Villa 1880’s imaginatively designed accommodation spreads across three interlinking buildings —a flat-roofed living pavilion, a double-storey sleeping pavilion, and the heritage 18th Century colonial plantation house. Beyond the enormous entrance and up a few steps, the 19-metre saltwater swimming pool unfurls along the full length of the living pavilion where clusters of achingly chic designer-retro seating invite repose, and a four-metre table set before a river-stone wall promises conversation-fuelled gatherings around delicious meals. Linking this space with the heritage plantation house is the open plan guest kitchen with bar counter and, behind, the well-equipped chef’s kitchen.

From here, an ironwood decked veranda runs around the shallow section of the pool, housing a casual seating area and table tennis table, to the contemporary sleeping pavilion lined with mint-green shutters in the spirit of the original plantation house. On the ground level are the spa rooms and the huge master bedroom suite where romantic retractable mosquito netting circles the super-king bed and, behind a divider covered with a Hermes jungle print is a large desk and wall of wardrobes. The ensuite bathroom has a separate courtyard with statement bathtub and alfresco shower. tucked away behind, the spa rooms. 

Above, off a veranda overlooking a palm courtyard, are two equally comfortable guest bedroom suites — one with a palatial shower room, one with a bathroom opening onto a courtyard with tub and shower. Conveniently for parents who want to keep an eye on the kids, this bedroom is linked via the ensuites to the whimsical eight-bunk slumber room in the old plantation house. (And perhaps even more conveniently for the kids, they have direct access to the large, eclectically furnished media room next door!).

The media room opens onto the ironwood veranda that wraps around two sides of the original plantation house leading to the large upper level barbecue terrace. Above, tucked away under the roof in deliciously romantic seclusion is the fifth bedroom — a couples’ hidden haven.