The Tassie stays like nowhere else
The Apple Isle is home to some remarkable one-of-a-kind accommodation offerings.
The Apple Isle is home to some remarkable one-of-a-kind accommodation offerings.
1. The lakeside folly
Pumphouse Point, Lake St Clair
This Georgian waterworks pumphouse, connected to the shore by a long flumed pier, shimmers like a classical temple above the mirrored surface of Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest lake. Aptly named Leeawulenna or Sleeping Water by the Big River tribe, the lake sits within the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair World Heritage wilderness, an exceptional setting for an extraordinary property. Pumphouse Point’s 19 adults-only rooms are divided between the lake folly, The Shorehouse and The Retreat (pictured), a designer suite nestled in bushland. Minimum two-night stays allow ample time for hikes, a spot of boating or e-biking, yoga and massages, and indulging in gourmet Tasmanian produce. Shared-table breakfasts and dinners encourage guest interactions, as do regular “fire feasts” where local meats and vegetables are cooked South American-style over asado grills. Honesty bars showcase island wines and spirits, best enjoyed by a crackling fire with some moody highlands weather.
What it costs: from $1200 for two nights, including breakfast.
2. The grape escape
Domescapes, Tamar Valley
Nestled beside the vines at Swinging Gate Vineyard in the Tamar Valley, Domescapes are three roomy 6m-diameter yurts, richly textured and provisioned with decks, braziers and al fresco tubs. Named Amarone, Sauvignon and Pinot after estate wines, the domes are generously spaced for privacy and double-insulated for warm winter and cool summer stays. Guests are welcomed with cheese platters, a bottle of wine and a tasting at the rustic cellar door; Swinging Gate makes a range of low-fi, cool-climate wines, including chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling sauvignon blanc. “We chose Swinging Gate because it’s a beautiful location in the heart of the wine region,” explains Boris Petrack, co-director of Domescapes. There’s local dining at Exeter and Beaconsfield, great gastronomy in Launceston, more than 30 cellar doors to visit in the valley as well as unique attractions such as Platypus House and Seahorse World.
What it costs: from about $544 for two nights, two-night minimum.
3. The star pavilions
Freycinet Lodge, Coles Bay
Nature lovers have lodged in Freycinet National Park for almost a century but never as luxuriously as this. From humble fibro beginnings as The Chateau in 1934, Freycinet Lodge took its current form in 1993 and more recently added nine coastal pavilions to compete with the ultra-luxury Saffire lodge on the opposite shore of Coles Bay. The pavilions combine interiors of sinuous oak and blackwood with a charred ironbark shell and walls of glass framing she-oak scrublands and the sparkling bay (keep eyes peeled for rays). It’s tempting to stay put and experience the setting from every vantage point – shower, bed, deckside bath or balcony hammock. But with oyster farms, vineyards and Wineglass Bay on the doorstep it would be a shame not to explore, or at least book in at The Bay restaurant for east-coast seafood served with ocean views.
What it costs: from $811 a night in a coastal pavilion, including breakfast, two-night minimum.
4. The zen retreat
Sabi Stays, Binalong Bay
This minimalist stone and timber cabin promises “solitude and stillness”, just a short stroll from the white sands of Binalong Bay at the southern end of the Bay of Fires wilderness. The owners have adhered to the Japanese principles of wabi-sabi in creating the retreat, a serene space where imperfection is celebrated. Furniture is simple – a rustic round dining table of reclaimed Tasmanian oak with basic bench seating; low, futon-style sofas in a living room dominated by a slow-combustion burner set into an imposing 6m-high stone wall. There are two king bedrooms, one on the ground floor, with the master suite upstairs on the mezzanine. The colour palette is earthy and gentle, with a textural mix of timber, linen and micro-cement render. Guests can take leisurely beach strolls, explore the bay on organised tours, hike the trails of Mt William National Park or have a picnic at the scenic Gardens coastal stretch.
What it costs: $800 a night midweek, $1350 for a two-night minimum on weekends.
5. The glam camp
Truffle Lodge, Derwent Valley
Five spacious tents are strung along a boardwalk at this property overlooking the broad and beautiful Derwent River, about 40km northwest of Hobart. Interiors are plush, with king beds, leather couches and woollen rugs delivering an upmarket take on the Aussie bush camp. Ensuites with Japanese-style timber tubs are cleverly housed within adjoining water tanks, while front decks invite river-gazing from rocking chairs and hammocks. You might spot platypus paddling in the shallows or an echnidna snuffling around the undergrowth. Guests can commune in The Lodge, where indoor and outdoor zones feature wood-burner fireplaces. Breakfast and gourmet dinners are served here and comfy couches make for cosy relaxation while spinning vinyl records or playing board games. Next door is The Canopy, a covered al fresco space for table tennis tournaments, or you could simply retire to the firepit with glass of red in hand. Truffle Lodge is surrounded by attractions including Mt Field National Park, the antiques stores of Norfolk, the stunning Wall in the Wilderness carving and several whisky distilleries and wineries.
What it costs: from $295 a person a night, minimum two nights, including breakfast and dinner.