Indulge in the serenity at an off-grid eco retreat, a wood-fired hot tub on a truffle farm, or spend a night in a restored 1920s church.
ACT
Lakeview Luxe
Trevillian Quay, Kingston; 0425 727 616.
There’s only a public walkway and some trees between you and the lake at this two-bedroom, ground-floor apartment.
- Pet-friendly
- Electric vehicle charger
THE LOCATION On the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Kingston, this apartment sleeps four and is a short drive from all the major sights in the nation’s capital.
THE PLACE There’s only a public walkway and some trees between you and the lake at this two-bedroom, ground-floor apartment. There’s also an impressive infinity pool looking straight on to the lake at the centre of this resort-style complex, Trevillian Quay. The apartment has a balcony with a substantial outdoor entertaining area, a well-stocked, shiny kitchen, two bathrooms and its own lift access, laundry and car park. As well: a gym and even a guitar, if you feel like strumming something.
THE EXPERIENCE The apartment is a great base from which to explore wider Canberra or stay ultra-local, with plenty of bars and restaurants around the nearby foreshore. You could also scoot or kayak around the lake from here. Stock up on some Canberra produce to serve in your private box seat on the lake.
DON’T MISS The Supabarn Kingston – yes, a supermarket – is a gourmet wonderland with a New York vibe. You might run into a pollie while picking up your ready-to-cook ramen pack, but it’s worth the risk.
FROM $485 a night; two-night minimum stay. Melissa Fyfe
Beltana Farm
14 Beltana Rd, Pialligo; (02) 6202 1130.
The yurts are a memorable piece of design, with up to three large bedrooms well spaced around a great central living area.
THE LOCATION This stay is 15 minutes’ drive from the Canberra CBD; four minutes from the airport. It’s neighboured by several nurseries in a road roamed by peacocks.
THE PLACE It’s a working truffière – with 800 oak and hazel trees planted in mesmerising symmetry, creating perfect paths diagonally, as well as directly, from the outlook of the farm’s popular restaurant. Accommodation-wise, there are three yurts sleeping two, four or six and a new, contemporary yet cosy two-bedroom cottage which sleeps four. There’s also a tennis court, bikes to borrow, and a children’s play area.
THE EXPERIENCE You come here for the stunning restaurant, ideally, in the July-August truffle-hunting season. The chefs, headed by The Boat House’s John Leverink, work entirely with locally sourced produce; the only outlier, apparently, is the French champagne. Visit with foodie friends, forgive any who can’t help repeating the word “umami” as the afternoon or evening unfolds, and afterwards, simply take the 100 or so steps back to your door. The yurts are a memorable piece of design, with up to three large bedrooms well spaced around a great central living area. Like the cottage, they feature a fireplace, a full kitchen, bluetooth speaker systems and enormously comfortable beds.
DON’T MISS Stop by the farm shop, ideal for sourcing locally-made gifts – chocolates from Murrumbateman, pasta from Braidwood, and from the farm itself: truffle-infused, butterscotch schnapps (a way to make normal ice cream anything but vanilla).
FROM $385 a night. Sally Rawlings
The Truffle Farm
23 Mt Majura Rd, Canberra; 0400 483 082.
This off-grid cabin is perched on the slopes of Mt Majura, above the truffière at The Truffle Farm, and faces away from the capital.Credit: lifeofatravelfamily
- Electric vehicle charger
THE LOCATION It’s just a 15-minute drive from Canberra’s city centre, but you wouldn’t know it – this off-grid cabin is perched on the slopes of Mt Majura, above the truffière at The Truffle Farm, and faces away from the capital.
THE PLACE You’re only a few minutes off the highway, but the air is fresh, views are expansive and privacy abundant once you reach your self-contained accommodation. Floor-to-ceiling windows and electronically activated skylights allow the light to pour in all day, and wooden finishes seamlessly integrate the outdoors and deck with a cosy interior. The bed, set at the front of the room, is piled high with lush pillows and linen. It faces due east for a sunrise wake-up, internal heating warms the room quickly and there’s a sleek bathroom.
Bring dinner ingredients – there’s both an oven and gas stoves in the kitchenette. Credit: lifeofatravelfamily
THE EXPERIENCE Bring dinner ingredients – there’s both an oven and gas stoves in the kitchenette. Immerse yourself in the wood-fired hot tub on the deck and keep
the wine handy as you watch the hills and sky change colour as the sun sets. You might spot kangaroos through the steam. A complimentary breakfast basket ensures the next morning is just as relaxed.
