Australia’s island state is known for its serene wildness and rugged coastline, making Tasmania an ideal destination for travellers seeking solitude and connection with nature at its World Heritage Listed forest and marine reserves. Visitors can breathe in the ‘world’s cleanest air’ – according to Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station – and see an abundance of wildlife including the Tasmanian devil, penguins, dolphins, and whales.
It’s also home to a cache of striking architecture, with practices working hard to craft buildings and holiday homes that respond to the tough terrain – without distracting from its raw beauty. Here are our top picks of holiday homes in Tasmania where you can get back to nature.
Satelite Island, D’Entrecasteaux Channel
Sleeps 8; from $1950 AUD per night direct
Satellite Island is a secluded hideaway off the coast of Tasmania’s Bruny Island. It sits on the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and guests at the cabin have exclusive access to the entire island, only accessible by boat (the use of which is included with the house).
The simple timber shack opens onto a wraparound deck with 360-degree views of the surrounding wilderness, where you can spy rare white-breasted sea eagles and other native wildlife. Guests can explore the water on kayaks, go snorkelling, shuck their own wild oysters, hike to the lookout, or relax by a fire on the pebbly beach.
Coastal Glass House, Great Oyster Bay
Sleeps 6; from $900 per night via BoutiqueHomes
This glass house on the Tasmanian coast takes indoor/outdoor living to the extreme. The transparent beachfront home beds into the seaside terrain and has floor-to-ceiling glass walls which opens rooms directly onto its bluff-top setting while framing views over Swansea’s Great Oyster Bay.
Practice Rosevear Stephenson Architects have used concrete and clean lines across the minimalist interiors while its flat roof hugs the horizon, minimising its impact on the landscape. Guests can enjoy a BBQ on the deck, water sports, or explore the surrounding bushlands with direct access to hiking trails. Get a closer look.
Freycinet Lodge, Coles Bay
Cabin sleeps 2; from $400 per night via Table Hotels
These prefab cabins sit on the rocky coastline of the Freycinet Peninsula, 100 miles off the south coast of mainland Australia. Local practice Liminal Studio designed the cabins to maximise light and immerse guests into the surrounding National Park with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Tasmanian oak interiors, and charred red ironbark exterior cladding.
Guests can explore the bay below, go hiking in bushlands or relax on the cabins’ decks while taking in views of the sea and nearby Hazard Mountains.
