These are some of the enticing words printed in white lettering across the sliding glass doors of our luxury glamping tent, where we’re gazing lazily out at the rolling hills in the distance, as sheep graze nearby and sulphur-crested cockatoos, kookaburras and wedge-tailed eagles entertain us as they call from the surrounding trees or glide across the bold blue sky overhead.

From our cosy spot on the lounge, we also have a view of our roaring wood fire which is keeping us warm, despite it being a cool May, Tassie day. And, of course, we can also see the white claw-foot bath on the timber deck, where I’ve already spent many hours appreciating the ever-changing colours of the sky while soaking under a big pile of bubbles in the fresh air.

My husband and I are lucky enough to be spending two nights at Aquila Glamping at Richmond, an adults-only, luxury, off-grid retreat which is an easy 25-minute drive from Hobart but feels like a world away from daily life.

There are three luxury eco pods on site, each with compact but modern living facilities, carefully orientated to ensure seclusion and maximise the views of farmland, local vineyards and kunanyi/Mt Wellington in the distance.

But we have opted to stay in the property’s most popular offering – its luxury glamping tent.

We’ve stayed in glamping-style accommodation in the past, including spacious bell tents with plenty of mod-cons. But at Aquila, the concept of “glamping” is taken to a whole new level. Because not only does this glamping tent have floating floors, light fixtures and a kingsize bed with luxe linens, but it also features a solid, built structure at the rear, showcasing a kitchenette and an ensuite bathroom. Meanwhile, at the front, sliding glass doors connect to a spacious timber deck where you can recline in Tasmanian-made timber armchairs or slip into the outdoor bathtub.

As soon as we checked in to our luxury glamping tent, I found myself instantly drawn to the bath, filling it to the brim in time for golden hour, watching the sun set while sipping a refreshing drink as day turned into night and the stars twinkled.

The bath, complete with heart-shaped mood lighting which illuminates the tent in the darkness and has made it a popular destination for romantic getaways and marriage proposals, also proved to be a perfect way to start each day, sipping a cup of herbal tea and watching the world wake up from the comfort of my tub filled with lavender-scented bubbles, as steam rose into the crisp morning air.

It was during a soak in the tub that I first spotted a wedge-tailed eagle at Aquila – the place is named after the majestic birds, as “Aquila audax fleayi” is the scientific name for Tasmania’s largest bird of prey. I was pretty chuffed to see just one eagle. So imagine my delight as it was joined by a second eagle, with the two of them gliding, seemingly effortlessly, across the valley.

But it wasn’t just the bath – and the wildlife – that made for a relaxing stay at Aquila.

I don’t always find hotel beds comfortable and it sometimes takes me a while to adjust to my new mattress and pillow.

And if I camp – which is rare – I don’t sleep well. But I instantly took a liking to the bed at Aquila, with its Huon pine bedhead, luxurious French linens and cloud-like mattress topper, and I slept beautifully. It was actually hard to believe I could sleep so well in a tent!

But, as I’ve already mentioned, this is far from an ordinary tent.

Perhaps the retractable, remote-controlled shutters that cover the sliding glass front of the tent at night to block the light, also helped with my solid sleep. Or maybe it was the bottle of Tasmanian wine and the cheese platter waiting for us on arrival. Or maybe it was the decadence of the dark drinking chocolate in the well-equipped kitchen.

Maybe it was the fun of the assorted books and card games we discovered in the shelf under the timber coffee table. Maybe it was the absence of needy young children at this adults-only retreat. Or maybe it was all the fresh air I inhaled while leisurely sipping cups of tea on the deck, or soaking for hours in that fabulous bathtub.

Even though the glamping tent at Aquila has many of the modern conveniences you’d find in an up-market hotel room, guests need to keep in mind that it’s still a tent.

At night, we could hear wind rustling the tent walls, and while the wood fire does a great job at warming everything up, the air temperature is still, at times, colder than a typical hotel room with central heating.

But that’s all part of the fun, and with a cool weekend of weather forecast for our stay, we arrived armed with ugg boots, snuggly PJs and a big fluffy blanket, all items which served us well during our stay.

The eco pods at Aquila opened in September last year, followed by the glamping tent in December.

There have already been two marriage proposals made on the glamping tent deck, and the bathtub and mood lighting has proved so popular that another alfresco bathtub is currently being installed outside one of the eco pods, allowing more visitors to enjoy the outdoor bathing experience (the bath is expected to be ready in time for Dark Mofo in early June).

The business is run by husband-and-wife team Alice Eddington and Jason Lennard. Alice grew up at Richmond – her family has farmed here for decades.

Her mother and two brothers also live, and work on, the surrounding farmland. But Alice and Jason, with backgrounds in building and landscape gardening, looked at other ways to use their 20ha piece of the land. And the idea for a luxury, eco-friendly accommodation business was born.

Sustainability is at the heart of a stay at Aquila, with Alice and Jason passionate about embracing the use of natural resources like solar power, while also minimising their impact on the surrounding natural environment by adopting a “reduce, reuse and recycle” philosophy.

At the same time, they didn’t want luxury to take a back seat, so they have worked hard to thoughtfully meld the two objectives, creating what they call a comfortable “camping for grown-ups” experience.

Alice says going off-grid is also about switching off from technology – there’s no TV or wi-fi at Aquila – giving guests a sense of freedom and a connection to nature they might not experience in daily life. The glamping tent also aims to cater for guests with disabilities, with wheelchair-friendly interiors and bathroom facilities, plus ramp access at the rear.

Coasters, crockery, couch cushions, tea towels, vases, salt and pepper shakers, the timber outdoor furniture and recycled timber bedhead have all been sourced from small local Tasmanian businesses.

A bird lover, Alice has included some of her own nature photographs throughout the glamping tent and eco pods, while guests can also visit the property’s garden of bird aviaries, occupied by colourful and charismatic rescue parrots.

With Aquila being so close to Hobart, there’s less need for driving, and more time for relaxing.

There are plenty of surrounding Coal River Valley vineyards to visit – including Frogmore Creek, Puddleduck and Pooley Wines – and of course the township of Richmond is home to plenty of eateries including Czegs’ cafe, where we discovered a delicious lunch menu and large cabinets brimming with house-made cakes.

You can also stock up on supplies at the local bakery or IGA supermarket or get pizzas delivered from Sorell.

But dining and sightseeing aside, we were happiest to simply hang out in our tent – or soak in the bath – and enjoy the view.

And it was while admiring that delightful view that I was again struck by a few more of those words printed across the glass sliding doors.

Relax. Nature. Indulgence. Escape. Enjoy.

This place certainly lives up to its promises.

The author was a guest of Aquila Glamping.

MAKE A NOTE

Aquila Glamping is located at 739 Brinktop Rd, Richmond – just outside the historic township – and is a 25-minute drive from Hobart.

• Prices for standard eco pods start from $199 per night, and from $299 per night for the eco pod with outdoor bath. A night in the glamping tent starts from $349 per night.

• As part of an Off Season promotion which runs from now until August 31, guests who book a two-night stay via aquilaglamping.com.au will receive a free bottle of local wine and a cheese platter on arrival.

To book: go to aquilaglamping.com.au