Tasmania is stunningly beautiful! It is not commonly found on an itinerary for a first-time visit to Australia, but I am so glad I chose to include it in my trip plans. After two nights in Hobart and a site inspection at Saffire, I spent 3-nights at Cradle Mountain Lodge exploring and hiking in the National Park. This perfectly blended beautiful landscapes, fresh air, and wildlife.
This is the final entry in a series of posts from my Tasmania trip, read the others here:
We opted for a self-drive tour of Tasmania, and I’m glad we did. The roads may have been winding and narrow, but we enjoyed the extra freedom and flexibility. Many locals had warned us to be careful of wildlife on the roads at dusk, so we raced in the sun to get to Cradle Mountain. This picture above was taken at a scenic overlook; I made us pull over because I felt car sick (Dramamine is a must on these mountain roads), but this view and the fresh air helped me recover quickly. What a sight!
The locals were right. We arrived just as the sun was setting, and in the last mile before arriving at the lodge, we saw two echidnas, a few wallabies, and more wombats than I could count. As a wildlife safari addict, I was in heaven.
Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge served as our home for three nights, and we were perfectly comfortable. Is this a luxury, 5-star hotel? No, definitely not. But, it is clean, well maintained, offers friendly service, and is in THE BEST location for exploring the national park without having to do too much prep work. We booked our Tasmania trip through Swain Destinations, a Virtuoso partner, and they did a great job of setting our expectations and preparing us for the journey.
We stayed in one of the Pencil Pine Cabins, and I loved the extra space, including the sitting room and fireplace. The bathroom was basic, but they did provide Appellees toiletries, which was a nice touch. The lodge features two restaurants, and the dining is nothing to write home about. The Tavern has a backpackers feel to it, which can lend to the sense of adventure, but the menu is wanting. Highland Restaurant is a more formal affair featuring local games and produce, but the offerings just weren’t enough to keep this foodie content for 3-nights. There is a shop, and we ended up sourcing snacks and beverages to enjoy on our deck; I wish we had stopped at a grocery store on our way in and brought a bottle of wine or two. Despite my dining complaints, I enjoyed our time at the lodge, and the location alone is enough reason to stay here.
The key to the location of Cradle Mountain Lodge is the number of walks you can do right from the property. The above picture was taken on our first morning. We started light and tried out the Enchanted walk to stretch our legs after breakfast. The trail is a little too short to feel like you’re on a hike, but it is a great introduction to the environment and perfect for traveling with children. We visited in early spring, so it was still quite cold, but these steams are popular swimming spots in the warmer summer months.
After that, we branched out and did the King Billy Track to see the 1500-year-old pine trees. It was steep and muddy in places, but we were rewarded with incredible vistas from the hillside. The giant pines were quite impressive.
The most popular hike amongst the lodge guests was the Dove Lake circuit. It is an easy, level walk around the lake that takes approximately three hours. If you are feeling adventurous, there are off-shoots from this circuit that will take you up into Cradle Mountain. We saw a fascinating variety of forests, ranging from evergreens to groves that felt like tropical rainforests, along with a few picturesque lookouts and waterfalls. I definitely recommend this hike.
In addition to the hiking trails, the other must-see attraction at Cradle Mountain is the Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary. We arrived with very little knowledge about these fascinating creatures, and our guide was patient and knowledgeable. We returned home with a great sense of affinity for the devils. We’ve been telling everyone who will listen about their eating habits, why they are endangered, and what makes them so cute! They don’t look like the cartoon but sound exactly the same! Go for the feeding demonstration in the evening to see the devils in their full glory.
On our last day, we were itching to get in one more walk before the sun went down, and I’m so glad we did! The Waterfalls Walk began right at the lodge entrance, and the late afternoon light made for some great photography in the shadow of the trees, as you can see in the postcard above.
Tasmania has finally caught the attention of international travelers and there are signs of more and more investment in the tourism industry there. I will keep an eye on Tasmania and expect to see some interesting developments over the coming year. First up, Starwood has announced a new Luxury Collection hotel in Hobart, The Tasman. I believe that the Saffire Freycinet has proven the viability of Tasmania as a luxury lodge destination and I hope to see more properties like it become available. I envision an Amankora-style series of lodges around the island, perhaps a Singita or two. A girl can dream!
Even without a plethora of luxury lodge-style accommodations, Tasmania is ripe for exploring. If you love beautiful natural landscapes and unique wildlife encounters, this destination should be on your bucket list!
