What do 50 pampered chickens, a decadent day spa and an award winning chef have in common?

The answer is that they are all at home at Bells of Killcare, a luxury boutique weekender at the tip of Bouddi Peninsula National Park on the Central Coast of Australia.

The locals clearly know they are on to a good thing. Killcare is the "weekender of weekenders" with ferries from Palm Beach dropping off hungry diners and central coast residents eager for the dining experience of their lives.

The gravel driveway opens up to a manor house which looks like the kind of home Anne of Green Gables would have bought if she had spent time with Ralph Lauren and had her weekends in the Hamptons. The seaside theme of blue and white delivers a sense of character and decadence thanks to Chrissie Jeffery's interior design. Gorgeous green gardens dotted with blue deck chairs just beg for the weekend papers and a jug of Pimms No.1. The swimming pool promises more mischief with its luxurious umbrellas and loungers. If you ever wondered what lured famed chef Stefano Manfredi away from the bright Sydney lights you don’t need to look much further.

At the heart of this resort is the ethos of sustainability and a sheer love and commitment to the glory of produce. With three gardens and an extended family of laying hens whose coop is almost as luxurious as one of the cottages awaiting you, it's understandable that even the wildlife don't want to leave.

Each cottage is snuggled into a bush setting, with wicker chairs on the decked veranda and a king-size bed that makes you want to fling open the pretty French doors and launch yourself midflight from starfish position land into comforting duvet land.

Yes, there are a million bush walks, a cute-as-can-be seaside strip of shops and empty beach just minutes away but that requires effort, and tonight's dinner needs every ounce of energy and concentration!

The restaurant glows seductively and the gentle clink of glasses and laughter fill the night air. Dinner attracts a diverse crowd from locals, guests and "occasionally people who camp down at Tallow beach". It's a beautiful room with an oversized flower display in the middle giving a sense of theatre to the open kitchens towards the back.

We begin with house made olives and cheese crackers. Starters move to mastery as produce and chef show what instant bedfellows they are. Creamy Merimbula Rock Oysters are followed by antipasto plates containing a selection of prosciutto, sopressa along with pickled vegetables and grissini. The cured ocean trout rotolo is a glorious pasta pinwheel of flavour, whilst the octopus and home grown corn relish livens the palate with its gutsy flavours and colours.

One of the restaurant favourites is the grilled quail with grilled figs and vincotto, its soft smoky flavours rival for best ‘Primi’ ordering. My serve of seafood stew took me back to the rustic villages of Italy with its honest to goodness broth brimming with goodies of king prawns, mussels and calamari packing a fishy punch.

The Secondi delivered new delights of crispy Hiramasa kingfish with a crust of spinach, sultanas and olives and a stunning roast suckling pig with salsa peperonata and aged balsamic, a nice change for anyone who finds it hard to go past pork belly on a menu.

With just enough room for Dolci we eye our choices, but we suffer the punishment of late dining... "Sorry we are out of Caramel Pannacotta". Seeing our crestfallen faces our server explained she would see what she could do. The kitchen swung into action with an inspired creation of spiced apricots stuffed with vanilla mascarpone cream and poached apples. Next time you are faced with some cream, a box of dried up fruits, make note that miracles can happen when you least expect it.

It would be rude to leave without tasting the beautiful range of Formaggi. We chose wisely; Smokey buffalo milk Sovrano, Bella di Capra goats milk from Piedmont and Blue de Basque from Auvergne had us licking our lips with glee on our short stroll back to the cottage.

Waking up after a sound slumber, breakfast is at your leisure in the form of a Gourmet Hamper full of goodies which would make any foodie swoon. It's a surprisingly relaxing twist to a getaway, not to bother getting out of your jammies when you have your own little kitchen.

The early morning of peace and solitude is only broken by a heavy footed bush turkey rustling around in the gardens looking for a tasty snack. Can Sunday mornings get any better than papers and a mug of signature Manfredi Coffee sitting on your deck?

This is a weekender for food lovers. So pack your sexy heals (or dress shoes), spa slippers and gum boots - this is a destination with a difference.