The Lilypad floating villa in Palm Beach, one of Sydney’s most popular getaways, is reopening to the public with a new sauna and wine cellar to make those “escapes” truly relaxing and soothing.
Following a number of upgrades to the isolated floating accommodation, designer and owner Chuck Anderson said that the refurbished Lilypad will offer returning guests a different feeling whilst new visitors will appreciate the efficient use of space.
The luxe home now boasts of a seamless connection between the king-sized bedroom, the kitchen, the refurbished sauna, as well as the sleek new wine cellar stocked with Las Vino, Veuve Clicquot or Glenmorangie. Lilypad is also now running on solar power with some improved engineering as it drifts in the water.
First opened in a secluded part of the Northern Beaches in 2019, Lilypad gave guests a taste of a romantic luxury resort meant for two. The floating accommodation’s biggest appeal back then was its own living room deck where guests could marvel at the ocean’s beauty with a drink on hand.
For a maximum of a five-night stay, the villa also provided meals on request from a private chef, as well as onboard massages, use of a private boat for guests to go back and forth on the mainland, fishing tools, and paddled boards if they want to explore the water. However, the guests could also prepare the food themselves from the well-equipped modern kitchen.
Lilypad also offered a Wi-Fi connection and Netflix so that the guests may still feel connected to the digital space whilst isolated in paradise.
However, in September 2020, the houseboat was destroyed by a large blaze from its fireplace. Fire investigators determined it was accidental but this gave Mr Anderson a chance to rebuild the houseboat from a Scandinavian-style vacation venue into a Mediterranean villa.
The upgraded venue will be ready to welcome guests in February 2022. However, Mr Anderson said priority will be given to residents of Sydney, who are starving for a getaway but are concerned about the risks of travel.
