1. Saffire Freycinet
Saffire Freycinet is the premier lodge in Tasmania for pretty much everything, and for scenic walks it shines. Freycinet National Park, home to the world-famous Wineglass Bay, is a stunning wilderness area that is home to white sand beaches, rolling hills, the picturesque Hazards mountain range, and lush forests. Walk to the Cape Tourville Lighthouse, to Sleepy Bay, or walk with an indigenous guide who will teach you about the people of Oyster Bay. These walks aren’t particularly rigorous compared to those in other areas, but if you’re looking for a luxury lodge with a fantastic blend of scenic walks, Saffire Freycinet is superb.
2. Pumphouse Point
Pumphouse Point is a converted hydroelectric pumphouse and substation that is now a boutique luxury lodge. The Pumphouse is suspended 250 meters out in the middle of Lake St Clair, the deepest lake in Australia. Lake St Clair sits at the southern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and is the finish line for the Overland Track, a 6-day trek that goes from Cradle Mountain south to Lake St Clair. The area is covered with lush endemic alpine flora, rugged mountains, beautiful lake shorelines, and you’re likely to see some of Tasmania’s finest little critters (wallabies, wombats, echidnas, pademelons, and more). Walking trails from Pumphouse Point weave you through this wilderness area from anywhere between 15 leisurely minutes or a 7 hour trek. The choice is yours!
3. Bay of Fires Lodge
The Bay of Fires Lodge Walk is a 4-day walking program through part of Tasmania’s northeast coastal wilderness region known as the Bay of Fires. Nights 2 and 3 of this program are spent at Bay of Fires Lodge, a sleek and earthy lodge with spectacular ocean views and surrounded by thick forest. After walking south from Mount William National Park, your time spent at Bay of Fires Lodge will be spent doing coastal walks and kayaking on the Ansons River. It’s a stunning area to explore and you will thoroughly enjoy this comfortable lodge and spa treatments after long days of walking and exploring.
4. Cradle Mountain Huts
The Cradle Mountain Huts Walk is the premier way of doing the world-renowned Overland Track. Over 6 days, as you move south from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair, you have access to the exclusive Cradle Mountain Huts for those few people in your program and your private guide. Each day is spent trekking through the jaw-dropping landscape of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and each night is spent in a cozy, comfortable, and eco-friendly hut where you are pampered with hot showers, fine Tasmanian wines, and delicious local cuisine. This is the best way to do the Overland Track.
5. Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge
Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge resembles a ski lodge from the exterior, but the interiors of the cabins are a bit more contemporary and bright. This is the perfect place to stay if you want to explore Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, but prefer to stay in one comfortable room during your time there rather than trek from hut to hut everyday. While at Peppers, you have easy access to the iconic Cradle Mountain, Cradle Lake, Dove Lake, and a huge array of guided or self-guided walking trails. In addition to walking, you can add variety to your stay at Peppers by going biking, canoeing, quad biking, canyoning, and more.