The top 5 remote stays in Tasmania

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Nowhere in Australia has mastered middle-of-nowhere luxury like Tasmania. Expect silence, solitude and quite a lot of moss.

If accommodation with a splash of Tasmanian noir and a dash of edge-of-the-world remoteness is what you crave, look no further than these five stays. Each brings a unique take on getting guests disconnected from daily life and in sync with nature instead. Easily spooked? Bring a partner or pal.

1. The Keep

The Keep in Tasmania/lutruwita’s north east ticks all of the remote accommodation boxes – and then some. It begins with the drive. As the nearest tiny town of Pioneer fades in the rear-view mirror, the dirt roads get increasingly narrow, and wombats lumber obliviously from the bush.

The Keep window in tasmania
The Keep ticks all of the remote accommodation boxes. (Image: Christian Watson)

Few, if any, people come down these old logging roads. An iron gate five kilometres from the accommodation is extra assurance you won’t see another human (unless a private chef or helicopter trip has been arranged).

a man exploring the forest surrounding The Keep, Tasmania
The property’s bushwalks showcase lush man-ferns. (Image: Roz & Loz)

Shortly before arrival the road inclines steeply above the tree line and The Keep looms into view. Built on a stony 650-metre pinnacle in the style of the towers favoured by European nobility during the Middle Ages as lookouts for invaders, the building has 360-degree views of the Bay of Fires and Flinders Island. The property’s 101 hectares of private reserve is set within a much larger sea of trees, so the solitude and silence are overwhelming.

The Keep in Tasmania aerial shot
You won’t forget the moment you see The Keep pop into view. (Image: Stu Gibson)

The Keep is kitted out with vinyl records, a bijou reading room, Tasmanian noir artworks, eight ways to make coffee and a sleek mid-century bar with a bottle of Lark whisky. In the fridge is local wine, beer, a selection of vintage French Champagne and high-quality breakfast provisions.

The Keep lounge room in Tasmania
Listen to vinyl by the fireplace. (Image: Ben Little)

Nestled among dramatic granite boulders, an outdoor bath offers panoramic views, while the property’s bushwalks showcase lush man-ferns, Tasmania’s oldest Myrtle Beech tree and some rather startled pademelons.

an outdoor bathtub at The Keep, Tasmania
An outdoor bath offers panoramic views. (Image: Rachel Vasicek)

The Keep is targeted at couples with no kids or pets in tow. Solo travellers should bring a pal (who they’re comfortable sharing a King bed with) because going alone may be too ‘Capital A’ alone for some. Avoid driving at dawn, dusk or at night when wildlife is on the move.

The Keep in Tasmania
The Keep is targeted at couples with no kids or pets in tow. (Image: Stu Gibson)

2. Corinna Wilderness Experience

Because Corinna offers several cottages, campsites and a pub, you may forget you’re in the middle of one of only three cool temperate rainforests globally: takayna/The Tarkine. This wilderness is half the size of Lebanon and is where the survival competition series Alone Australia (Season 1) was filmed. The nearest town of Waratah is an hour-plus drive down an unsealed road. The west coast town of Strahan, meanwhile, is 60 kilometres south.

an aerial view of the remote rainforest surrounding Corinna, Tas
Stay in the middle of a cool temperate rainforest. (Image: Chris Crerar)

Corinna was established in the 1890s on the traditional land of the Petaanidik peoples as a township for “miners and piners". These days, it’s a rustic and convivial place to meet fellow travellers though the frontier look and feel remains strong.

The Tarkine Hotel in Corinna, Tas
The Tarkine Hotel is tucked within a remote and rugged landscape. (Image: Chris Crerar)

Several hikes leave from Corinna’s grounds. The Whyte River loop is both enchanting and easy, while the longer and harder Mt Donaldson trail is a short drive away. On clear days, rented kayaks can be paddled on the tannin-stained Pieman River (keep an eye out for platypus or sea eagles.) Cabins are equipped to prepare simple meals, but most guests congregate on the Tarkine Hotel for pub grub.

two people kayaking along the Pieman River
Go kayaking along the Pieman River. (Image: Chris Crerar)

Tree lovers will spy Huon pine, myrtle beech, sassafras and leatherwood trees in the misty, mossy, luminously green rainforest. Autumn is fungi season when The Tarkine’s multicoloured mushrooms are a highlight. Tasmanian devils and spotted-tailed quolls can be seen, and the cool damp environment is also home to invertebrates such as large Land Snails, Walking Worms and the world’s largest freshwater invertebrate, the Giant Tasmanian Freshwater Crayfish.

the seating area in one of the accommodation options at Corinna
Corinna offers several cottages, campsites and a pub. (Image: Chris Crerar)

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3. Pumphouse Point

At the tippy top of a 275-metre jetty on leeawuleena/Lake St Clair is the five-storey, adults-only guest house, Pumphouse Point . Completed in 1940 as a pumphouse for Tasmania’s Hydro-Electric Commission, it is particularly photogenic at night when illuminated by red lights. Sleeping on the lake with crows cawing by is an experience of pure Tasmanian noir.

