Tasmania’s Best Eco-Friendly Stays
No matter which region of the state you're visiting, there's a place to stay that takes it environmental responsibility as seriously as you take a good sleep. Here's our picks.
▼
AQUILA ECO RETREAT
Spanning 20 hectares of untouched native bushland in the heart of the Coal River Valley, Aquila Eco Retreat’s totally off-grid experience belies its proximity to Hobart. Just 20 minutes out of the CBD via historic Richmond, this adults-only getaway is powered entirely by the sun, but doesn’t skimp on luxury details. Three shipping containers have been converted into eco-pods, complete with fireplaces, fully-equipped kitchens and French linen-topped queen beds, and an additional glamping tent is hot property for its private outdoor clawfoot bath from which views of sandstone cliffs and rural idylls are best enjoyed with wine in hand. With a commitment to the conservation of natural resources and the protection of the remarkable natural environment that it calls home, Aquila is as good for the conscience as it is for the soul.
739 Brinktop Road, Richmond
Aquila Eco Retreat (image: Instagram)
COMPASS HUT
Located in the total peace and quiet of an organic family farm, Compass Hut hosts three tiny homes on wheels, all designed by local architects with a passion for sustainable living. Arc Pavilion, Colonial Blue and Barnhaus show off their individual personalities through unique features like an outdoor tub or a separate tiny house ensuite, but all share a clear eco-focus that tells its story in the use of renewable materials and passive design principles. Though the property is off-grid and collects its own rainwater, you’ll find free WiFi and refreshing showers in each tiny home, as well as a stash of yoga mats for secluded moments of al fresco wellness activity.
195 Bellamy Road, Forthside
Compass Hut (image: Instagram)
CORINNA WILDERNESS VILLAGE
In calm contrast to its yesteryear as a gold rush hub, the three-hectare township of Corrina sits quietly on Tasmania’s west coast, north of Strahan. The ancient takayna/Tarkine rainforest is the rightful hero at Corinna Wilderness Village, with accommodation settling itself seamlessly into the wilderness, and ranging from intimate couples eco-retreats to an extended family home away from home in the five-bedroom “Old Pub”. The site uses solar power, rain water, chemical-free sewage treatment and non-plastic packaging to minimise its human footprint, and there are few other verandahs in the world from which such an immersive tableau of the Tarkine can be observed. An on-site pub, restaurant and open-air produce store mean you won’t have to wander far from those verandahs for life’s other necessities.
1 Corinna Road, Corinna
Corinna Wilderness Village (image: Instagram)
FRIENDLY BEACHES LODGE
Iconic for its panoramic views of ivory-sanded and crystal clear-watered Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park is one of Tasmania’s most visited destinations. The sustainably designed lodge that the park accommodates, however, is lesser-known. Friendly Beaches Lodge is tucked away deep within the park, claiming its own 130-hectare sanctuary that includes private beach access. Indoors, doona-ed beds, hot baths, a well-stocked library and an open fire are proof that luxury living and the sustainable design for which the lodge has been awarded are not mutually exclusive. Available to guests of Freycinet Experience Walk, a stay at Friendly Beaches Lodge comes with four days of guided walking and boating along Tasmania’s east coast, and well-earned dinners around the lodge’s oak table. Alternatively, get a group together and take advantage of private lodge hire for up to 10 guests - catered meals are still part of the deal, but the walking is a lazier optional add-on.
Freycinet National Park, Coles Bay Road, Coles Bay
Friendly Beaches Lodge (image: Instagram)
▼
