We went away for a weekend without the kids. It turned out to be a trip of a lifetime

That we could visit somewhere new, exotic, luxurious and exciting without having to even leave our timezone seemed too good to be true - and better yet, we could be back in time for dinner on Sunday. 

How good were holidays pre-kids?

Not that there’s anything wrong with holidays as a family, but you have to admit your priorities are different. Pre-kid-you didn’t care if the pool came with a splash pad or if there was a Kids Club onsite. Pre-kid-you didn’t baulk at the idea of jetlag and certainly didn’t wonder what everyone was going to eat. Pre-kid-you wanted beauty, adventure, new experiences, and quality time with your partner (who you didn’t want to kill yet). 

Pre-kid-you didn’t know what was about to hit them. 

But what if I told you that a place exists where you can get all of the above in a single weekend? And you don’t even need a passport to get there?

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Breakfast with a view

A jewel on the coast

When my husband and I were invited to spend two nights at Saffire Freycinet, a luxury resort on Tasmania’s East Coast, we moved heaven and earth to make it happen. We’d just spent winter doomscrolling other people’s European vacation pictures and were feeling like we’d never have a proper grown-up holiday ever again. 

That we could go somewhere new, exotic, luxurious and exciting without having to even leave our timezone seemed too good to be true - and better yet, we could be back in time for dinner on Sunday. 

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An all-inclusive resort, the price per night at Saffire is hefty - around $3000 - but it would be a mistake to underestimate the bang for your buck. All food and alcohol - including your mini bar and a degustation dinner menu - is taken into account, not to mention a selection of signature experiences ranging from beekeeping to oyster tasting to distillery tours. You even get the opportunity to get up and close to Tasmanian Devils that live on the property, although feeding time is not for the faint of heart. 

With only 20 suites, every single one boasts an uninterrupted view of the hazards and, depending on the time of year, is a short walk to the private beach should you be brave enough to go for a dip. (My husband swears by cold exposure therapy and went swimming every morning. I laid in bed and admired the view.) 

Hiking enthusiasts have no shortage of trails to explore, including a guided tour to Wineglass Bay as pictured below. 

Wineglass Bay Lookout is a must if you're in Freycinet.

Breakfast is at your leisure and, as with the other meals, is eaten in a dining room with sweeping views. This is not a buffet affair, but you are free to order as much or as little as you like, and be prepared to loosen your belt because you will want to try it all. 

But aside from the views and the food, both of which are world-class, what helps Saffire Freycinet truly stand out is its on-site experiences. 

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Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities 

Have you ever shucked oysters and sipped champagne waist-deep in the waters of a working oyster farm? Because I have, and it’s something I will never, ever forget. 

Waders are for wading!

Have you ever climbed out of a beekeeping suit to be met with fresh honey from the very bees and hives you spent the morning learning about? (Accompanied with a cheese plate and flutes of local apple cider, no less.) Because I have, and it’s never tasted sweeter. 

Or if getting up close and personal with Tassie Devils at feeding time is on your bucket list, look no further because you can witness that, too - all before retiring to cocktail hour complete with daily canapes in front of a lightly flickering fire. 

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Bees and devils.

More than a weekend away 

Staying at Saffire Freycinet is so much more than a ‘weekend without the kids’. What my husband and I were able to experience in two short days would have taken weeks on any other trip. It was like being in a Disneyland for adults who appreciate adventure as much as they do restoration, and much like the taste of that Freycinet oyster, is an experience that will stay with us forever.

Emily and her husband were guests of Saffire Freycinet. The opinions expressed in this article are her own. 

Originally published as We went away for a weekend without the kids. It turned out to be a trip of a lifetime