Geodesic domes, Georgian gorgeousness, forest-facing hot tubs and a Salamanca sanctuary: fresh picks from the Apple Isle.
Felons Corner
61 Hampson Lane, Sheffield; vandiemenrise.com.
Felons Corner, at the base of 1233-metre Mount Roland.Credit: Genevieve Little
THE LOCATION Though only seven minutes’ drive from the lively, street art-filled north-west town of Sheffield, Felons Corner has total privacy and spectacular views, situated in the middle of a 36-hectare property in the foothills of Mount Roland.
THE PLACE There are maximum Instagram moments per square metre in this stylishly renovated weatherboard cottage, with artful use of recycled timbers, contemporary art and mosaic tiles. One bedroom has its own stretching (or reading room) – yoga gear provided. The other occupies an open loft above the kitchen and lounge room. They share a well-equipped kitchen, a large and fancy-tiled bathroom with deep tub, and a separate laundry.
The renovated cottage incorporates recycled timbers and contemporary art.
THE EXPERIENCE Throw open the French doors and lounge on the decks facing forest and mountain, or stoke the barrel-shaped log fire and curl up indoors. Another option: take a long soak in the deckside tub, shaded by a market umbrella by day or open to starry nights; there’s nothing out here but you and 1233-metre-high Mount Roland. It’s so close and dramatic, it really should have its own Instagram account.
DON’T MISS Tempting as it is to never leave, take the track behind the house for gentle pastoral views. Climb Mount Roland, a heart-pumping four-to-five-hour return hike, or hire a bike in Sheffield and hurtle downhill on the network of Wild Mersey mountain-bike trails.
FROM $508 a night. Helen Anderson
The Cottage at Richmond Hill
1097 Cressy Road, Cressy; 0407 874 873.
The Cottage, a restored Georgian farmhouse dating back to the early 1800s.Credit: Taryn Peck Photography
THE LOCATION A 20-minute drive south of Launceston airport (two hours north of Hobart airport), on the outskirts of the tiny rural township of Cressy, you’ll find the historic Richmond Hill estate and its exquisitely restored Georgian farmhouse, The Cottage.
THE PLACE In a year-long restoration project, owners Fiona and Nick Moses have revitalised this weatherboard and brick farmhouse dating to the early 1800s. The Cottage is now a serene, generously proportioned, two-bedroom, two-bathroom abode, ingeniously merging original features with top-notch contemporary appliances. Restored brick nog walls painted in a velvety lime wash set the tone for The Cottage’s softly glowing interior. Tasmanian oak floors are covered in sisal and Persian rugs, and in the living room a six-seater sofa with chaise-longue beckons opposite a cast-iron wood heater.
THE EXPERIENCE Orange cake awaits in the kitchen: Fiona bakes one for every guest, to her grandmother’s recipe. Heritage-listed hawthorn hedges encircle the adults-only retreat, giving privacy and seclusion. You’ll barely notice that the Moses live nearby, in their Regency-period home, and also run another superb guest house on the property, The Granary, which opened in 2019.
DON’T MISS Picnic on the banks of the gently flowing Macquarie River that borders the property, a five-minute walk from The Cottage.
FROM $750 a night; two-night minimum stay. Gabriella Coslovich
Gleneagle Tasmania
1135 Pine Road, Riana; 0418 979 668.
Gleneagle’s geodesic domes are perched in the forest canopy.
THE LOCATION Hidden in 46 hectares of forest, Gleneagle Tasmania is a 10-minute drive inland from the north-west coastal town of Penguin, around
35 minutes west of the Devonport ferry terminal and 90 minutes from Launceston.
THE PLACE Two geodesic domes are perched in the forest canopy with eagle-eye views of the neighbouring Dial Range and a creek-fed lake. Absorb the forest vibe (and catch the night-time screams of hungry Tasmanian devils) from the claw-footed outdoor bath or from armchairs inside the well-heated, well-appointed bubble. A short walk around the lake leads to the Devil’s Den, a communal kitchen and dining room with rammed-earth floor, indoor and outdoor fires and vintage vinyl records.
THE EXPERIENCE The clever visual surprises start at check-in, when a bright yellow door in the middle of the forest opens to reveal ... well, let’s not spoil the plot. Stage left is a monumental garden statue: a life-sized replica of Michelangelo’s David, the last of 30 moulded from the original. And at night an avenue of majestic fir trees is lit like a dark fairy tale, while the domes glow in the canopy. The wildness here feels close: see rare pines, cast for trout, or spot platypus, giant freshwater crayfish and echidna. Ask for phone alerts to spy devils and occasional quolls feeding in the wee hours.
DON’T MISS Raid the honesty bar, order a platter or barbecue pack and take a walk to the property’s Back Paddock for sundowners with views of Bass Strait.
FROM $440 a night. Helen Anderson
Cedar Cottage Meander
58 Sherriffs Road, Meander; (03) 6251 1738.
Set on a private deck, the Cedar Cottage hot tub fits four.Credit: Natasha Mulhall Photography
THE LOCATION This is the farm setting from Central Casting. Meander (of course) from the village of Meander in northern Tasmania to this farmlet on a forested rise above a patchwork of paddocks and dams, about an hour’s drive from both Launceston and the ferry terminal at Devonport.