Pumphouse Point in Tasmania
Pumphouse Point sits on leeawuleena/Lake St Clair. (Image: Adam Gibson)

Based at the southern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, this is a walkers’ wonderland with 100 kilometres of tracks, including the magical Overland Track. If it’s not great weather for an intrepid walk, e-bikes, rowboats, books and board games will keep you entertained.

Pumphouse Point room in Tasmania
Take in dramatic views of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. (Image: Adam Gibson)

While larders and honesty bars are provided, room rates include breakfasts and dinners in the Shorehouse restaurant, with set menus featuring seasonal ingredients. Don’t miss a lakeside stroll for driftwood spotting.

Pumphouse Point restaurant in Tasmania
Room rates include breakfasts and dinners in the Shorehouse restaurant. (Image: Adam Gibson)

4. On Board

The Southwest National Park is Tasmania’s largest expanse of wilderness and perhaps its most fearsomely inaccessible of all. This is why On Board ‘s expedition vessel, Odalisque III, is such a treat.

On Board's expedition vessel, Odalisque III
Hop onboard Odalisque III. (Image: Lean Timms)

With a passenger list capped at 12, founder and skipper Pieter van der Woude sails nature lovers to parts of the national park network that are otherwise impossible to access.

a woman looking out the mountain views from On Board's expedition vessel
Sail to parts of the national park that are otherwise impossible to access. (Image: Jason Charles Hill)

On Board’s signature experience is a five-day journey around Port Davey . This area has three hats: a national park, a protected marine park and a UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

guests atop Balmoral Hill on a journey around Port Davey
Nature lovers can join a five-day journey around Port Davey.

Guests can choose walking-oriented trips (think rainforests, button grass plains and quartzite mountain peaks), wellness journeys (journalling and cold plunging), or dedicated photography expeditions. Back onboard, food miles are minimised, and local materials and makers are featured.

an aerial view of the cliffs at Cape Pillar, Tasman Island
Guest can choose a range of different trips. (Image: Jarrad Seng)

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5.  Satellite Island

Your destination is an island off an island off an island. And once there you (and up to eight companions) will have it all to yourself. The best way to reach the end-of-the-world beauty of Satellite Island is from Hobart via Bruny Island. Stock up on provisions on Bruny and maybe you’ll get to supplement them with wild-caught oysters or abalone plucked from the water close to your bed.

an aerial view of Satellite Island
Satellite Island is a whale-shaped landmass off Bruny Island. (Image: Adam Gibson)

The two bedrooms in The Boathouse were once salmon feed sheds. The original roller doors remain, so the stars and sunrise are viewable while horizontal. Up a cliff-face stairway is the three-bedroom Summer House.

the Satellite Island Boathouse, Tasmania
The Boathouse is a quirky stay. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

There, guests will also find chickens for fresh eggs, an open fireplace, a stone fruit orchard, a garden full of fragrant herbs and, best of all, a Japanese onsen-style bath that fills with ocean water heated to 38 degrees.

the bedroom with a sliding glass door overlooking the sea on Satellite Island, Tas
Wake up to stunning water views. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

So much, or so little, can be done on Satellite Island. At low tide, you can walk the 30-hectare island on foot to see the ancient fossils in the rock shelf or circumnavigate it by kayak. Sunsets are wonderful at Last Glimpse Point with nothing between you and Antarctica .

the living room interior of The Boathouse, Satellite Island, Tas
Settle into a remote but luxe island abode. (Image: Luisa Brimble)

Sandy roams and beachcombs showcase hidden coves and shorelines clunking with glossy pebbles. Alternatively, walk the island’s interior to see native golden grasses rippling in the breeze. While tropical islands get all the glory, Tasmanian ones are better.

the Boathouse on Satellite Island
Escape to Satellite Island. (Image: Elise Hassey)
Kate Hennessy
Kate Hennessy was a well-known music critic and arts journalist for several years for Guardian Australia and the Sydney Morning Herald. Travel writing occupies Kate’s time now, as well as authoring the Louis Vuitton City Guide to Sydney, her home city. Kate won the Walkley Award for Arts Criticism in 2017 and has won several travel writing prizes in recent years.
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Why you should visit these iconic Tassie destinations

    Lee Mylne Lee Mylne
    Tasmania’s crisp clear air, misty mountains, lakes and ancient forests beckon as winter approaches.

