Tasmanian chef serves up coastal comfort in a family oasis
A stay at this relaxed beach house on the Tasman Peninsula makes for a magical family or group getaway, writes Blair Richards
Travel
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Exotic destinations have their allure but revisiting the beaches of your childhood has the makings of a really special family holiday.
I have family on the Tasman Peninsula and grew up spending holidays there.
So it was beautiful to have a weekend at Eaglehawk Neck as a proper tourist at Teralina Beach House.
Teralina is the latest offering from local chef, tourism operator and cookbook author Eloise Emmett.
Known for her cooking classes and retreats at Taranna’s Little Norfolk Bay Events and Chalets, Emmett is now focused on her Old School Kitchen cooking school in Glenorchy.
It’s no accident Teralina Beach House is perfectly set up for holidaying with kids – the house is Emmett’s former family home.
The original shack was fully renovated in 2015, with the highlight being the extension that serves as a spacious living area.
The ceiling-high windows and huge wraparound deck offer wide views of Pirates Bay and those spectacular coastal sunrises.
The living space is deliberately practical and clutter-free.
“We’ve tried to keep it child proof and child friendly, so kids can walk the sand inside without being too precious,” Emmett says.
There’s no shortage of visitor accommodation on the Tasman Peninsula, but this one stands out for being targeted at families and large groups.
The main area features a chef’s kitchen, island bench, dining table, big couch, a TV and a woodheater, still leaving room to move.
The walk-in pantry contains staples and plenty of space for supplies.
The four bedroom, two-bathroom house sleeps up to 10 in three double bedrooms and a four-bed bunk room.
The main bedroom features a walk-in-wardrobe and ensuite, with a sliding door onto the deck where the sun streams in each morning.
The bathrooms contain basic toiletries and the children enjoyed bathing in lavender bath salts after one of our several trips to the beach.
Outside you’ll find a cubby house with sandpit, toy kitchen and expansive green lawns.
Emmett says the house, which has been available for stays since March, offers an ideal base for a Southern Tasmanian holiday.
“One thing with Eaglehawk Neck is it’s actually really close to town, if people want that quick weekend away,” she says.
The location of Teralina – named after the Aboriginal dual name for Eaglehawk Neck – is just as spectacular as the house itself.
The steps to the start of Doo Town beach, one of the more sheltered spots at Pirates Bay, are a minute’s walk away.
The beach is also home to the Little Penguin fencing and conservation project.
Artificial burrows and fencing provide a safe home for the penguins, which can be seen returning to their burrows at dusk.
We took morning and afternoon trips to the beach for playing, paddling and looking in rock pools.
There arealso plenty of other things to see and do within a short drive in either direction.
One of Tasmania’s great short bushwalks is close by at Waterfall Bay.
Less than a 10 minute drive will take you to the carpark for this easy 1.5 hour return walk.
The walk takes in some of the spectacular sea cliffs and waterfalls of the Tasman National Park.
Here you can also view the Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen.
The Eaglehawk Neck Blow Hole is a walk along the beach or a very short drive away.
You can take some short walks to view coastal scenery or in the right conditions see the waves crashing into the blow hole.
Doo-lishus fish and chip and ice cream van operates from the blowhole carpark.
Attractions within half and hour’s drive include the Tasmanian Devil UnZoo and Federation Artisan Chocolate at Taranna, the Port Arthur historic site, Remarkable Cave, the Coal Mines Historic Site, and countless spectacular beaches in areas such as Koonya, Sloping Main and White Beach.
On our trip down, we chose to stock up in Sorell, where there’s a great new playground if the kids need a stop on the way.
If you feel like a slow trip, there are cellar doors at Bream Creek and Cape Bernier, along with Dunalley’s popular food and wine destination Bangor Vineyard Shed.
During our visit we also headed further on to the peninsula to White Beach.
On the way we stopped for lunch at the Fox and Hounds Historic Hotel at Port Arthur.
The distinctive Tudor inn nestled in the bushy surrounds is a local landmark. It continues to attract crowds, with the English pub dining room packed on the Sunday when we enjoyed a great lunch of flathead and chips.
After a day exploring it was lovely to return to the comfort of Teralina Beach House for a relaxing evening – after one more trip to the beach.
The author was a guest of Teralina Beach House.
MAKE A NOTE
Teralina Beach House is located at Eaglehawk Neck, about one hour’s drive from Hobart.
Cost: $700 per night for up to 10 people.
The beach house has a fully equipped chef’s kitchen for self catering. Local dining options include Doo-lishus fish and chip and ice cream van at the nearby blow hole carpark, cubed Espresso van at the lookout, the Lufra Hotel, Bangor Vineyard Shed at Dunalley, and the Fox and Hounds at Port Arthur.
Direct bookings preferred teralinabeachhouse.com
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