New options to accommodate growing visitor numbers in Mt Field National Park

After a record year for visitor numbers the accommodation offerings for one of the most visited national parks in Tasmania is expanding. How Mt Field is set to be “at its best” >>

Mount Field Retreat is now open on Lake Dobson Rd, Mt Field, Tasmania. Photos: Greg Power

More people will be able to enjoy Mt Field “at its best” with new accommodation pods being built with the help of a loan from the state government.

Mt Field Retreat owner operator Rachel Power said the $1 million low-interest loan was for eight new pods to join the existing four on Lake Dobson Road at Mt Field national park.

Mrs Power said the new accommodation would help service the increased numbers of people who were visiting the park on boutique day tours.

“People now have the ability to stay here in the evening and enjoy Mt Field at its best,” she said.

Mount Field Retreat opened on Lake Dobson Rd, Mt Field, Tasmania in 2023. Photos: Greg Power

Mrs Power said they received the approvals late last year on the extra pods and the work began immediately — she expects the new pods to arrive in 4-6 weeks.

The retreat has enjoyed a successful first year of operation and was seeing a 60 per cent increase in forward bookings for 2025, despite not actively advertising.

“A lot is word of mouth and just a testament to how popular our tourism destination is,” she said.

Data from the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service shows Mt Field reached record visitor numbers during the 2023-24 fiscal year with 232,000 visitors, up 16 per cent on the previous year.

The business endeavour is a dream 11 years in the making for the Power family who also own the Waterfalls Cafe and Gallery at Mt Field.

The kitchen to the cafe has been closed since a fire broke out in the kitchen in the early morning of December 28.

Rachel Power outside new eco pod accommodation outside Mt Field national park. Picture: Elise Kaine

Mrs Power said they had hoped to reopen last week but said many of the services they needed were still on holiday or booked.

She said her staff were busy ploughing through to-go food and coffees while they worked through repairs to get back to full service.

Premier and minister for tourism Jeremy Rockliff said three regional tourism projects were benefiting from a combined $2 million in low-interest loans.

“The loan scheme gives tourism operators the confidence to bring forward investment, diversify and grow their businesses,” Premier Rockliff said.

Mount Black Lodge at Rosebery will receive a $600,000 loan to rebuild after it was destroyed by a fire in 2022.

The King Island Distillery Bass Strait will receive $400,000 to build a cafe, cellar door and tasting experience at King Island Airport.

For more information on the program and to apply go to www.business.tas.gov.au

Originally published as New options to accommodate growing visitor numbers in Mt Field National Park