FREYCINET LODGE BLOG

Located on the East Coast of Tasmania, you’ll find your slice of paradise in Freycinet National Park. Surrounded by rugged coastlines, pristine beaches and stunning granite peaks, travellers are set for a truly unforgettable experience right in the heart of nature’s oasis.  

The beaches on Freycinet Peninsula in Tasmania are unsurpassable. Set against the pink-tinted beauty of the Hazards mountain range, the clear waters of the Tasman Sea break against impossibly wide stretches of sand. The fine quartz sand on some of these beaches squeaks underfoot due to its purity with no foreign matter mixed in.

There are so many things to do in Freycinet that holiday-makers are spoilt for choice. With stunning beaches, waterfalls, a pink granite mountain range, rainforests and islands to see, most visitors find that they do not have time to fully appreciate one of the world’s most beautiful places. Many of the best sights are quite remote requiring a boat or an extended hiking trip to reach them. For this reason, tourists find that a scenic flight gives them a relaxing, bird’s eye perspective of the entire area.

One of the most scenic and abundant fishing areas on Tasmania’s east coast is the Great Oyster Bay and Freycinet Peninsula. Flathead and seasonal squid are the prime targets; however, trevally, trumpeter, Australian salmon, mackerel, cod, shark, barracouta, bream, flounder and Australian salmon are also commonly caught.

The Great Eastern Drive has been named the best road trip by Australian Traveller magazine. Stretching from Orford near Hobart to St. Helens in the north, you can follow endless kilometres of sparkling ocean, stopping at laid-back little towns along the way. Whether you are seeking adventure, gourmet foods, indulgent hideaways, pure relaxation or a mixture of the four, the Great Eastern Drive can offer all these and more.

A big thank you to everyone who came along to our high tea in support of the Cancer Council.

It’s time to celebrate Tassie wine! This year’s Great Eastern Wine Week will span over 11 days and feature 50 events across our beautiful region.

We’re so proud to have been included in the 2020 Star Ratings Australia Gold List for accommodation providers in Tasmania.

Eloping – a word once used to refer to a sudden and secretive wedding usually involving a hurried flight, has found a new meaning to suit modern times: a simple and personal wedding in perfect solitude or with a scattering of your nearest and dearest.

The East Coast Wine Trail is an experience in itself with premium cool-climate wines, unique cellar doors, and all with stories to tell.  As a wine region known for its crisp air, rolling pastoral vistas, unique cellar door experiences and delicious, diverse wines varieties, it’s no wonder wine experts and lovers alike are travelling from afar for the Tassie wine experience.

Whether you’re hoping to reconnect with each other, reconnect with nature or reconnect with yourself, Freycinet Lodge’s Coastal Pavilions will provide you with the perfect setting to do so.

To celebrate National Science Week 2020, Beaker Street is launching their exciting new winter project - Sci Art Walks. It is a unique collection of audio art that immerses listeners in Tasmanian wilderness. It features unscripted talks and originally composed local music from a prominent lineup of locals including MONA founder David Walsh, mathematician Professor Barbara Holland and musician Brian Ritchie.

From beautiful beaches and a pristine national park, to delicious produce and fun-filled activities – Freycinet Peninsula is a fantastic place to visit during all seasons. Here are 7 activities that can be enjoyed all year round:

We are excited to announce that E-bikes are now available for hire at Freycinet Lodge, with support from the team at Roll Cycles. For those who do not know an e-bike (also called booster bike or power bike) provides battery powered pedaling support, which enable riders to travel faster with less effort. It’s a win-win situation! Rental includes a bike, helmet, small backpack, spare tube, tools and advice on where to ride. All you need to bring is yourself and a water bottle.

We’re very proud to have been awarded a place on Star Ratings Australia’s 2019 Gold List.  The good news came a week ago, that we have achieved the highest travellers’ ratings via Star Ratings Australia’s tracking program.  In their words, we’re ‘demonstrating a consistent commitment to exceeding our guests’ expectations’.

The east coast of Tasmania is famous for its bright blue waters and deserted beaches. A road trip along this magic coastline is full of stunning views and outdoor activities however it is not just the scenery the east coast is famous for. Home to some of the state’s finest wineries and food producers, plan your lunch stops as you undertake the Great Eastern Drive and sample what Tasmania’s east coast has to offer.

The 2018 Great Eastern Wine Weekend ran from the 7^th – 9^th of September this year, bringing hundreds of visitors to the east coast and selling out ticketed events across the program.

We are thrilled that the Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge are an international finalist in the World Architecture Festival awards. The Pavilions and their architects Liminal Studio are among 16 finalists from all over the globe, including another Tasmanian project – wukalina Walk in the north-east.

