If you like the sound of island hopping from Split down to Dubrovnik on a yacht with only 7 other people, then do I have something that will interest you! Over the course of a week, you can sail from one end of Croatia to the other, in our case we started in Split and ended up in Dubrovnik. It was one of the best holidays we had whilst living and travelling in Europe for two years!
What company do you choose for your sail Croatia trip?
We spent a bit of time researching the best company to go with. We wanted a small intimate group of people who were interested in relaxing, enjoying the scenery and have a few drinks during the day rather than simply partying until the wee hours of the morning. We decided to gather up a few friends and booked with Med Sailors on their Voyager tour from Split to Dubrovnik which is designed for those between 20-35 years old, during the booking process you’re also able to note what you’re looking for, if you’re a couple or single traveler and that allows Medsailers to pair you up with (hopefully) like-minded travelers.
Our one-week itinerary sailing the coast of Croatia
After spending an incredible night and half day in Split, we departed on our week long sailing trip. Our stops included:
- Seesula
- Hvar
- Vela Luka
- Korcula
- Mijet
- Sipan
All of these stops were on our way to our final destination of the beautiful old town of Dubrovnik.
Why it is one of the best value sailing trips around…
We personally love Med Sailors and all they have to offer. The real benefits for us were that you can take your own drinks on board which saves you heaps of money as a lot of the larger boats require you to buy your alcohol from them. You also have your breakfast and lunch made for you fresh each day.
What is included in the price
Besides the best accommodation going around (because who wouldn’t want to be on a yacht!) and the breakfast and lunch made for you each day as mentioned above, you also get a heap more benefits and inclusions. These include:
- Drinking water
- Lessons from your skipper on how to sail (which I am pretty good at, but Jenna on the other hand…)
- Paddleboards free of charge
- Discounted day trips, scooter, and car hire
You are able to book as a solo or you can book with a group of friends. That’s the best part! We were able to fill an entire yacht and had friends on another yacht who joined with another small group. We have stayed in contact with the friends we met on the trip and always talk about what an amazing time we had in Croatia!
What the yachts are like
We had the choice of a Premier or Premier Plus Yacht and they have now added the Catamarans to their fleet. We chose the Premier Plus yacht and found it perfect.
The Premier and Premier plus yachts are the same size, only the Plus is normally a newer boat with more or a modern design. Both have three double rooms and one bunk room, sleeping 8 guests. Our skipper used the lounge room (sectioned off) for his room.
We were lucky enough to have the double room at the bow (front) of the yacht which was extremely spacious and had plenty of room for our bags at the front.
The yacht had two bathrooms on board, which was fine for what we needed them for. Remembering there are a couple of stops along the way with shower blocks should you want to wash your hair or take a longer shower!
The deck of the yacht is the most important part. There was plenty of room at the back of the yacht for everyone to sit comfortably with the shade able to be pulled over if you want to escape the sun. The front of the boat was perfect for catching some rays.
Day One: Split to Sesula
Before departing on your sailing trip, be sure to explore the historic town of Split. For more on what to see in Split, click here. From Split, you sail to a gorgeous pine tree framed bay of Sesula. This is an awesome spot to jump off some rocks into the Adriatic Sea, paddle board or float in the water and enjoy your first day of the holiday. Dinner is with your yacht group and the restaurant overlooks the bay and you can enjoy some delicious Croatian cuisine.
Day Two: Sesula to Hvar
Probably the most anticipated stop on the trip would have to be Hvar. Your yacht will moor just outside of Hvar. Here there are shower blocks if you fancy a change from showering on the boat and plenty of space to get ready for a night out. A water taxi will take you to Hvar so you can enjoy a spectacular sunset at Hula Hula Hvar whilst sipping on cocktails.
Day Three: Hvar to Vela Luka
After breakfast, it is off to the next stop of Vela Luka. It is such a gorgeous little town, which apparently is the sunniest towns of the Adriatic! There are plenty of restaurant and bars along the promenade.
Day Four: Vela Luka to Korcula
Korcula was one of our favourite stops! It is such a beautiful town, with plenty of cobblestone streets leading you from one spot to another. It is easy to get lost! The best place to be is, of course, watching the sun go down at the famous Massimo Rooftop bar sipping cocktails. It really was amazing, but a bit of advice, get there early to get a spot! We were lucky enough to get a rooftop area big enough for our two yachts of friends.
