TRAVEL SPECIAL
HAMPTONS
guide
PHOTOGRAPHY & WORDS Robyn Lea
The Hamptons is composed around a dozen villages found on the south fork of Long Island with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the calm estuary waters of bays and inlets on the other. From the low-key West Hampton and Hampton Bays, through to the elegant white weatherboard town centre of Southampton all the way through to the wild and rocky beaches of Montauk, the entire area is only 50 kilometres long and 15 kilometres at its widest. Traditionally dominated by farming, fishing and whaling communities, the Hamptons became a haven and magnet for artists in the late 1800’s and soon after a favourite holiday destination for well-heeled New Yorkers. The abundance of locally farmed fresh produce and seafood, the combination of wild, white ocean beaches and quiet family friendly bays, a selection of great local restaurants, bakeries and stores all cater to the holiday maker’s every need. The large number of private and public galleries attracts a potent cocktail of local artists and New York art collectors to their opening nights and charity art auctions, which punctuate ‘The Season’.
With houses to rent for up to $250,000 for the summer and a more reasonably priced selection of inns, small boutique hotels and surf lodges, there is accommodation for every taste. Rarely do art, food, beautiful landscapes and money all come together as they do the Hamptons but there are still places to avoid the hurley burley and bunk down for a sand-in-your-bathers and thongs on your feet type of holiday - just head to Montauk.