THE PLACE As it says on the tin, Cedar Cottage is clad in shingles from top to toe, which lends character to the small but comfortable two-bedroom, one-bathroom home. On its own private deck is a deep bubbling hot tub, also cedar-clad and (just) large enough for four. It commands serene views wrapped by forest, pasture and a starry sky, with a soundtrack supplied by frogs in a nearby dam. A fire pit, post-and-rail fences and a large vegie patch named Veg Mahal complete the farmyard. Come prepared to cook: the Huon-pine kitchen has a top-quality inventory of handmade knives, excellent cookware and quality staples.
THE EXPERIENCE Take a breath. Slip into the hot tub and wallow. Brew tea. Forage for herbs and make soup. Stoke the fire pit. Gaze at stars. Drink wine. The thoughtful additions here – tub-side yukatas, coffee beans and grinder, a bag of fire-making tools – ensure simple pursuits will be memorable.
DON’T MISS Stroll around nearby Deloraine, as pretty a country town as you’ll find, for coffee and excellent baked goods at Frank & Lotti Espresso Bar and the chance to spot platypuses at dusk from the Meander River bridge, in the middle of town.
FROM $525 a night; two-night minimum stay. Helen Anderson
Millingtons House
Orford; address supplied on booking; 0409 036 877.
Millington’s House offers “beach shack” living an hour north-west of Hobart.Credit: Abbie Melle
THE LOCATION An hour north-west of Hobart, the quiet beach town of Orford is fringed by bush and farmland, centred around the jetty-lined Prosser River and surrounded by beaches of all sorts.
THE PLACE Tasmanians like to talk about their “shacks” and this was probably once an accurate description of the average beach house. But some old “shacks”, like Millingtons House, have been transformed into something else entirely, while keeping their classic charm. This light-filled property sleeps six across three bedrooms – two queen and a bunk room – and features an idyllic sunroom with views of the Prosser River.
THE EXPERIENCE Every detail is considered, from fluffy organic cotton towels to rugs your bare feet will adore and, importantly, your first
breakfast: a hamper of croissants and Portuguese tarts delivered by the nearby Wattlebanks Cafe. There’s also a kitchen if you want to cook and an enclosed backyard the little ones will love. Enjoy a morning walk along the quiet coves. Breathe in the southern air. Return to the house for a long bath. Take a book to a cushioned nook in the sunroom.
DON’T MISS Tasman Sea Salt, 30 minutes’ drive north, makes salts from some of the world’s most pristine waters. Take their 90-minute tour and tasting.
FROM $350 a night. Melissa Fyfe
Hunter Huon Valley
224 Sunny Hills Road, Glen Huon; 0423 488 402.
The Hunter’s rooms are designed to offer forest bathing from the bathtub.Credit: Natasha Mulhall Photography
THE LOCATION An hour’s drive south-west of Hobart airport, in the hills above the small township of Glen Huon, the self-contained Hunter Huon Valley cabins verge onto dense eucalypt forest, with harmonious views through the treetops to the Huon River below.
THE PLACE Four years ago, Kristy and Ben Hunt left the rush of Melbourne for the tranquillity of Tasmania’s Huon Valley, buying a 14-hectare bush property and building three one-room cabins on the site, well-spaced for privacy. The architect-designed, black-clad cabins are understated, restful
and aligned towards the forest. Nature has the starring role: a wall of windows splendidly frames a vista of tall gum trees. The honeyed warmth of Tasmanian oak floors, ceilings and walls are offset by dusky black kitchen cabinets and a deep bathtub set for bush views.
THE EXPERIENCE With no television or Wi-Fi, there’s little to do other than to bask in the calming beauty of the landscape. Lounge on the daybed or snuggle in the pillow-plumped bed dressed in linen. As the light fades, the gums turn into sinewy silhouettes and the stars appear through the sky lights above the bed. Dinner and breakfast featuring local produce are supplied, making this a blissfully relaxed getaway.
DON’T MISS The Summer Kitchen bakery in the nearby township of Ranelagh for great sourdough bread, delectable pies and the best carrot cake.
FROM $670 a night. Gabriella Coslovich
The Polaire Suite
1 Sandy Bay Road, Hobart; 0432 925 895.
The Polaire Suite, a short walk to Salamanca Place.Credit: Dearna Bond
THE LOCATION Housed in Hobart’s Mantra One Sandy Bay Road, which inhabits the orange-brick old phone exchange built in the 1920s, the suite is
a short amble down to the bars and restaurants of Salamanca Place and a quick, breathy hike up to Battery Point’s charming streetscapes.
THE PLACE Behind the doors of the other Mantra One rooms is exactly what you’d expect: pleasant, globally-recognisable decor perfect for the travelling executive. But enter the Polaire Suite and you’re in a world of high-end design. There’s an oak herringbone floor, lofty ceiling, chef’s kitchen, steel dining table and soft furnishings in a soothing palette of greys and pinks.
THE EXPERIENCE The suite is designed by husband-and-wife team Louise Radman and Nav Singh as a pairing for their nearby Institut Polaire restaurant, whose cold-climate aesthetic and food is an esteemed part of Hobart’s dining scene (suite guests receive priority status). The multi-talented duo also do wine and spirits, some of which are available in the suite (the Sud Polaire gin is a winner). Show off the apartment by sharing a pre-dinner drink with some friends on the loveseats by coveted British furniture maker Ercol, or stay in under a Waverley Mills throw with a bowl of complimentary microwave popcorn.
DON’T MISS Slip into the low-lit den of the Salamanca Whisky Bar for a late- night sip of Tasmanian-made spirits.
FROM $400 a night. Melissa Fyfe
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