Day Five: Korcula to Mljet
After a leisurely morning snorkelling and paddle boarding, it is time to head to Mljet, which is home to Croatia’s pine forest and national park. You can hire bikes and cycle to the picturesque lake and choose to hire a kayak if you want to check out the Med’s largest coral reef! If you are unable to cycle back to the yacht, they do have transfers you can take, which we decided to go with because I took a nasty fall on my bicycle and couldn’t ride back. Be sure to take out travel insurance!! The night is then spent on the yacht, with your friends (and new friends) after dinner at a restaurant at the marina.
Day Six: Mljet to Sipan
Just when you think the Croatian coastline can’t get any more beautiful, you arrive at Sipan. It is such a beautiful island and there is no better spot to relax on the deck of your yacht, grabbing a drink at a local bar before heading up for your last dinner as a group at a local restaurant with amazing views overlooking the bay.
Day Seven: Sipan to Dubrovnik
Enjoy one last jump off the yacht into the magical waters of the Adriatic before heading to your final stop of the trip, Dubrovnik. We were doing well for time so we were able to sail right down past the old town before circling back to moor the yacht. For more on what to see and do in Dubrovnik, click here.
What to do from Dubrovnik
If you have a day to spare after your trip and you’re looking for something extra to do or tick an extra country off your bucket list, we can highly recommend visiting Kravica waterfall and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For detailed information on this day trip, click here to read our post.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
Here are a series of photos from the sailing trip.
“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey.” – Babs Hoffman
Italy happens to be one of those countries that consistently delivers on picture perfect coastal towns, each of which is very unique in their own way but all incorporate spectacular scenery. Whether it is the crystal clear water, perfect for swimming or the colourful houses that hug the dramatic cliff faces behind you.
Below are our personal top 6 Italian coastal towns that you should visit in your lifetime!
Our top Italian coastal towns to visit in your lifetime!
The first two come from the same area in Italy, Cinque Terre. Although there are 5 incredible villages that surround this part of the coastline, our favourite two would be Vernazza and Riomaggiore. To read a detailed post on Cinque Terre, click here.
Riomaggiore
Next on the list is of course probably the most famous of them all, Positano on the incredible Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi coast is simply spectacular, from the winding roads on the incredibly dramatic cliff face to the villas that have a view to die for. To read more about the Amalfi Coast and our top 10 things to do while there, click here. For a heap more pictures of the Amalfi Coast, click here.
Taormina… it’s probably somewhere you’ve never heard of, am I right? Well, this was my favourite stop during our road trip around Sicily. The water is perfect, there is no sand to blow onto your sun screened body. To read more about Sicily and Taormina, click here.
Located a short boat ride from Sicily is, of course, the island of Favignana, and the incredible beach of Cala Rossa. You don’t need words to describe how spectacular the colour of the water is here, the picture says it all.
The last town on our list (and by no means does this mean it is any less spectacular than the others) is in Sardinia. It is of course Cagliari. Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia and is also a busy coastal town. There is plenty to see and do here, but it is also incredibly close to some amazing beaches and flamingos!! Click here to read more about Sardinia and planning your trip.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
Where is your favourite Italian coastal town? Leave your comments below!!
“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” – Shirley MacLaine
Planned a holiday to somewhere exotic, or the trip of a lifetime?
Chances are, you probably haven’t thought about taking out travel insurance! I know, it’s always the last thing to think about and more often than not it just seems like just one more expense. No doubt you’ll get the quote and think, is it worth it? Well trust me, it’s worth it if something goes unexpectedly wrong!
We’ve had our fair share of flight cancellations and delays. Generally, we’ve been able to get on the next flight or book with another airline to still get to our destination, but then again, so much can go wrong even when you and your bags do arrive safely on the other end.
Imagine this… cycling with friends on a bitumen road in Croatia, going up a hill to get to a beautiful lake on the other side. GoPro in one hand, lots of laughs to be had. Then, out of nowhere a car comes up over the hill and around the bend. You use the only free hand you have to slam on your brakes, which in this instance happens to be the front brakes.. sending you over the handle bars onto the bitumen road stopping only cm’s in front of the oncoming car. Well, this happened to me and it wasn’t pretty!
Thankfully I was ok, no major injuries to report but I did have some nasty gravel grazes on my shoulder and hand and it looked pretty bad. Needless to say, Jenna was freaking out. One of the locals had a van and was kind enough to take us (and our bikes) down to the medical centre. The doctor cleaned me up and checked for any serious damage before letting us go. 20 minutes in the doctors set us back a couple hundred EUROs… Now, that is not something you plan on happening, nor have in your holiday budget. All I can say is I am glad we had travel insurance as we paid our excess, got reimbursed for the hospital bill and also got reimbursed for the damage caused to the GoPro case. On a sad note, when I came off the bike, the GoPro paused a little… when we got it connected, it appears that the accident footage didn’t save due to the impact so I only have scars and photos to tell the tale. See pictures below!!
