Christmas is a special time of the year, no matter where you might be in the world. It’s a time to be spent with family and friends, to embrace the togetherness of the festive season. While there is a special magic to the traditional white Christmas, we think a quintessential Southern Hemisphere Christmas is enchanting in its own right.
It’s the shucking of beautifully fresh seafood and the cracking of a fruit-filled Pavlova, spending all morning by the pool and enjoying an afternoon siesta in the shade. Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere is imbued with a love of the outdoors, embracing the sunshine, the temperate weather and of course the ever-present glistening Christmas beetles.
We’ve asked our General Managers from Peppers Beach Club & Spa in Palm Cove, Australia and Peppers Parehua in Martinborough, New Zealand what the spirit of Christmas means for them.
Stacey Cameron, General Manager of Peppers Parehua begins festivities on the 1st of December with the annual tree decorating. Selecting a different tree each year over the 4.4 hectare property, guests are enchanted when they happen to stumble upon a real Christmas tree while walking throughout the rolling grounds. Over the following month guests enjoy games like Petanque and Croquet in the garden adjacent to Pavilion Restaurant, bringing a fun-filled festive atmosphere to the grounds.
Christmas Eve is another occasion in itself; guests are invited to the Pavilion Bar to enjoy a Christmas drink and mingle with Stacey herself, the Executive Chef and other guests. The following day at the Christmas Buffet Lunch guests are truly spoilt. Drawing inspiration from international Christmas celebrations, guests are treated to dishes like succulent glazed ham, confit duck and beef cheeks along with an array of the classic dessert favourites. The little ones will also be treated to a special present from Santa Claus, guaranteed to put a smile on their faces.
At Peppers Beach Club and Spa, General Manager Christopher Northam notes the festive season is very much focused on embracing the beautiful location. Guests while away the daylight hours relaxing under a cabana with their holiday reads, meandering along the sandy white beach or enjoying an orange juice and champagne at the lagoon pool’s swim-up bar.
Festive dining is a serious matter at Peppers Beach Club & Spa, with both a lunch and dinner on Christmas Day. Executive Chef Thomas Ege creates a menu focused around the freshest of North Queensland seafood, incorporating unique local ingredients like the Davidson plum and juicy finger limes. Often after dinner he spots guests enjoying a moonlit stroll along the jetty, walking off the festive feasting he assumes…
Much to the delight of the younger guests, a family of ducks also join the festivities at this time of the year. They spend their days enjoying the lagoon pool, and are rumoured to spend their nights nesting on the lagoon bar rooftop, Christopher endeavours to keep the chefs away from them at all times!
The spirit of Christmas means different things to each and every person, so whether you’re spending your festive season at home with family, abroad or perhaps enjoying a stay at a beautiful Peppers destination, you can rest assured that festive cheer can be found everywhere…