Testimonials
By Guests & Travel Writers
Reviews by our Guests
Words by Mr and Mrs Pope
“Here I sit.. still trying to come to terms with returning to reality. My darling husband spent many a time emailing the wonderful staff there at Kims, planning for a wonderful surprise he was going to spring on me for my 40th birthday and to celebrate 21 years together. We had come across Kims around 20 years ago and fell in love with the place.
The waves crashing on the beach, the birds singing their songs all through the day and even the possums playing in the trees at night. Kims makes you feel you are on a tropical island. You feel you are the only people there until you go to the dining room to savour the delights of their kitchen. All I can say about the food is “awesome”.
The staff at Kims are exceptional.. they went out of their way to make our stay carefree and stress free. They always had a smile on their face and greeted you every-time you passed by them.
The Hideaway was just perfect.. we were hidden up in the trees with our own private swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi. Oh and the bed.. it was like floating on a cloud. We could not fault anything in the room.
From the first day you get there you feel the stress just melt away. I would recommend Kims to anyone even though I do think that maybe keeping it a secret is better for us.. I know.. I am greedy. Thank you to all the wonderful lovely staff.. you made our stay superb. Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!!”
Words by Mr Bint
“We had a perfect stay and a simply wonderful few days as a family this time around. Kims has become a real holiday “home away from home” for us.
As always, you and your staff continue to provide a welcoming and friendly atmosphere backed up by excellent service and delicious meals. I never tire of the beauty of the beach and bush setting and look forward to our next visit.
All your staff are most helpful, but a special thank you this time to Robert who, when asked to clean my car window, cleaned the whole car! Many thanks and best wishes.”
Words by Ms Wiessner
“Thank you for your welcome, acknowledgment of our 30th Wedding Anniversary and the lovely gift of the champagne.
Robyn & I have desired to have the Kims experience for nearly 15yrs. This has been the most wonderful way of fulfilling that dream. (we both hope to return again much sooner!)
Please pass onto your staff just how much we appreciated their warmth, friendliness and courteous service. They enabled us to feel just so special, welcome and at ease.
Words are difficult to write to express how beautiful a time these 24hrs have been for us as a couple. We take with us such rich memories and refreshment. It would truly be wonderful to have a couple of days next time though I have to admit, I will have to forgo some of the luscious food if we are here for more than three meals.
Again, thank you!! I hope that you receive some of the joy and appreciation that I have tried to convey.”
Words by Mr Arcuri
Words by Dr Hinds
“A note to say ‘thank you from the heart’ for a truly delightful stay. Everything from the room to the hospitality of your management & team – to the delectable food, ambience and ‘can do’ attitude truly sets your property apart from any other. We came away revived, invigorated and rested. Beautiful to meet you both and bask in your haven. With every best wish.”
Reviews by our Travel Writers
Words by Darren Goodsir
"The resort has operated in various guises since 1886. It has gone from a simple bush camp through to rustic cabins with slab-timbered kitchens, and on to its present incarnation – a brilliantly located series of tasteful bungalows dotted around a main dining room, bar and reception area, overlooking what is usually one of the Central Coast’s most tranquil ocean inlets. Period photographs line the walls of the dining area. They trace the resort’s interesting evolution and give meaning to a key theme of the place – that heritage, good food and old-fashioned values are integral to an escape, no matter what the passing trends or tastes. And it works………. Particularly pleasing is the simple delight of gathering before dinner for a cocktail, and to choose from delectable starters. Pluses – the location, the food, and the understated refinement – and the maintained traditions – continue to make this a great city escape."
"Kims is the perfect beach retreat – a cluster of luxury timber bungalows (each with a wealth of stylish details including a heated Jacuzzi on the deck, or an interior spa bath immersed in a rainforest garden). Served in the breezy dining room overlooking an infinity of blue sea, the buffet-style cuisine offers a selection of treats such as Tasmanian salmon, baby octopus and sashimi and old favourites such as steak and kidney pie, roast lamb and strawberry pavlova. The to-do list is not long: it’s all about relaxation. On the premises is The Pampering Place with a range of massage therapies and on your doorstep is a sweep of sand made for idle beachcombing."
Words by Diana Plater
"Kims is a resort full of romance as well as traditions. There are luxurious bungalows right on the beach or set higher in the gardens where you can hear the birds come to roost at sunset. The whole place is designed for people to relax in privacy, wander on the beach, catch up with movies or have a massage."