There are plenty of reasons to take out travel insurance…
- your flight is cancelled
- you miss your connecting flight
- you need to cancel your trip
- you get sick or injured (like me!) on your trip
- you need emergency medical evacuation
- you need travel assistance (don’t speak the language?)
- your baggage is delayed or lost
- your tour is cancelled
- your travel company files for bankruptcy
- your lost or stolen goods
Some things to remember though, make sure you read the policy itself, be careful if you’re planning on relying on your complimentary travel insurance linked to a credit card, and most importantly make sure you’re covered for the type of holiday you’ve planned! For example, if you’re going skiing (or any other winter sports) or going on a cruise, often you will need to select these in addition to the base policy.
There are plenty of insurance providers to choose from, we’ve had both great and also terrible experiences in the past where we assumed travel insurance is travel insurance and are generally the same (they’re not!).
We have been using 1Cover recently, the prices are reasonable, there’s a good variety of plans and for us, it’s been great. Click here to get an instant quote.
WARNING: The below photos could make you feel uncomfortable…
All is good here, cycling to the lake!
All of a sudden, not so good…. hello bitumen and hello car!
A trip to the doctors… quite expensive and a sad moment!
Where we were trying to go!
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous
Explore the Zoo by car, bike, electric safari cart or on foot along a 6km circuit through open-style exhibits with hundreds of animals in a natural bush land setting. If you’ve ever wanted to go on a Safari to Africa, but haven’t been able to get there then Taronga Western Plains Zoo is the next best thing, right here in Australia!
Where is Taronga Western Plains Zoo?
Located around a 5.5 hour drive west of Sydney, Taronga Western Plains Zoo is located in a town called Dubbo, central west New South Wales, Australia.
How long do you need to spend at the zoo?
The zoo entry fee gives you access to the zoo for two consecutive days. You will need the two full days to explore the entire zoo without feeling rushed. After all, you have probably just driven 5.5 hours to be there, you may as well enjoy it!
How much are the tickets?
For the latest information on ticket pricing, visit their website. The great news is that if you buy your tickets online, you can save up to 20% and the zoo is open all year round, including Christmas Day.
How to get around the zoo?
Without a doubt, the best way to get around the zoo is by bicycle! You can hire these when you arrive for $15 per day.
However, if you are visiting as a family, I would recommend the electric cart, which for $69 gives you three hours of hire time. Or, if you’re after a more cost effective way, you can simply drive your own car around! We opted for this on our second day as it was just too hot to be riding the push bikes.
Animal Encounters
The zoo holds additional animal encounters which should be booked in advance of your trip. Group numbers are limited and often book out fast, particularly over a weekend. We decided to book on the Big Cat Encounter where we could feed the tigers. It was an absolutely incredible experience and seeing those animals up close and personal was something you don’t get to do very often!
To read more about our tiger encounter, click here.
Where to stay?
We stayed at the Zoo’s Zoofari Lodge. The accommodation was amazing, waking up with giraffes roaming your ‘back yard’ was something we both loved. If you’ve seen the price, you probably think it is a bit too expensive. But, it does include a lot… to read more about what it includes, some photos and a short video, click here.
The animals
Seeing these beautiful creatures in an exhibit as close to the wild as they can get was amazing. They have staff on hand to look after these guys and making sure they are kept clean and well fed. The highlight for us was, of course, seeing the adorable baby elephant, Sabi who was only a few weeks old at the time of our visit.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
Here are a few snaps we took of the animals during our visit.
“Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions.” — Peter Hoeg
There are not many things the Kiwis’ are better at than the Australians, but skiing (and Rugby) is definitely one of them. There really is only one place to go skiing if you’re from down under, and that is of course in New Zealand! With picture perfect views at every turn, what’s not to love about the ski season in New Zealand?
Where to ski in New Zealand?
We chose to fly into Queenstown, located on the South Island. This is probably the most popular spot in NZ to base yourself for an awesome ski holiday.
There are so many mountains to choose from. Which one do I pick?
Because it was our first time in NZ, we decided to opt for the most popular ski fields, The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. These are the most popular because they happen to be the closest to Queenstown. You can also pick up a lift pass that services both mountains and bus transfers so it’s pretty simple.
The Remarkables: We spent the first 4 days at The Remarkables simply because they had better snow coverage at the time. There are quite a few decent runs here, from beginner to advanced and back country. They do have the fun zone where you can do some jumps and muck around a bit. But once you have done it all, several times it is time for a change.
