Unplug, unwind and hook up with each other at these intimate, honeymoon-perfect destinations
By: Veronica MullenTasmania
Millions of years ago, Tasmania was connected to Antarctica; today it’s not hard to imagine what the scenery must have been like then. Full of jagged mountains and lush valleys, ancient rock sites, rolling rivers and plenty of near-deserted beaches, the island state is a unique, still-pristine paradise. At the same time, there’s a surprising number of modern happenings—including new museums and chic hotels.
Tasmania's vast landscape. (Photo credit: Shangri-LA Hotels and Resorts)
Most flights arrive in Hobart, Tasmania’s capital. Spend a couple days in this former whaling town to soak up the mix of old-world charm and European flair. Former 19th-century sandstone warehouses now boast art studios, restaurants and cafés. The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery showcases the area’s culture, and the popular Saturday Salamanca Market brims with over 300 stalls of artisan works. For an overview of the coastline, take a harbor cruise from the marina.
A look down under—in Tasmania. (Photo credit: courtesy of Saffire Freycinet)
Just outside of Hobart you’ll find wineries along the Coal River Valley, as well as in the historic town of Richmond, which serves as the gateway to the dramatic cliff walks of the Tasman Peninsula. Some of the most iconic—and breathtaking—places sit on the east coast, including the long, shell-strewn beaches of the Bay of Fires, and the river gorges and waterfalls of Douglas-Apsley National Park. Spread over a whole peninsula, Freycinet National Park is home to the pink granite Hazards Mountains, the legendary beach at Wineglass Bay and excellent diving, snorkeling and boating along Coles Bay.
Sleek architecture allows the scenery to take center stage at Saffire Freycinet. (Photo courtesy of Saffire Freycinet)
A room at Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania. (Photo courtesy of Saffire Freycinet)
Where to Stay: In Hobart, the Henry Jones Art Hotel is a creative boutique spot occupying a row of converted 1820s warehouses (room rates start at about $250 a night; thehenryjones.com). Cradle Mountain Chateau sits in an alpine setting at the base of a mountain, near a World Heritage-certified wilderness that’s home to the famous Tasmanian Devils and wallabees. The hotel can arrange for nighttime torch-lit safaris (room rates start at about $170 a night; cradlemountainchateau.com.au). Perhaps most buzzed about, though, is Saffire Freycinet, a coastal resort on the Freycinet peninsula. Suites boast views of white-sand beaches and the Hazards Mountains, and include perks like complimentary mini-bar items (room rates start at about $2,500 a night; saffire-freycinet.com.au).