With its pink granite mountains, gorgeous beaches and breathtaking coastline, Freycinet National Park is one of the most incredible places in Tasmania. We were inspired to create a new style of accommodation befitting of its beauty providing an experience for our guests that honored this amazing place. With the help of Tasmanian accommodation entrepreneur Brett Torossi who lead the project, we set about creating environmentally sensitive, architecturally innovative, grounded elegant spaces for our guests on this beautiful site.

With celeriac puree, charred leeks and coffee gel

From Trent Thompson, head chef, Freycinet Lodge

Hundreds flocked to the east coast at the weekend to sample some of the region’s finest wines during the annual Great Eastern Wine Weekend.

Tasmanian devils are the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial. They grow to around 30 cm high at the shoulder, with large males weighing as much as 12 kg. Devils have a distinctive black coat with variable white markings on the rump and throat. One of the devil’s most outstanding characteristics is its guttural call—a screeching, hissing sound that chilled the blood of early European settlers and inspired the name ‘devil’. In reality, Tasmanian devils are shy, elusive creatures that pose no risk to people.

The ocean and bays around Freycinet Peninsula support an amazing variety of marine life. In addition to the abundant sea birds and countless fish, incredible marine mammals are frequently encountered here.

Freycinet and Coles Bay have been popular holiday destinations since the late 1800s. Prior to the 1930s, the area was largely undeveloped. Early visitors travelled to the peninsula by boat or steamer from Swansea to enjoy bushwalks, picnics, swimming and fishing. One of the first people to settle here was pioneering local Harry Parsons, who retired to the area in the 1920s. In 1934, Harry acquired five hectares of land on what is now the township of Coles Bay— a purchase that marked the beginning of the township.

The township of Coles Bay is named after Silas Cole—an English convict who was transported to Van Diemen’s Land in 1842 as a convicted thief.

From Freycinet Lodge, you can easily enjoy a number of short, accessible walks within Freycinet National Park.

One of the most recognisable features of Freycinet National Park is the rugged profile of The Hazards Mountains—a string of pink-hued granite peaks overlooking the township of Coles Bay.

If you’re a little more adventurous and are well prepared, you may like to try one of the longer walks within Freycinet National Park. All walks begin in the walking track car park, located approximately 2.5km from the Lodge.

Tasmania’s east coast is famous for its fresh, succulent seafood. The oyster—one of the best known and most sought after delicacies of the region—has a history that dates back thousands of years.

Freycinet National Park is one of Tasmania’s oldest and best-loved parks. Reserved in 1916, it is one of the first two national parks to be declared in Tasmania, alongside Mt Field National Park.

More than 500 species of plants have so far been identified within the Freycinet National Park. The Park’s diverse habitats—including coastal sand dunes, dry open forest, woodlands and heaths—all support different plant communities, many of which are a few minutes’ walk from the Lodge.

If history had played out just a little differently, Tasmania may have become a French colony, instead of a British one.

Tasmania’s east coast is known all over the world for its fine cool climate wines. The region’s mild, seasonal climate has made it one of Australia’s premier wine-producing areas, where some of the state’s best winemakers produce exceptional, award-winning wines.

During the early 1800s, whaling became one of the first major export industries in the new colony of Van Diemen’s Land. From the 1820s, shore-based, or bay whaling, stations were established in sheltered bays, close to the migratory paths of the favoured species for hunting—the southern right whale. These huge, slow swimming whales were considered the ‘right’ whales to hunt because they swam close to shore, floated when dead and provided a rich source of oil. Whale oil was in high demand for fuel, and whale bone was used for a range of purposes, including women’s corsets and skirt hoops.

Love and passion are unique and acquired concepts that often bring individuals together.

Food lovers who visit the Freycinet Peninsula can rejoice in the fact that a myriad of gourmet food options lies within easy reach. From wineries to rustic seafood farms, the east coast of Tasmania is a gourmet’s delight. Here are a few of the best options to help you plan your east coast Tasmania dining experiences.

A highlight of any Tasmanian holiday is enjoying fresh produce bought directly from the providore. As you drive to your next sightseeing destination, keep your eyes open for the numerous roadside stalls. You may be rewarded with delicious apples, tomatoes, free-range eggs or even fragrant flowers. A visit to an east coast farm gate can easily be incorporated into your itinerary. This gives you a chance to interact directly with the farmers who proudly sell their wares on the spot.

Freycinet National Park provides numerous opportunities for you to have up close encounters with wildlife. This is a rare chance for you to view special creatures such as wallabies, possums, quolls, Tasmanian Devils, echidnas and wombats as they interact naturally in their native habitat. Therefore, it is important that you behave in ways which protect the well-being of these animals. Here are some pointers to help you enjoy Freycinet National Park without disturbing its wildlife.