DON’T MISS Complete the weekend with an experience from The Truffle Farm, which runs truffle hunts, lunch and degustation options on weekends between May and September.
FROM $500 a night; minimum two-night stay. Natassia Chrysanthos
TASMANIA
The Finish Line
2 Castray Esp, Battery Point; 0457 691 868.
The Finish Line is on the waterfront of Hobart’s Battery Point – right by the finish line of the famed Sydney-Hobart yacht race.Credit: AdamGibson
- Electric vehicle charger
THE LOCATION The Finish Line is on the waterfront of Hobart’s Battery Point – right by the finish line of the famed Sydney-Hobart yacht race.
THE PLACE Two spectacular penthouses with views of the Derwent sit atop a former 1929 fruit cannery. The largest, a three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment dubbed “Hobart”, is inspired by the streamlined interiors of superyachts, with a nautical colour scheme. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom “Sydney” has a moodier palette, with black-stained timber cabinets, an apple-green velvet couch, and brass features including a dual-sided fireplace that casts a warming glow over the lounge and upon the outdoor tub on the sturdy Victorian ash deck.
Owners Michael and Pip Cooper are yachting enthusiasts and have spared no expense in their homage to the drama and spectacle of Australia’s toughest yachting contest.Credit: AdamGibson
THE EXPERIENCE Owners Michael and Pip Cooper are yachting enthusiasts and have spared no expense in their homage to the drama and spectacle of Australia’s toughest yachting contest. (Michael was a crew member of Robert Clifford’s Tasmania, which won the race in 1994.) Floor-to-ceiling windows and cleverly positioned skylights flood the “Hobart” penthouse with light, and mirrored walls maximise the stunning views. A cantilevered pool juts out towards the river and is flanked by a huge, back-lit, Richard Bennett photograph of the 1984 Sydney to Hobart.
DON’T MISS An opulent cocktail or two at the Mary Mary bar in Salamanca, followed by dinner at Peppina next door, headed by celebrated chef Massimo Mele.
FROM $800 a night; two-night minimum stay; three-night minimum during Christmas and Easter. Gabriella Coslovich
Swan River Sanctuary
Riversdale Farm, 14228 Tasman Hwy, Swansea; (03) 6257 0119.
Find this eco-luxe stay within a 343-hectare regenerative cattle farm on the east coast, two hours from Hobart and 10 kilometres from Swansea.
THE LOCATION Find this eco-luxe stay within a 343-hectare regenerative cattle farm on the east coast, two hours from Hobart and 10 kilometres from Swansea.
THE PLACE Step into the spacious open-plan living, kitchen and dining area and it’s a matter of where to look first – the shimmering abalone-shell wall, the hefty, antique, Bohemian crystal chandelier or the captivating river views. This three-bedroom, secluded, off-grid eco-retreat was built by a family who are now sharing the serenity. The upstairs main bedroom with in-room white stone bath and en suite has the best river views. Two downstairs queen rooms share a bathroom. Golden-brown macrocarpa timber stars throughout and the unique 1860-built dining table flips for billiards.
THE EXPERIENCE Plonk yourself in the rocking chair on the verandah for spotting white-bellied sea eagles and white-faced herons. Paddleboards and kayaks are at the ready as well as fishing rods and bait to snag black bream and yellow-eye mullet. Enjoy a hearty breakfast from the hamper left for you. Break out the board games beside the stone fireplace and look up for great night skies. Extra-cost activities include use of the onsite sauna and a river safari with owner Matt Routley.
DON’T MISS Head to Melshell Oyster Shack at nearby Dolphin Sands or taste wine at Mayfield Estate at Little Swanport with great Freycinet Peninsula views.
FROM $590 a night. Sue Wallace
Vineyard House
1055 Port Sorrell Rd, Northdown; (03) 6428 4005.
After a day on the coast, unwind here in spaces styled for prolonged lounging, with books and board games on hand. Credit: Dearna Bond
- Electric vehicle charger
THE LOCATION It’s rare to find a serious winery by the ocean, so good wine and views of wild Bass Strait in the middle distance are among the reasons to linger at Ghost Rock Wines, a 15-minute drive from the Devonport ferry terminal and a one-hour drive north-west of Launceston.
