Still at Freycinet Brings Nordic Style to Tasmania’s East Coast

A slow approach works best at Still at Freycinet, a luxury three-bedroom seaside retreat around two hour’s drive from nipaluna/Hobart in Coles Bay on Tassie’s east coast. But slow does not have to mean solitary – there’s room for 10 guests and you’re just minutes away from wineries and world-class walks.

While not strictly an adults-only proposition, the house was designed to suit grown-up tastes, with a glass-walled Danish-style sauna at its heart. With touch-button controls, it’s easy to use and not unlike sitting in a time capsule as you watch waves crash on an almost empty beach through its floor-to-ceiling window. Take refreshing dips in the ocean between sauna sessions, or cool off under the outdoor shower.

The property features two master bedrooms, both with king beds, and a “kids” room, which has a queen-sized bed and a set of bunks. In the reading room – where you’ll find wholesome entertainment from books to board games – a queen sofa pull-out bed accommodates two more guests. Those master bedrooms boast ocean views and ensuites with stone basins handcrafted by Huon Valley-based ceramicist Lindsey Wherrett. A ramen bowl-shaped soaking tub fits two.

A central open-plan living area offers water views on three sides and direct beach access via a private side deck. From here, wander down to the outdoor firepit with a pre-dinner drink, or curl up inside on tan leather sofas decked out with faux-fur blankets and plump cushions. It’s all very hygge, or “cosiness for the soul”, as the Danes would say. It’s also very hygge to have an open fire; a one-click gas number sends out roaring heat – on warmer days you may wish to stick with the room-specific climate control and heated floors.

If the full chef’s kitchen, with its convection oven, induction stove and double dishwasher, is a drawcard, wait until you meet local chef and grower Chris Lucas from What Grows, who designed it. You can book him to cook for you, which is highly recommended given he’s on a first-name basis with all the local farmers, fishers and winemakers. Lucas’s degustation menus are bespoke, with guests encouraged to make requests (it’s usually crayfish or tuna, he says, though crocodile and caviar have come up). The experience includes full pack down, too. You won’t see so much as a single unpolished fork.

Those seeking wellness are in luck: there’s a roster of professionals available for on-retreat care, from yoga instructors to reflexology practitioners and even a salt sommelier, if that takes your fancy. A three-day online program of yoga and meditation can be accessed through a QR code, too (yoga mats are supplied).

But doing close to nothing might be the best approach for your Still at Freycinet stay: read a book in the bath, watch a movie on the flatscreen TV, or simply gaze out across the sea towards Maria Island, glass of vino in hand.

Still at Freycinet has a minimum two-night stay, with rates from $900 per night for two people, plus optional add-ons. The writer was a guest of Still at Freycinet.

stillatfreycinet.com