Tasmania's top winter escapes: Where to see penguins, auroras and more
The lure of the Aurora Australis and the chance to warm up with a dram of local whisky makes the Apple Isle a perfect winter destination.
The lure of the Aurora Australis and the chance to warm up with a dram of local whisky makes the Apple Isle an ideal winter destination.
Hobart
The longer the night, the better chance you will have of catching the nation’s ultimate light show, the Aurora Australis. Compared with its northern hemisphere counterpart, Australia’s display is subtler and more fleeting, so getting far south and away from all ambient light is vital – therefore Tasmania. While Cradle Mountain and Stanley Nut have their moments, seasoned aurora hunters like spots nearer to Hobart, such as the south-facing lookout at Goat Bluff on South Arm Peninsula. For accommodation as stunning as the sky itself, check in to The Point, an architectural marvel just up the road from the bluff.
Strahan
There’s nothing quite so raw as a Tasmanian west coast winter. Flanked by rainforest and fronting Macquarie Harbour, Risby Cove, Strahan’s best boutique hotel, stands on the site of the old Risby Bros sawmill, which mowed through a mountain of Huon pine in the early 1900s. Life isn’t so harsh today; in-suite saunas and cedar hot tubs stand where sawblades once swashed, while underfloor heating and bioethanol fireplaces fend off the winter chill. The 12 newly renovated suites feature Tasmanian hardwood, polished stone and thoughtfully curated local art. Fill your days cruising the Gordon River or riding the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
Bicheno
Winter is a seductive time for the little penguins of Bicheno, because that’s when the males prepare their nests, ready to beguile the females. But all penguins use this time to recover after the effort of constant time in the ocean, and after a drop in numbers last summer the population is thriving again. Outings with Bicheno Penguin Tours start just after dark at a rookery on rehabilitated farmland and along paths lit in a penguin-friendly spectrum. The trio of slick two-person chalets that comprise Sea Stacks, just north of Bicheno, are named for the minerals – feldspar, mica and quartz – that combine to form the east coast’s granite.
Richmond
Richmond is home to the nation’s oldest stone span bridge. Reaching Prospect Country House, which featured in the TV series Deadloch, involves rattling over another picturesque bridge to reach the front door. At the 1830s Georgian mansion, move into the upstairs suite or one of 10 contemporary courtyard rooms. Nurse a whisky from the honesty bar while toasting your tootsies by the fire, play chess in the formal garden, search for black swans, cycle into town, or settle in for an in-house dinner.
Launceston
Start your foodie weekend with Du Cane Brewery and Dining Hall. Set in an old camping store, it’s perfect for pizza and a beer tasting paddle. Next, rug up and climb the Zig Zag Track into Cataract Gorge where the South Esk River tumbles to the Tamar. In a former flour mill turned Launceston icon, Stillwater restaurant serves fine produce matched with Tassie tipples. Retire upstairs to your room at Stillwater Seven and enjoy a cosy breakfast in bed, including freshly baked croissants.
Contributors: Jeremy Bourke, Celeste Mitchell, Katrina Lobley, Carolyn Beasley
For winter getaways in NSW and South Australia, click here.
For winter getaways in Queensland and the Northern Territory, click here.
For winter getaways in Victoria and the ACT, click here.
For winter getaways in Western Australia, click here.
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