons to stay awhile, not least the opportunity to discover this quiet town, in comparison to its sister to the south, Byron Bay.

“Like a lot of small towns, there were concerns that the bypass would impact local businesses and property, but in the long term, nothing could have been further from the truth,” Johnson says.

“Not only has Brunswick Heads kept all of its charms, but it has only grown in popularity.”

While in Brunswick Heads …

Get a coffee fix

Start your day by heading across the road to the Daily Counter to get your fix of Allpress coffee, bagels, toasties and pressed juices. If you wish, you can also leave with an armful of fresh blooms.

Hunt for local treasures

Stroll around town and browse at boutique shops like Lazybones and retro stores such as Resould. And, should your visit fall on the first Saturday of the month, you can also visit the popular Brunswick Heads Markets.

Spend time by the water

Unsurprisingly, the most popular activities in town are water-related. Be it swimming, surfing, fishing, boating or kayaking, the Brunswick River and Torakina Beach provide the perfect spots.

Follow the food trail

Take a bite from the beloved burgers of Old Maids Burger Store, stop in for some sweets at Bruns Bakery, indulge in a Mexican feast at La Casita and, if you’re lucky, score a table at the award-winning restaurant Fleet.