Spectacular: Slow down and indulge as you escape to Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain, where a stay is designed for those who want to get away from crowds. Photos: Supplied.
If you gravitate towards the magic of spending the cooler months in Tasmania, then look out for opportunities to save on stays with signature off-season packages available until September.
Your purpose, if you decide to consent, is to pick out a travel deal that best suits your individual requirements. If you are so inclined, then an Apple Isle escape awaits with five iconic places to stay, infinite reasons to linger, and an endless allure to remain. It’s anything but Mission: Impossible!
From Cradle Mountain’s crisp alpine air, the wild west coast’s misty Gordon River, and the historic Tasman Peninsula to the east coast and the still waters of Lake St Clair … here is your invitation to slow down, warm up and savour your getaway.
Choose your package: book and stay at Cradle Mountain, Freycinet Lodge, Pumphouse Point, Strahan Village or Port Arthur before 30 September. If you are an NRMA member, save up to a further 10 per cent on packages at Freycinet, Cradle, Strahan and Port Arthur, and an extra 5 per cent at Pumphouse.
Stay for two or more nights in your accommodation of choice, at carefully handpicked destinations, with inclusions that will edify your senses!
At 1545 metres above sea level, Cradle Mountain is Tasmania’s sixth-highest mountain, standing supreme above the easy-to-access Dove Lake. You need to stop and stare a while at the ridges and peaks in the frame. At the northern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, this imposing elevation is just the starting point to the area’s wilderness experiences, from alpine lakes to rainforest riverbanks and prolific wildlife.
Slow down and indulge as this stay is conceived for those who seek depth, not crowds. Opt for invigorating alpine air, snow-dusted trails and fireside comfort. If you go with Cradle Mountain, the package, priced from $510 (valued at $730), also includes daily breakfast, complimentary bottle of wine and decadent dessert with dinner.
Indulgence: Freycinet Lodge is within Freycinet National Park on Tasmania’s east coast.
Freycinet Lodge is inside Freycinet National Park on Tasmania’s east coast, near Coles Bay, overlooking Great Oyster Bay, with Wineglass Bay nearby. There is direct access to the park’s natural attractions, including the Hazards mountain range, while still offering a secluded, pristine setting. Would you believe the nearest beach is just 320 metres from the lodge?
The unique combination of eco-luxury accommodation and immersive natural surroundings is an ideal base for exploring the Freycinet Peninsula, making it easier to engage in water activities and experience the park’s wildlife and scenic landscapes.
The Freycinet Lodge package for $730 (valued at $995) also offers daily breakfast, a hosted food- and wine-tasting experience featuring flavours of the season, and post-dinner mulled wine under the stars or by the fire. Savour the quieter side of the east coast.
Discover the moody beauty of Lake St Clair on an exclusive Tassie slow-season retreat. Stay at a unique adults-only wilderness retreat, Pumphouse Point, on the Southern Hemisphere’s deepest lake, within the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Perched partly over the water in a restored 1930s hydroelectric pumphouse, it offers immersive views of the lake and surrounding forests.
Sink deeper into cool-climate bliss as you settle into lakeside serenity during a uniquely Tasmanian slow-season escape at Pumphouse Point. Two nights here are from $1399 (valued at $1895). Also enjoy breakfast, larder lunch and dinner, a pre-dinner drink, two $50 massage vouchers, a bottle of wine at dinner each evening, and a unique chocolate- or whisky-tasting experience.
Lakeside: A unique adults-only wilderness retreat, Pumphouse Point is on Lake St Clair in the central highlands of Tasmania.
On the shores of the west coast’s Macquarie Harbour, Strahan, a small town known for its scenic beauty and proximity to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area, is a popular destination for those seeking outdoor activities and natural landscapes.
If you prefer still mornings and slower days, then cruise into the winter wild. Let the Gordon River set the pace. This is where harbour views, misty rivers and untamed landscapes shape every stay.
The Strahan Village package, from $559 (valued at $669), also includes tickets for Gordon River Cruises’ main deck and evening mulled wine at Hamers Bar and Bistro.
Now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, Port Arthur is a historic town and former convict settlement on the Tasman Peninsula. The site serves as a living museum, preserving the history of convict life, colonial expansion and penal reform.
A Port Arthur holiday park bundle, priced from $338 (valued at $389), has two vouchers for the Port Arthur historic site tour and a 10 per cent dining discount at a local restaurant. You also enjoy up to 40 per cent off sites.
Holiday among bushland and bays while stepping into Tasmania’s most storied past. This is where nature meets history.
