Remember Lodge Dauphin, the Whale Beach mansion purchased by Lowes CEO Linda Penn and her husband David in 2012? It was a trophy home then, set across a 2,150-square-metre parcel of land and cascading grounds heading into Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
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After a multi-year renovation, the luxury estate resembled more like a multi-level country club on the water, with French Provincial-inspired interiors, European Oak floors, and marble throughout.
Though the true highlight (and the one that invariably caught our attention when the property was listed for sale for $30 million last year) is the golf course, a private playground built within the estate’s grounds with holes of varying difficulties set against sweeping views of the ocean vista below.
So why are we talking about it again? Because Lodge Dauphin is now available to rent through Contemporary Hotels, arriving with a headline-making rate of $15,000 per night and a three-night minimum stay.
You already know the property. The golf course, the infinity pool, the freshly manicured interiors, the Sub-Zero kitchen, the wine cellar. What's new is the access. Ten guests will get free rein across the estate’s five king suites, all with en-suites, a separate guest retreat with its own kitchenette, and the estate's wellness facilities – spa, sauna, heated pool, and the rest of the resort-style setup.
From above, the estate reads as almost fortress-like, spread across two prime slots overlooking Whale Beach, so you’ll be pleased to hear there's a lift between the three levels. There’s also a seven-zone climate system, Sonos running through the whole thing, and even a garage with a turntable – because you wouldn’t exactly expect Bruce Wayne to reverse park into the Bat Cave, now would you?
And if you’re a week into the stay and find you have exhausted all that this exquisite property has to offer, Whale Beach is at the bottom of the hill. Though you probably won't bother. Somehow, $45,000 for a long weekend doesn't feel entirely unreasonable.
