Tasmania: Wombats, Wallabies & Wine
Tasmania was part of a much bigger trip through Australia and New Zealand, but it ended up being my favorite part. We started in the wilderness at Cradle Mountain, spent New Year’s Eve at Saffire Freycinet and finished in Hobart. Three completely different experiences on one little island.
A private hot tub in our room at Cradle Mountain Lodge, surrounded by the Tasmanian wilderness.
I went to Australia assuming kangaroos would just be hopping around everywhere. Not exactly. Tasmania, though, delivered. We saw wombats, wallabies, kangaroos and wildlife constantly.
A wallaby casually hanging out in the wild at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania.
Wombats at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. Look at that cute little face. 😍
Most importantly, I met my new favorite animal - the wombat. Naturally, I tried to get as close to the wombats as possible and tried my hardest to befriend them by giving one little pet. This was ill advised and is actually frowned upon but I was smitten and willing to take the risk. They are fierce wild animals despite looking like giant cuddly guinea pigs so it’s probably best to keep your distance and respect wildlife, unlike this dummy.
Me and my new best pal, Womby at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania.
Why I Used a Travel Advisor
I typically plan trips backwards. I find a hotel I really want to stay at, pick the destination because of it and then figure out the rest from there.
This trip was different. I knew I wanted to go to Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, but I didn’t really know where we should stay or how to put it all together. So I called in the big guns.
I emailed our travel advisor, Elena Borrero, told her the three countries we wanted to visit and let the expert take it from there. She helped us figure out where to go and when, and introduced us to hotels I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.
Saffire Freycinet was one of them. It was showing completely sold out for our dates, but somehow she managed to get us in. For New Year’s Eve, no less.
One of the biggest reasons to use a good travel advisor is the perks. Depending on the hotel and booking, they can often get you things like complimentary breakfast, resort credits, upgrades when available and other extras, similar to what you might get through certain premium credit cards, without the fee. And in many cases, using a travel advisor doesn’t cost you anything extra because they’re paid a commission by the hotel.
Cradle Mountain
We flew to Tasmania from Sydney and headed to Cradle Mountain Lodge, where we spent our first three nights.
This was the Tasmania I pictured without even realizing I pictured it. Completely wild, green and untouched.
Our cabin tucked into the wilderness at Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tasmania.
We would just roam around the paths near the lodge, surrounded by wildlife, pretending we were in Lord of the Rings. It felt like we could turn a corner and end up in the Shire.
Wandering around Cradle Mountain, Tasmania.
Tasmania takes protecting its environment very seriously. There are strict biosecurity rules about what can be brought onto the island, and even detector dogs at the airport checking luggage for prohibited food, plants and other items that could introduce pests or disease.
It makes sense once you’re there. The place feels incredibly untouched.
Somewhere between Tasmania and Mars.
Cradle Mountain & Dove Lake
We also made our way out to Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake, which is one of those places where the pictures pretty much do the talking.
Cradle Mountain reflected in the calm waters of Dove Lake in Tasmania, Australia.
We also visited a Tasmanian devil sanctuary. Tasmanian devils are endangered and still live in the wild in Tasmania, but you’re much more likely to actually see one somewhere like this. As a huge animal lover, I’m sorry to report that they were not my favorite. Team wombat for life.
Tasmanian devil sanctuary near Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
The Enchanted Walk
One of our favorite walks was the Enchanted Walk, an easy loop right near Cradle Mountain Lodge. It’s less than a mile and takes about 30-60 minutes, winding through mossy forest and past Pencil Pine Falls.
The name is pretty accurate. Between the moss covered trees, little waterfalls and random wildlife popping up along the way, it was as magical as it sounds.
Pencil Pine Falls along the Enchanted Walk at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania.
Waldheim Alpine Spa
Tasmanian Champagne at The Sanctuary at Waldheim Alpine Spa, Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tasmania.
We spent an afternoon at the Waldheim Alpine Spa at Cradle Mountain Lodge. We got amazing hot stone massages and then spent an hour at The Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary has a sauna, steam room, hot tub and cold plunge pool, all surrounded by the wilderness. You can reserve the space and drink a bottle of champagne while soaking in the pool and taking in the views.
After spending our days wandering around Cradle Mountain looking for wombats, this was a nice change of pace. Champagne in a hot tub in the middle of the Tasmanian wilderness. I highly recommend both.