Words by Anthony Twibill
"My perennial favourite is a spa villa at Kims Beach Hideaway; it’s a retreat universally famous for its hospitality and food plus an unrivalled position tucked amid an avenue of mighty Norfolk pines at the ocean’s edge. There’s nothing to beat it…"
Words by Wendy Winkler
"Sexy hideaway…. If you want the ultimate luxury beachside hideaway – Kims is the place! Snuggle up in a private beachside bungalow or a fully-equipped house nestled amongst tropical trees with a beach view from your balcony. The gastronomic buffet is a major drawcard. Romance factor…. the only time you need see other humans is at meal times in the dining room…. Kims’ idea of water activities includes your own private swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, sauna and spa…. When you’ve had enough romance – there’s always eating or hanging at the cocktail bar. If you can muster the energy, there’s a beach at your doorstep, or go for a massage at the Pampering Place."
Words by Helen Hayes
"Longevity is the intimate compliment for any type of accommodation, and it is no surprise that Kims is still going strong. Kims is a special place, combining the elements of a retreat with that of a gourmet restaurant. The focus is on rest and relaxation, contemplation and comfort."
Words by Billy Rule
"Kims is like stepping into a private oasis. Lying in bed, looking through louvred glass windows at the ocean, you hear the constant lapping of the waves and a gentle breeze playing with the pine needles above. Inside the cottage there are all the luxuries of a five-star resort (Jacuzzi, DVD player, king-size bed, shower temple) mixed with the personal touches (mint tea, complimentary yukatas, evening bed turndown and a book library). As for a rating – that’s pretty simple – Kims gets six stars out of five. It’s a truly magical place where you can wind down in luxurious accommodation with nothing to do but relax and eat, at your own lazy pace."
Words by Winsor Dobbin
"Taking things easy is an art form at Kims……The great thing about Kims is that there is absolutely no pretence. We stayed in Seashells, a superbly appointed two-storey villa with magnificent ocean views and direct access to the beach. The best thing: The gracious hosts and their efficient team have thought of just about everything and the food is simply awesome."
"It is the antithesis of most international resorts, with the emphasis being on comfort and life’s simple pleasures…… beautifully appointed bungalows – directly on the beach, nestled in the rainforest or perched on the hillside – every bungalow has style of its own with luxurious appointments like spa baths, shower temples, Jacuzzi and salt water heated pools. The stylish and relaxed decor blends with the environment of the rainforest greenery, views out to sea and the sounds of the ocean and birds. Its consistently high standards have meant it has always been a hot destination with Australian and international guests."
Words by Billy Rule
"We checked in late afternoon and fell back on our bed listening to the sound of gentle waves lapping 20m from where we lay and……nothing else. Silence, privacy, tranquillity 90 minutes north of Sydney. Hard to believe, but it’s true. Kims is special. Whether it be the beach or the bungalows or the food or the staff. The gardens, the pines the massage salon, the private spa, the silk Japanese robes, the lazy ceiling fan, the hospitality – it just goes on and on."
Words by Christine Hayes
"Beach Paradise: Imagine a day that starts with a dip in your own private pool followed by a hearty breakfast overlooking the sea. Later you go swimming in the ocean or just kick back with a good read on your sun-drenched deck. After lunch, enjoy a relaxing all-over massage, take a stroll along the beach right outside your door, and enjoy the sundowners in the cocktail lounge before a sumptuous dinner under the stars. This is reality at Kims, an idyllic hideaway only an hour’s drive from Sydney…"
Words by Eva Jaku
"Kims – an oasis of tranquillity. Where do clever people go when they need to escape the stresses of city life? Kims of course. Nestled against the shoreline in the peaceful village of Toowoon Bay this is a most favoured destination for busy people needing to recharge those overworked batteries. Kims was our chosen getaway for an essential, repairing rest…..It is a wonderful experience any time of the day to sit in the elevated dining area, gazing out to the beach watching the waves lapping against the shore……the perfect setting for a stupendous meal.
With such wonderful food and the personal and caring service it is no wonder that Kims’ patrons faithfully return year after year……Whenever we choose to return I know that like so many before us, we will join the exclusive coterie who mark out a time in the year to return to the luxurious experience that is Kims."
Words by Miles Clarke
"One of the few retreats along the NSW coast to offer an absolute beachfront setting, Kims has been welcoming holidaymakers for more than a century…..Kims built its reputation on the quality of its buffet-style dining."
Words by Andrew Conway
"It’s the heady aroma of forest-fresh pine which hits you first, quickly followed by a waft of salty sea air. Then you hear the faint crashing of waves on a beach, see the first twinkling lights of timber cabins ……. The arrival at Kims is indeed a feast for the senses as the mind, body and soul begin to slough off the stresses and strains of city life…….. and now you’re here, entering a special place where you can throw off the worries and woes of the world and settle in for some well-deserved peace and quiet."