Writer Shirley Sinclair discovers romance isn’t too hard to find on a family holiday at Kingfisher Bay. Shirley is the Features and Travel Editor for The Sunshine Coast Daily Newspaper. June 2010
With a welcome chardonnay and ice cold beer on the verandah of The Jetty Hut, we farewell the final rays of the mild April day.
To our left, flickering lanterns evenly spaced along the beach and the water’s edge guide the immaculately dressed wedding guests – shoes in hand – back to their bride and groom after dozens of magical shots have been snapped on the golden sands.
Only the stars light our stroll, hand-in-hand, back to Kingfisher Bay Resort
through the wallum forest and past the pandanus framing the lagoon pool.
With the help of the pre-dinner Happy Valley rosella flower-enhanced pina colada in the bar, conversation comes easy.
By candlelight at a table for two, we savour the delicate flavours of – dare I say it – an almost orgasmic fusion of fresh, flavoursome local produce with bushtucker ingredients, herbs and spices in the resort’s a la carte Seabelle Restaurant.
A divine choice of tortellini of Moreton Bay bugs with crisp prosciutto, lemon myrtle yoghurt, radicchio and burnt butter, coupled with a serve of pan-fried Hervey Scallops dusted with lemon myrtle served on cauliflower puree with a caper and macadamia nut buerre noisette, introduce our tastebuds to the unique menu.
Pan-fried king snapper dusted with lemon myrtle and bush raisin dukkah served with leek and potato fondue and red lemon aspen sasla is one main attraction, possibly only just eclipsed by the signature dish: local barramundi and macadamia nuts baked in paperbark and served with kipfler potatoes, leaf salad and lemon aspen tomato salsa.
We share dessert – Individual wattleseed tiramisu with brandy and chocolate chards – and are totally sated, lingering over our bottle of fine Tyrrell’s Vat 47 Chardonnay 2006.
On an island better known as four-wheel-drive heaven and for fishing expeditions with the boys, a little romantic spark ignites once again.
Kingfisher Bay Resort 