Cliff House Kangaroo Island Rebellious as it is romantic
A warm welcome from your hosts
Rachel grew up at the Cliff House and has worked as a Chef since her teen years, starting at her mother’s restaurant, Jolley’s Boathouse (Adelaide) and then went on to live and work in Melbourne (Radio Mexico) and in Sydney (Sean’s Panaroma), before moving to London (The Depot Wine Bar in SW London). Rachel returned home to Kangaroo Island and soon after, picked up the award for best Kangaroo Island dining, when she and her business partner created the Enchanted Fig Tree restaurant in 2016 Kangaroo Island Food and Wine Award Winners Announced – Kangaroo Island Food and Wine Association (eatdrinkki.com.au).
Georgie has been receiving accolades on Kangaroo Island, showcasing her authentic Mexican dishes at, Summer long, pop up dining event, ‘Prickly Pear’ in collaboration with Cactus café in Kingscote. Georgie’s amazing dishes from Jalisco and the Yucatan Peninsula reflect her love of Mexico and the World heritage listed cuisine.
Rachel and Georgie’s wish is for all guests to experience The Cliff House free from distraction, to fully absorb the surrounds and space. The only time you will see us will be if you have ordered meals, have a fully hosted package or when we will be cooking for you or delivering purchased items to your house.
For stays longer than five nights, our personnel will need to attend to the spa and freshen up your linens. Spa maintenance, linen changes will always occur at midday to avoid disturbing your rest time.
Total Trust Food and Drinks
Rachel and Georgie have created the Total Trust Menu to bring nourishment, inspiration and locally inspired, choice to guests wishing to indulge in dining packages when they book a stay with us.
For your ease, The Cliff House is stocked with various items which you will have the option to purchase throughout your stay.
The kitchen at the Cliff House is equip for you to prepare your own meals, as you wish.
Included in your stay you will receive
- Our signature, Green Seed Damper, Unsalted Butter and caramelized shallots
- Fresh full cream milk from the Fleurier Peninsula Dairy
- 1 litre of Oat milk
- Our favourite Selection of Herbal and Black teas
- Young street blend, coffee beans by, Elementary Coffee roasters in Adelaide – (coffee machine and grinder supplied)
- Pod Coffee and pod coffee machine if your nervous about using the old school coffee machine
- A bottle of one of our favourite local wines (red)
Formal Dinners, Birthdays and Special Occasion
Surprise your loved ones or guests with a personally tailored gift, dining package or event.
What was a dream, (for award winning Architect and father of Rachel), Ian Hannaford, became reality in the mid 70’s when Ian’s ability and vision was realised and he himself, helped to build The Cliff House on his wife, Belinda Holden’s land.
The stunning headland house, perched on its hair-raising site, left friends and visitors inspired and elated and many a great party was celebrated with Snelling beach as a backdrop.
Stepping back in time to the 50’s, Belinda’s father, James Holden, of Holden car notoriety was similarly inspired by the ocean and beach lands at Snelling beach. As an inventor, he fashioned Australia’s first fibreglass boat and a motorised Jinker that became synonymous with his epic, day long fishing trips.
When the family moved to Adelaide it allowed for a new evolution. In the late 80’s Belinda Hannaford was compelled to open the Cliff House to the public with the help of her mother, Prue Holden.
Together they cooked up even more magic and Belinda created the totally unique dining venues you will find situated at Snellings today, including Gastronomo’s, Enchanted Fig Tree and Sensorium (from the old Shearing Shed) which has been converted into a spectacular fire pit, dining experience. Experience the Magic | Gastronomo | Wilderness Dining South Australia: Kangaroo Island (gastronomodining.com.au)
With no shortage of talent among family for hospitality, the majority of the 2000’s saw Cliff House getting a full refurbishment and run as a fully hosted, award winning, luxury, retreat by Nick and Rachel Hannaford. A Lifetime of Luxury on the Island of Plenty – The Adelaide Review
Thankfully Cliff House is here to stay! Rachel and Georgie have plans to up-grade guest offerings to include food and wine, once again. Watch this space for updates about a Cliff House outdoor area, make over! Georgie is currently designing a Mexico inspired, outdoor adult playground, complete with sheltered chill out spaces.
About Kangaroo Island
Kaurna Miyurna, Ngarrindjeri, Ramindjeri and Barngalla people were the first to settle on Karta Pintingga about 65,000 years ago when the Island was still attached to the Australian continent. Sea levels began to rise about 10,000 years ago and it was nearly 2000-5000 years ago that the Island became completely isolated. Ngarrindjeri people tell a story about this happening.
The Island’s English name was given by Matthew Flinders during his 1803 mapping for the British land claim of Australia. He named it ‘Kangaroo Island’ after the tame kangaroos slaughtered to feed the crew of his exploration ship, The Investigator. Karta Pintingga became an outpost for American and then European whalers and sealers to base themselves for commercial hunting purposes. Indigenous women from the mainland and Tasmania were kidnapped and taken there as sexual and domestic slaves.
In 1836, the British officially colonised Karta Pintingga and established the town of Kingscote. The British chose to colonise the Island before the mainland of South Australia because they would not be met with attacks from Nunga people. As a result, Kingscote became a key vantage point for the British colonisation of South Australia.
*Nunga means South Australian person or people in Nunga Kriol language.
*Karta Pintingka is the Kaurna Miyurna name Kangaroo Island. Kaurna Miyurna call the eastern side of the island Karta and the western side of the island is called Pintingka that means “the place of the dead”.