When the first European explorers began to chart and record their expeditions to Australia, they were undertaking voyages that would the equivalent of a present-day landing on Mars. A new exhibition at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (7 April – 9 July) allows us to see Australia through the eyes of these intrepid early explorers. “The Art of Science: Baudin’s Voyages 1800 – 1804” is a fascinating collection of sketches and paintings which reveal the awe with which these explorers observed the people, flora and fauna in this new land.

Visitors to Freycinet National Park are usually familiar with awe-inspiring photos of The Hazards mountain range and the azure waters of Wineglass Bay. This gorgeous scenery demands exploration and most visitors are pleasantly surprised to find that this unspoilt wilderness yields plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting. Here is a bucket list of mammals and sea creatures that you should try to tick off during your stay.

Tasmania offers you the chance to see diverse plants, animals and landscapes that cannot be found elsewhere. Traces of zircon in rocks indicate that this natural heritage is more than three billion years old. Over millions of years, the great southern landmass of Gondwana developed through volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, glaciations and river deposits. As it slowly disintegrated, Australia split from Antarctica and moved north. Tasmania was created when major fault systems occurred, shaping it into a triangle and producing its unparalleled landscape formations. For 8000 years, Tasmania has been isolated from the mainland after Bass Strait flooded. This has resulted in a unique ecosystem that attracts tourists and scientists from all over the world.

A visit to Freycinet Lodge would not be complete without browsing through Providore Wineglass located within the premises. This store showcases the very best of regional wines and foods. Choose a refreshing tipple from the Freycinet, Milton, Springvale or Devil’s Corner vineyards to enjoy on your balcony.

A major drawcard for visitors to Freycinet National Park is the fact that most of its native vegetation is still intact. There are more than 500 types of plants within the park and none are more important than the Tasmanian Blue Gum which is the state’s floral emblem. Appearing on a 15¢ stamp in 1968 and a $150 gold proof coin in 1996, many visitors fail to appreciate the true significance of this majestic tree which grows straight and tall and proud in the coastal forests of Freycinet National Park .

A kayak tour allows you to see the stunning hazards backdrop and pristine coastline of Freycinet National Park from a different perspective. Appreciate the natural beauty and abundant wildlife as you paddle through crystal clear waters. Visits to secluded beaches and coves that cannot be reached by other forms of transport provide a true sense of serenity.

Recently, many accommodation providers have started to pay lip service to the environment by “greenwashing” guests with messages about reusing towels and saving water. Therefore, it is refreshing to know that Freycinet Lodge has been genuinely implementing an environmental policy that balances the opportunity for tourists to enjoy this pristine wilderness with minimising its footprint on the sensitive ecosystem of the area. In 2011, these efforts were formally recognised with an Advanced Eco-Certification from Ecotourism Australia.

Whilst staying on the Freycinet Peninsula, be sure to enjoy some local celebrations in order to fully appreciate the region's hospitality. Visitors should definitely experience the abundance of gourmet offerings at the Bicheno Food and Wine Festival on Saturday 19th November 2016. Consistently recognised as Event of the Year by the Great Eastern Driver Tourism Awards, the Bicheno Food and Wine Festival allows you to taste the splendour of local produce with stalls showcasing oysters, crayfish, pies, paella, cheeses, wines, beers and whiskies to name but a few.

Located underneath the Hazard's Mountain range, is the beautiful Wineglass Bay. A location so isolated, you have to climb a mountain to experience it! That is, of course, unless you set to the seas on the Wineglass Bay Cruise.

When exploring Friendly Beaches in Tasmania's Freycinet National Park, you never know what you might find. The trail to Friendly Beaches is considered to be one of Tasmania’s great short walks. The beach itself is an important nesting area for birds such as oystercatchers, plovers and terns. As an added bonus, those who visit the beach in the near future may be able to glimpse an exciting piece of history. 
 

Freycinet National Park is the ideal holiday destination. Whether seeking relaxation, soft adventure or an adrenaline rush, the Freycinet Peninsula caters for you. Here are the top ten activities to help you appreciate this spectacular part of the world.

The Great Eastern Wine Weekend showcases the East Coast of Tasmania’s finest food and signature drops. The two-day event held on the weekend of September 10-11 2016 offers an opportunity to explore the area’s wine region. 

There are few places one can go in this world to be surrounded by absolutely nothing, and no one. To walk along a deserted beach and hear only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, the breeze whispering in the trees and seagulls flapping their wings as they take off into the horizon.