Hot tub overlooking the Tasmanian wilderness at Waldheim Alpine Spa, Cradle Mountain Lodge.
We walked out of the spa and into the sunset. Not a bad way to end an incredible day.
Sunset over Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania.
I didn’t really know what to expect from Cradle Mountain, but it ended up being one of my favorite parts of Tasmania. We had no real agenda most of the time. We walked, looked for animals, drank a ton of wine, played scrabble near the fireplace in our room, and just took it all in. It was quiet, beautiful and completely unlike anywhere else I’ve been.
I absolutely loved it here.
Sunset reflected over the lake at Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania.
Saffire Freycinet
After three nights wandering around Cradle Mountain pretending we were hobbits, we headed to Saffire Freycinet.
Completely different vibe.
Saffire Freycinet luxury lodge in Tasmania.
View from Saffire Freycinet on Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula.
Saffire was pristine, modern and luxurious, with huge windows overlooking the Freycinet Peninsula and the Hazards mountains. We had gotten used to living in the wilderness and suddenly found ourselves surrounded by turquoise water, a gorgeous beach and panoramic views everywhere we looked. Same island, totally different experience.
This was also the hotel our travel advisor had introduced us to and somehow managed to get us into even though it was showing completely sold out. Once we arrived, I understood why.
We spent New Year’s Eve here, which was a pretty amazing place to ring in the new year.
View from our room at Saffire Freycinet.
Wineglass Bay
We hiked to the Wineglass Bay Lookout, one of Tasmania’s most recognizable views and very much worth the walk.
Wineglass Bay Lookout in Freycinet National Park, Tasmania.
The Oysters
This gets its own section because it deserves one.
We put on waders, walked straight into the water at an oyster farm and ate fresh oysters right where they were grown.
Oysters. Wine. White tablecloth. Standing in the water in Tasmania.
This was my kind of activity.
Saffire Freycinet oyster farm experience in Tasmania.
The freshest oysters on Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula.
We also did a boat trip while we were at Saffire, which gave us a completely different view of the coastline and well, more oysters.
There was plenty of wine and champagne, sushi, cheese platters and basically a nonstop stream of things I like. There were only a handful of other Saffire guests on the boat, so it was also a fun way to mingle with people we probably wouldn’t have otherwise met.
Cruising around Tasmania with a glass of champagne and a plate of oysters in front of me. I was very much in my element.
Champagne with a view while boating around Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula.
Back at Saffire, there really wasn’t much reason to leave. The views were insane, the wine was always flowing and everything felt very relaxed despite how luxurious it was. We could go from hiking or boating during the day to sitting with a glass of wine watching the sunset.
Happy Hour at Saffire Freycinet.
We also made it down to the beach, which somehow felt completely empty. Tasmania has a way of making you feel like you have these ridiculously beautiful places all to yourself.
Cradle Mountain and Saffire couldn’t have been more different, which is exactly why I loved doing them together. One was wild, cozy and full of wombats. The other was luxurious and full of oysters and wine. If you’re going all the way to Tasmania, I wouldn’t choose between the two. Do both.
A beach in Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula, all to ourselves. Shot on my GoPro.
Hobart
Our last stop was Hobart, which gave us yet another completely different version of Tasmania.
Exploring the Hobart Waterfront in Tasmania.
We happened to be in Hobart during The Taste of Tasmania, a huge food and wine festival that took over the waterfront around New Year’s. We wandered through eating and drinking our way around Tasmania, which was obviously right up our alley. Sadly, the original festival no longer runs, but it was such a fun way to experience Hobart.
The Taste of Tasmania food and wine festival on Hobart’s waterfront.
MONA
We saved MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, for our last day, and it was easily one of the highlights.
My favorite room inside MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, Tasmania.
It’s weird, unexpected and unlike any museum I’d been to before. Even if you’re not someone who normally plans a vacation around museums, this one is worth making time for.
Inside MONA museum in Hobart, Tasmania.
Tasmania ended up being so much more varied than I expected. We went from wandering through the wilderness with wombats at Cradle Mountain, to eating oysters in the water and ringing in the New Year at Saffire, to exploring Hobart and one of the coolest museums we’d ever been to.
I went to Australia expecting kangaroos everywhere.
I left Tasmania wanting a pet wombat. Probably for the best that customs wouldn’t have allowed that one.
One last rainbow over Hobart before saying goodbye to Tasmania.
