Tasmania’s Cosiest Winter Stays
Picture this: you, your favourite person, a bottle of whisky and a crackling fire. Or maybe you’re sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with old (and new) friends while tucking into a hearty feast. Perhaps there’s just you, a glass of wine and the curling steam rising off an outdoor hot tub. Whatever your idea of cosy is, you can find it in Tasmania during the Off Season. Dial up the romance and book one of these toasty hideaways this winter.
Image credit: Adam Gibson
Leighton House, Evandale
1/15The preservation of history and heritage was key to the restoration of Leighton House, an exquisite 19th-century Georgian cottage set on 121 hectares of riverfront farmland, located 17.5 kilometres south of Launceston. There are three spacious bedrooms, a bunk room, a huge collection of modern Australian art – including works by Archibald Prize-winning Guy Maestri and photographic artist Pamela Pauline – and an outdoor hot tub and sauna for guests to enjoy.
Image credit: Natasha Mulhall
Hunter Huon Valley, Glen Huon
2/15It’s difficult to tell where the bush ends and the discreet architecturally designed pods of Hunter Huon Valley begin. Each one overlooks the untamed Huon Valley, 45 minutes south-west of Hobart, and features a rustic stone bath, fireplace and kitchen facilities. Breakfast composed of local goodies such as small-batch sourdough crumpets and locally roasted coffee beans is included in your stay.
Image credit: airbnb
Sisters, Spring Beach
3/15Originally built as a sanctuary for a WWII veteran in the 1970s, the tri-level Sisters Tasmania has been expertly reimagined into a Mid-century Modern-style getaway. The shack sits on a wild east-coast clifftop with views across the Tasman Sea to Maria Island. Stapleton Beach, a secluded stretch of shoreline, is a few footsteps away down a secret track – you’re likely to have it all to yourself.
Call this modernised beach shack home for a few nights. Plan your trip to Tasmania now.
Image credit: airbnb
Seaforth Shack, Strahan
4/15It takes no more than 30 seconds to walk from the cosy comforts of Seaforth Shack – just outside the quaint west-coast town of Strahan – to the water’s edge, where a private bay awaits. Bring a bottle of wine or local sparkling, settle onto the vintage iron bench and watch the grey-blue of the water and sage green bushland deepen as the light fades.
Image credit: airbnb
Little Falu, Pioneer
5/15Quaint and cheerful, the Scandinavian-inspired tiny house Little Falu in the state’s north-east looks like something out of Little Red Riding Hood. Its storybook setting is enhanced by the nearby Little Blue Lake, where the water is so deeply cobalt it resembles an illustration. For the complete Nordic experience, a visit to the nearby Floating Sauna Lake Derby is essential.
Image credit: airbnb
Three Capes Cabin, Taranna
6/15If you’re very lucky, you could see a Tasmanian devil snuffling around the grounds of Three Capes Cabin, which lies just beside Little Norfolk Bay in the state’s far south-east. To guarantee an encounter, visit the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo – a wildlife and nature experience with a focus on education and conservation – which is only a short walk away. A soak in the cabin’s balcony bathtub with sunset-facing views is a blissful way to unwind after a day of adventure. The property also has a fire pit, barbecue and modern kitchen stocked with basic pantry supplies.
Embrace Tasmania’s wild winter charm. Get great deals on flights now at qantas.com.
Image credit: Lusy Productions
Eagle’s Nest Retreat, West Kentish
7/15On the edge of Cradle Mountain, just under 90 minutes west of Launceston, Eagle's Nest Retreat offers 360 degrees of mountain and lake views. Each of the four suites has at least one spa bath (some have both indoor and outdoor tubs) that are the ideal vantage points for watching twilight descend. Accommodations come equipped with a kitchen, luxurious bathroom and cosy outdoor seating area.
Image credit: Ben Hansen
Thalia Haven, Little Swanport
8/15The sapphire water of Great Oyster Bay on the east coast makes it one of Tasmania’s most arresting landscapes. Thalia Haven provides guests with a private view of this beautiful waterway along with access to an exclusive beach. The property’s sleeping quarters span four separate buildings, so everyone in your group will have their own private retreat but can come together around the roaring fire in the central living and dining spaces.
Image credit: Adam Gibson
Satellite Island
9/15If the main island of Tassie isn’t rugged or remote enough for you then meet Satellite Island, a five-minute boat ride from Bruny Island in the state’s south. Book a stay with seven friends and the entire island will be yours to enjoy. Hike through rugged bush and paddle around isolated inlets by kayak, or hit the water on a paddleboard and tuck in to the hearty stash of provided Tassie produce.
Finally get the holiday out of the group chat. Start planning your trip now.
Image credit: Tourism Tasmania
Piermont Retreat, Swansea
10/15This Off Season, the Winter’s Bounty Package at Piermont Retreat promises to showcase the best produce from the east coast community. During a two-night stay in one of the luxuriously designed cottages, residences or spa suites on the shores of Great Oyster Bay, you’ll join other guests and locals for a hearty communal dining experience. Feast on seasonal vegetables, freshly shucked oysters and fragrant mulled cider, then jump up for a little fireside dancing.
Image credit: Marnie Hawson
The Bowmont, Franklin
11/15The circa-1906 Bowmont in the Huon Valley, a 40-minute drive south-west of Hobart, has retained its stately appearance on the outside, while refurbishments inside have blended quiet luxury with vintage charm – think floor-to-ceiling windows, statement pendant lights and quirky wallpaper. Book your two-night stay at the property’s heritage apartment and opt into the Off Season-only private dinner, which will fill a former bank manager’s office with hearty aromas and laughter. Or, devour three courses of Huon Valley’s winter produce and local wine by the fire at the Fancy Granny Secret Supper Club.
Triabunna Barracks, Triabunna
12/15Heritage sandstone buildings are as Tasmanian as oysters and sparkling wine and the Triabunna Barracks, a 70-minute drive from Hobart, is a charming example of a historic building given a contemporary spin. There are several bedroom suites to choose from – or you could reserve the entire property on the sun-dappled east coast for groups of six. The local Triabunna area is packed with fishing spots and walks, including the 700-metre Pelican Walk along the foreshore, while the wildlife-rich Maria Island is an easy ferry ride away.
Combine rustic charm with natural beauty and you have one epic stay in Tasmania. Start planning your visit.
Image credit: J Parson Photography
The Coach House, Mole Creek
13/15When you arrive at 19th-century The Coach House in Mole Creek, an hour’s drive west of Launceston, expect a warm country welcome from both your human hosts and the farm’s friendly Highland cows. The property is suitable for larger groups, accommodating up to 16 guests, and the region has plenty to keep everyone entertained, including the Mole Creek caves tour, the Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary and dozens of wineries.
Image credit: airbnb
The Galahs Nest, Queenstown
14/15Outdoor baths are de rigueur in holiday homes but not many of them are carved from solid stone. The one at converted country hall The Galahs Nest in Queenstown is the ideal place to settle in with a book on a wintry afternoon. The town happens to be a stop on the West Coast Wilderness Railway, so you can spend the day exploring the region’s ancient rainforests, then retreat to your cosy quarters to unwind.