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See Palm Beach from the eyes of its most exclusive visitors

This glittering peninsula is Australia’s answer to the Hamptons, where the likes of Elle Macpherson, Nicole Kidman, Bono, Pink and John Cleese choose to spend their holidays because they know they won’t be gawked at or photographed.

Tucked away in secluded villas and estates, these A-listers form a luxury tourism trade experts say is transforming the seaside suburb.

As boutique holiday letting agency Contemporary Hotels managing director Matthew Fleming says, “places like Cranky Fins and The Boathouse are springing up because we’re doing our job well”.

For the unacquainted, Cranky Fins is a hip Surf Rd restaurant where you’re just as likely to see a model as a gaggle of barefoot hipsters or young family.

It reopened for its second summer season last Friday and general manager Matthew Christie agrees Palm Beach is becoming a haven for the glitterati.

“They know they can come here and not be hounded,” Christie says. “It’s got that relaxed feeling where we cater to everyone.”

Head chef Craig Ferrier says the restaurant is being tweaked to suit a relaxed but high-end clientele.

“This year, for the first time, we’re offering table service,” Ferrier says.

“We’re still going to be laid-back, and it’s always the type of place where everyone is welcome, but our wait staff have been trained in fine dining at some of the best restaurants in Europe and Australia, and we’re going to be focusing on providing great service.”

Service is something Contemporary Hotels knows about. It looks after about 15 luxury homes in and around Palm Beach, as well as properties in Byron Bay, the countryside and abroad.

Fleming says the high-end tourism trade in Palm Beach is booming.

“We’re almost booked out this summer,” he says. “I think it’s because there’s an interesting move away from hotel holidays.

“People don’t want to book a room in a hotel that looks exactly like every other room. Although we’re not just a house rental either.

“We offer full hospitality, so there’s a concierge to welcome guests, a bottle of champagne and Aesop toiletries. It’s a contemporary take on a hotel.”

As for famous clientele, while Fleming won’t book and tell, we can confirm some high-profile people have stayed in these homes.

“A lot of our clients actually live in Sydney, but they like to come here because it feels like a world away,” Fleming says.

“We also get a lot of photoshoots, so Kate Ritchie was at Rockridge for a shoot recently, and we’ve had Megan Gale’s swimwear shoots, all kinds of photoshoots”.

ROCKRIDGE

Walking into Rockridge, a stately 1940s home, I’m taking in the ornate chandelier, the inviting spa and the frolicking dolphins.

Yes, dolphins. Almost every room here has ocean views, and today, a pod of dolphins is playing below us in the glimmering water.

Fleming says this property is one of his most popular.

“It’s booked almost every weekend in summer — think people like it because it is a home,” he confirms.

“I actually had a client ask: ‘Can I rent it for a year or can I just buy it?’.”

Rockridge sleeps eight people and costs between $850 and $1100 per night depending on the length of the stay and the time of year.

PALM BEACH ESTATE

Behind the private gates of this sprawling estate, you’ll find a slippery slide leading into a resort-like pool, a half basketball court and a gas-powered pizza oven as well as a fire pit — and that’s all before you walk inside.

Oh, and there are 180-degree views of Palm Beach, Barrenjoey Head and Pittwater.

Inside, the Mediterranean-style property has two living areas in each wing with gorgeous curving ceilings and contemporary aboriginal artworks.

It sleeps eight adults and four children and costs $2000 per night or $12,000 per week.

NORTHVIEW

A sophisticated take on a Peter Pan fantasy — this residence has a modern tree house, corkscrew staircase and an ensuite window that looks into a pool.

It’s directly above Palm Beach with a shortcut leading down to the sand.

It sleeps eight and costs between $1000 to $1200 per night.

Source: See Palm Beach from the eyes of its most exclusive visitors