    Travelling in the off season has many benefits, none more so in Tasmania, where it’s uncrowded and uncomplicated. Ease into winter with a getaway that spells relaxing with a glass of wine or local whisky, bathing under the stars, or gazing at reflections in pristine waters. Add fireside dining, wilderness walks, after-dark gallery visits and plenty of history and you’ve got a curated winter escape designed to make travelling in the quieter months of the year even more rewarding. NRMA Parks and Resorts’ Off Season Signature Packages across Tasmania (plus 10 per cent off for members) make all these things possible.

    Cosy up at Cradle Mountain

    two women walking aorund Cradle Mountain Hotel NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Immerse into the wilderness at Cradle Mountain Hotel.

    For an alpine wilderness experience like no other, chose Cradle Mountain Hotel for a winter getaway. You may even wake up to gently falling snow. Explore nearby Dove Lake, gaze at Cradle Mountain is and listen to the gush of waterfalls.

    As Cradle Mountain works its charm, slow down to enjoy the crisp alpine air away from the hustle of the city. There are no crowds here, just serenity and the chance to recalibrate.

    Cradle Mountain’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, a bottle of wine (Retreat rom bookings only) and off-season dessert with dinner. Then sip on mulled wine as you wander through the Wilderness Gallery admiring the work of Tasmanian artists.

    Finding the flavours of Freycinet

    aerial of Freycinet Lodge NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Stay at the only accommodation within beautiful Freycinet National Park.

    As the only accommodation within Freycinet National Park, among the many reasons for staying at Freycinet Lodge is its easy access to stunning Wineglass Bay, Mt Amos and Honeymoon Bay.

    By day it’s the place for communing with nature, taking hikes in some of Tasmania’s most beautiful locations. By night, savour the regional seasonal flavours of the east coast, sip mulled wine to keep out the chill and gaze up at the star-studded skies. This is slow coastal indulgence at its best.

    Freycinet Lodge’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, a hosted Flavours of the East Coast food and wine tasting experience and mulled wine under the stars, or beside the fire, after dinner.

    Escape to lakeside Pumphouse Point

    interior of pumphouse point NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Stay cosy while looking out onto Lake St Clair.

    Set on the edge of beautiful Lake St Clair in native bushland in the heart of Tasmania’s Central Highlands, Pumphouse Point has launched a new era for its boutique accommodation with the opening of two new luxury retreat rooms last October.

    Each of the trio of rooms are thoughtfully designed, with an indoor fireplace and deep-soak bathtub, both perfect for a winter escape. This retreat offers dining and an expanded collection of hosted experiences, including a guided tour to learn more about this historic place, chocolate tastings and whisky tasting from local artisans – with more to come later in the season.

    Borrow an e-bike and explore on your own, throw a line in, head off for a hike in the ancient forests that surround the lake, book a relaxing massage, or just settle in for an evening by the fire as the lake works its own magic.

    Pumphouse Point’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, breakfast, larder lunch and dinner, a bottle of wine with dinner each night, and a chocolate or whisky tasting experience, as well as two $50 massage vouchers.

    Slow down in Strahan Village

    aerial of boat going through strahan tasmania
    Explore UNESCO world heritage wilderness.

    As the gateway to UNESCO world heritage wilderness, picturesque Strahan Village is the ideal base for exploring Tassie’s west coast. With a wide range of accommodation choices, from cosy waterfront colonial-style cottages to hotel rooms with sweeping views over Macquarie Harbour, it’s the perfect place for slow travel.

    Join Gordon River Cruises to explore ancient wilderness and magical reflections on the Gordon River, wander through the village at your own pace or hire a bike to discover local secrets and attractions, including the iconic West Coast Wilderness Railway . Thrill-seekers can hire taboggans to hit the towering Henty Dunes.

    Strahan’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, a Gordon River cruise for two and mulled wine at Hamer’s Bistro .

    Delve into history in Port Arthur

    interior of glamping tent at Port Arthur Holiday Park NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Glamp under the stars at Port Arthur Holiday Park.

    Spend your evenings glamping under the stars and your days stepping back in time as you explore the captivating stories of the World Heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site. Port Arthur Holiday Park is the perfect base for exploring the Tasman Peninsula and uncovering the stories of Australia’s colonial and convict past.

    Surrounded by nature and history, this off-season escape has the all the makings of an unforgettable getaway. All glamping tents are heated to keep you warm during the off-season months when the nights get a little cooler, and have private bathrooms. Stargazing tents have the added luxury of an outdoor bath on the verandah.

    The Port Arthur Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, a Port Arthur Historic Site tour for two and 10 per cent discount for dining at local restaurant On The Bay during your stay.

    Start planning an unforgetable trip to Tasmania with NRMA Resorts at nrmaparksandresorts.com.au.