Tasmania’s East Coast is just full of surprises! After exploring its wonders on our amazing Wineglass Bay cruise, we decided to head back to our cabin, freshen up and relax over a nice glass of Devil’s Corner sparkling wine (East Coast Wine Trail). After a glass or two, there was very little chance that we were wandering too far. So we decided to head down to the lodge and check out the dining options on offer.

Winter is a splendid time of year to be in Tasmania and there is no hotter event than the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival to be held from 15 – 17 July at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed. This is truly a family festival with children and the young at heart dressing up as kings, queens, witches, goblins and anything else that takes their fancy for the wassailing on Friday night. This ancient pagan tradition is designed to scare bad luck away and ensure a good apple harvest. Expect candlelight, clanging, shouting and lots of fun.

In winter, Tasmania reveals its natural beauty in all its starkness. This is also the season to catch some of the world’s best festivals, including the magical Festival of Voices from June 30th to July 17th, 2016. Held in a range of venues across Hobart, Launceston and the east coast, this is a celebration of the raw emotion of the singing voice with award-winning vocalists from Australia and abroad. Choral, a capella, jazz, gospel and contemporary are just a few of the genres on offer.

With Mother’s Day weekend fast approaching, I thought this was an ideal opportunity to treat my parents to a family weekend at Coles Bay, Tasmania. My intentions were mainly to earn myself honorary ‘daughter of the year’ title. However, part of me just desperately craved a chance to get away from the rat race.

Visitors to Bicheno, a small town on Tasmania’s east coast, are spoilt for opportunities to commune with the local wildlife. In fact, many holiday makers find that a little penguin tour is the highlight of their holiday. These adorable little creatures come ashore immediately after dark and return to sea before dawn. The tours are conducted on a private property by volunteers who are passionate about the environment and protecting these special animals.

If getting down and dirty whilst enjoying stunning scenery sounds like fun, a quad biking adventure at Freycinet National Park will be the highlight of your holiday. From eucalypt forest to the coast, you’ll gain some knowledge about the natural wonders of the park whilst visiting lesser known beauty spots that are inaccessible by other means. All levels of experience can be catered for.

Tasmania is increasingly recognised as a centre for arts and culture with a busy calendar of events throughout the year. One of the highlights is Hobart’s Dark Mofo Festival which combines a convivial mix of feasting, art, theatre and music. This is experimentation at its best with participants being challenged to see beauty in life’s darker aspects.

Tasmania is a paradise for nature lovers and you are sure to see lots of wildlife during your travels. If you want to learn more about these animals, or see some of Tasmania’s more elusive creatures up close, East Coast Natureworld in Bicheno provides an amazing experience.

For a further taste of Tasmania, pop into Providore Wineglass. This charming little store is located just opposite reception and filled to the brim with delicious local produce, such as jams, chutneys, sauces and handmade sweet treats. There are also crafty gifts made from Tasmanian wood and boutique alcoholic beverages from nearby breweries and vineyards. You'll definitely want to take something away with you as a souvenir or gift.

Kate has been in the travelling the world since 2011 and is currently working her way around Australia. In 2015 Kate started a travel blog to provide honesty, comedy, inspiration and advice. We have been lucky enough to have Kate visit Freycinet Lodge and share some of her experiences along the way.

The Freycinet Lodge team is proud to say that one of our own, Chef Chris Howard has been announced as a finalist in the 2016 Appetite for Excellence Awards. Chris is a finalist in the 'Electrolux Australian young Chef' award.

Freycinet National Park abounds with wildlife. Amateur and serious birdwatchers alike will be transfixed by the beautiful varieties of feathered friends that live here. With its lake, forest and ocean landscapes, Freycinet provides an excellent home for one hundred and forty-seven bird species. Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos, Green Rosellas, White Bellied Sea Eagles, Scarlet Robins, Shining Bronze Cuckoos and Golden Whistlers are just some of the colourful species to be found in the area.

Tasmania is world-renowned for its locally-produced food specialties with seafood options being high on the list for most holiday makers. Freycinet Marine Farm will satisfy your cravings with its perfect mix of laid-back, outdoor dining and fresh seafood. Set in a rustic atmosphere, visitors can linger over menu offerings served with fine local wines or buy takeaway seafood that is cooked or uncooked. Each dish is truly a celebration of the ingredients themselves with items such as oysters, mussels, abalone and salmon being prepared perfectly without overwhelming flavours to distract from their freshness.

The Freycinet Peninsula has white sandy beaches, rugged headlands, granite peaks and small coves. Visitors can take in this magnificent scenery on short or long walking tracks in the National Park, by boat or by air. One of the most striking features of the area is the pink-hued mountain range known as The Hazards which rises above the pretty coastal town of Coles Bay. When the angle of the sun is low, photographers can capture the stunning red and pink glow of these four massive granite mounds.