THE PLACE There’s clever repetition (linen light shades, natural tones and textures, reclaimed timber tables, leather chairs, lots of glass) linking Ghost Rock’s cellar door, its light-filled eatery and adjacent Vineyard House. Once the residence of the winery’s first generation, the freshly renovated house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and large living spaces. Two decks with firepits radiate from living spaces to the lawn and, just beyond the garden gate, 30 hectares of showpiece vineyard.
There’s clever repetition (linen light shades, natural tones and textures, reclaimed timber tables, leather chairs, lots of glass) linking Ghost Rock’s cellar door, its light-filled eatery and adjacent Vineyard House. Credit: Dearna Bond
THE EXPERIENCE After a day on the coast, unwind here in spaces styled for prolonged lounging, with books and board games on hand. Or you could book the Ghost Rock Cellar Door & Eatery. Neither pretentious nor pedestrian, the menu hits all the right notes for leisurely lunching with estate-grown wines and represents a roll-call of the region’s star producers.
DON’T MISS Plot a route along the Tasting Trail, a network through north-west Tasmania spanning 44 producers and makers, from hazelnuts and honey to berries and truffles. First stop, naturally, should be a guided wine tasting at Ghost Rock’s cellar door.
FROM $850 a night; two-night minimum stay. Helen Anderson
Leighton House
466 Evandale Rd, Western Junction.
In the old homestead, circled by a wide verandah, are three spacious bedrooms with en suites, high ceilings, antiques and deep sash windows, and a study with a hunting lodge vibe.Credit: Adam Gibson
THE LOCATION The colonial-era homestead sits on a 120-hectare working farm 15 minutes’ drive from the Tamar Valley, Tasmania’s oldest and largest winemaking area. The heritage village of Evandale is a few minutes’ drive away, and so is Launceston Airport – planes can pass low overhead.
THE PLACE Up to a dozen guests can stay in the freshly renovated mid-19th-century homestead and in a new two-storey rear wing, designed by award-winning local architect Core Collective. In the old homestead, circled by a wide verandah, are three spacious bedrooms with en suites, high ceilings, antiques and deep sash windows, and a study with a hunting lodge vibe. The new wing has three double bunks and a pool room upstairs, with large living spaces downstairs.
Watch horses graze and flocks of cockatoos descend on towering trees on either side of the homestead.
THE EXPERIENCE Watch horses graze and flocks of cockatoos descend on towering trees on either side of the homestead. Mountain views – snow-capped in winter – are best enjoyed from the “wellness platform” (sauna, hot tub, firepit, yoga deck) at the end of a garden path. Leighton’s social centre is a glass-enclosed kitchen, dining and living room with double-height ceiling and a deep, brick fireplace indoors, and barbecue and pizza oven outdoors.
DON’T MISS Browse Evandale’s boutiques or walk to the banks of the South Esk River on the farm’s western edge.
FROM $900 a night; two-night minimum stay. Luke Slattery
St Martin’s of Tasmania
Church St West, Dunalley; 0404 770 088.
Built in 1924 as a World War I memorial, this former Anglican church teems with history.
THE LOCATION A 30-minute drive from Hobart airport, Dunalley is a small fishing and farming village on the road to Port Arthur.
THE PLACE Built in 1924 as a World War I memorial, this former Anglican church teems with history. Its stones were sourced from one of Tasmania’s most punishing penal stations, the World Heritage-listed Coal Mines Historic Site. Miraculously, the church was the only public building to survive the 2013 bushfires that ravaged the town. Sold in 2019 to raise funds for the Anglican Church’s National Redress Scheme, the building was bought by gardening guru Simon Holloway and family, who painstakingly converted it into a one-bedroom home in a project on the ABC’s Restoration Australia.
Miraculously, the church was the only public building to survive the 2013 bushfires that ravaged the town.
THE EXPERIENCE With its soaring timber ceiling, gothic arched windows, striking stained glass and meticulously repointed stone, St Martin’s retains the integrity of its former life. Cleverly placed vintage furniture, including repurposed pews, divide the vast interior into three distinct and intimate areas: bedroom, dining, and lounge with wood fire. Floaty fabrics, dried flower arrangements, and an abundance of candleholders up the romance. There’s no television, but Tasmanian-themed books, old board games and a nook for writing and painting make for a warm, creative space.
DON’T MISS Blue Lagoon Oysters, which serves fresh from the farm, is a four-minute drive from St Martin’s.
FROM $450 a night. Gabriella Coslovich
How we stayed
The places featured in 52 Weekends Away were visited in a variety of ways, some paid for by writers and others hosted by travel operators, including property owners, commercial groups and state tourism authorities.
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