Check out Tassie’s latest luxury eco-friendly lodge – Swan River Sanctuary near Swansea
A weekend away at this new accommodation offering, with its peaceful setting, comfy lodgings – as well as a wood-fired sauna – was the ideal way to relax and rejuvenate, writes Kirsty Eade
TasWeekend
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About half an hour into our stay at Swan River Sanctuary we’re standing on the brow of a hill looking west over the nearby mountain range and Tasmania’s stunning East Coast delivers one of those real ‘wow’ moments.
The sun was setting and the light at golden hour was putting on a real show as our friendly host Mat Routley was giving us a guided tour of the regenerative beef property he is in the process of restoring.
The 350ha property, known as Riversdale Farm, which is about a 10-minute drive north of Swansea, is home to about 100 head of Hereford cattle but also to a luxury eco-friendly lodge that was exclusively ours for the weekend.
On arrival we were greeted by Mat and his partner Alex and a roaring open fire the couple had thoughtfully pre-lit to ensure we had a warm welcome.
We were then given a tour of the lodge that Mat built a couple of years ago but has only started sharing with guests since Christmas.
“I felt so lucky to have found this glorious property and then to be able to build this special place on this perfect spot down by the river, I just want people to come and enjoy the joint … it just seems greedy not to share it with others, ” Mat says.
Given its location in a private spot about 800m from the main road, nestled on a hill that overlooks the peaceful Swan River and with mountain ranges to the west and north framing the sprawling rural property, the lodge certainly lives up to its name of being a sanctuary.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom lodge is stylishly decorated, super comfortable and would be an ideal retreat for a family or up to three couples.
The Macrocarpa wood ceilings and lining in the main living area adds to the lodge’s warm and cosy feel.
The main living/dining area is generous in size and has an eclectic mix of furniture and furnishings. One of the first things you notice in this space is an enormous, impressive bohemian chandelier that dominates the middle of the living room’s high vaulted ceiling, which Mat tells us he sourced from an antiques store at the Margate train.
Then there’s an elegant, antique dining table, which dates back to the 1860s, that has a hidden secret.
If you scan the QR code placed on the sideboard next to the table, it offers instructions on how to activate the levers that turn the dining top around so when it’s flipped a felt-covered pool table is revealed.
Another unique feature of the living room is the opulent abalone shell wall which features dozens of large symmetrically arranged oval-shaped shells, with their internal mother-of-pearl layer facing upwards to create a shiny, iridescent showpiece.
The living space contains a couple of comfy sofas and retro velvet-covered swivel chairs all perfect for kicking back and relaxing on, to enjoy the aforementioned toasty open fire.
The fireplace surround is decked out in large hand-laid stones sourced from the nearby river.
The well-appointed kitchen contains a gas cooktop and oven which was perfect for cooking up the large succulent beef steaks (which we later learnt were from Mat’s prize Hereford herd that had been raised and fattened on the farm) and locally grown veg that our hosts had generously left us in a hamper for dinner on the first night of our stay.
The kitchen also has an island bench with seating so those on cooking duties can enjoy a wine and chat with their partner or friends.
The lodge’s ground floor also contains two comfortable bedrooms each with queen-sized beds, a bathroom and laundry facilities.
Then upstairs on the second level, is the master bedroom, which would have to be my favourite spot in the lodge.
This generous-sized room contains a large king-sized bed and a freestanding stone bath which is perfect for luxuriating in and gazing out the large window onto the picturesque vista below. And if you time it right the bath is the ideal spot to catch another golden hour as the sun sets over the mountains to the west.
In fact any time you spend in this room is great for appreciating the outlook, as in the morning after we’d enjoyed a ridiculously good night’s sleep in the super comfy bed, we woke to views of the serene river below framed by the soft light of the dawn.
The other beauty of not closing the bedroom blinds was that at daybreak we were treated to an amazing bird show.
On both mornings of our stay the river was teeming with an abundance of birdlife and the watercourse seemed to be a virtual super highway for all manner of species.
On the first morning I woke to see a huge flock of black cockatoos heading down the river and then later a couple of white-bellied sea eagles cruised on by.
I also noted a small group of about four or five white-faced herons stalking around the paddocks in the early misty morning light and a lone black-faced cormorant looking for some breakfast was hanging around as well.
After a leisurely start to the day and a quick trip into Swansea for some delicious pastries courtesy of Dahlia’s excellent French patisserie (we also hear Cake & Honey is an equally good place to stop in for a sweet treat) we headed back to the farm for a tour of the property.
Mat is passionate about explaining his regenerative aims for the property and the eco-friendly aspects of the lodge, which is powered by the sun and rain, and enjoys giving visitors tours of both the land and river.
He says he feels privileged to share his knowledge of both Riversdale and the surrounding area and is keen to pay his respects to the Paredarerme and Palawa people, who are the traditional owners and custodians of the Swan River Valley.
“I just love welcoming visitors to this special place and sharing my knowledge about the land and its history … I think the real beauty this place offers people is the space and time to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life and reconnect with those closest to them and just enjoy nature in a totally private and luxurious setting,” he says.
After checking out the farm, Mat then left us to our own devices so we could relax and enjoy one of the property’s other coolest offerings, the wood-fired sauna, that had been preset, ready to be lit with the strike of a match.
The glass-fronted sauna allows you to relax and build up a sweat while enjoying a view of the Swan River – and the pontoon Mat has constructed – for those brave enough to take the short walk down for a plunge into the bracing waters.
After a lovely afternoon in the sauna, lazing around reading books and enjoying the tranquil peacefulness of the quiet property’s surrounds and river for some more birdwatching, we headed back into Swansea for an enjoyable dinner at the deservedly popular Waterloo Inn.
Swan River Sanctuary is close to plenty of eateries in nearby Swansea and the picture-perfect beaches at Bicheno and Friendlies and would be a great place to base yourself to visit nearby attractions such as the renowned East Coast wineries as well as the world-famous Freycinet National Park.
However, the beauty of this property is you can get there and never leave – which is what we did for most of the weekend – as it has everything you need and could ever want for a totally luxurious, relaxing and rejuvenating stay.
The author was a guest of Swan River Sanctuary
MAKE A NOTE
SWAN RIVER SANCTUARY
14228 Tasman Hwy, Swansea
The property is located about a 10-minute drive, 8km north of Swansea.
The three-bedroom, two bathroom lodge can accommodate six people or three couples.
Prices and inclusions: Guests can currently take advantage of the winter special which is 35% off peak season prices. From March to September the lodge is $590 per night; from October to December, it is $790 per night; and January it is $890 per night. The price is based on two guests staying, additional guests are $75 per person.
No minimum night stay.
A breakfast hamper is supplied on the first night of each stay.
The stay and sauna package is an additional $300 and this includes unlimited use of the wood-fired sauna and luxury robes for all guests.
Guests can also book a stay and safari tour which includes a guided tour of the river by boat to experience the animal and birdlife endemic to the area.
To book and for more information
Phone 0418 105 617
Or visit the website https://www.swanriversanctuary.com.au
or email info@swanriversanctuary.com.au
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