You can grab a bit to eat up the mountain. It was pretty cold so we thought we would get a nice warm pizza. By the time we picked it up out of the oven and got it back to the table – it was basically frozen again!
The Remarkables does have the most incredible viewing area if you’re ok walking up a bit of a hill in ski boots!!
This is our trusty mate Luke (aka thewelltravelledrider) laughing at Jenna struggling to climb the mountain in her boots while scared of heights!
But, it is worth it for this view.
If you’re wanting to go all the way up to the top, you need to walk up this…
But, the reward is this…
The Remarkables is around a 45-minute bus ride from Queenstown.
Coronet Peak: Also knows as Concrete Peak, you really need to visit after there has been a big dump of snow as it doesn’t take very long for it to get a bit icy. The resort is however very well equipped and the artificial snow will soon be pumping.
We looked at the forecast and spoke with the bus drivers to get their recommendation and given they were predicting a big dump of snow, we decided to head to Coronet Peak. We were not disappointed. In fact, if you love moguls you’ll be spoiled for choice, you should definitely pack some Ibuprofen because your knees may need it! Jenna certainly did 😉
The runs were fantastic, the snow was incredible and overall I feel it has a better vibe than The Remarkables. We felt there were more challenging runs that were suitable for intermediate skiers, particularly after the fresh dump of powder, it made the runs even more enjoyable (and challenging!). Coronet Peak is the closest ski field to Queenstown, only around a 30-minute bus ride away.
Given their proximity to Queenstown, it is no doubt that the ski fields are busy. It is best to avoid school holidays if you can because I would hate to imagine the queues for the chairlifts in school holidays.
Pre-purchasing your lift pass
We decided to pre-purchase our lift passes online prior to arriving in NZ. We did this through NZ Ski. The card was loaded for both The Remarkables and Coronet Peak and you can also use it for Mt Hutt as well. Click here for up to date prices.
How to get to and from the mountains?
You have two options. Hire a car and drive yourself, or book yourself on the bus transfers. We decided on the bus option purely because Jenna didn’t want the stress of driving up, having to put chains on the tyres etc. There are benefits of both, for example, if you drive up you can go at any time and leave at any time. If you decide to take the bus, you are stuck with their set pick up and drop off times but on the plus, it is a no stress journey to the mountain.
It is nice not having to be responsible for putting chains on the tyres and leaving it up to those who know what they are doing!
We booked our bus transfers through Kiwi Discovery. We also chose the hotel pick up/drop off option which was slightly more expensive but given our hotel was slightly out of town (only about a 7 – 10-minute walk) we didn’t feel like carrying skis and boots etc into the pickup spot would be enjoyable! For the most part, the transfers were great. There was one particular morning where the bus didn’t pick us up due to miscommunication on pick up point (Kiwi Discovery are the only bus to NOT go down the driveway of our Hotel, St Moritz. So we waited down in the foyer, watching all of the other buses come in and out only to find out that our company didn’t come down! They were able to send a driver to us and we re-joined the bus at a later stop.
Where to stay in Queenstown
We stayed at Hotel St Mortiz. For a full review on the hotel, click here.
Where to eat in Queenstown
If you’re wondering where to eat while you’re in Queenstown, click here for our recommendations.
What to do in Queenstown
If you have some spare time and want a break from skiing, click here for ideas on what you can do.
Skiing in the Northern Hemisphere?
If you ever plan a ski trip in Europe, we can highly recommend Val Thorens and St Anton!
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
“The life you have led doesn’t need to be the only life you have.” – Anna Quindlen
Dubrovnik, beautiful Dubrovnik. Yes, those of you who spent endless hours watching Game of Thrones would definitely recognise the old town, but for those of you who haven’t watched the show, don’t you worry – it’s still beautiful. The gigantic 16th century stone wall that runs right around the old town is guaranteed to leave you in awe, trust me, we were. We arrived here after our incredible week sailing along the Croatian coast all the way from Split where we stopped in at some of the little islands along the route.
Now, I know the heading says 48 hours, but to make the most of our time we decided to spend 24 hours (which is enough!) in Dubrovnik and the other 24 hours exploring Kravica waterfall and Mostar over in the neighbouring country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many of our friends have ventured further south along the coast to Montenegro, but we saw so many coastal towns that we simply couldn’t resist heading inland for a Balkan experience.
What to see in Dubrovnik
If you do nothing else in Dubrovnik, you need to make sure you buy your tickets to walk around the walls of Dubrovnik.
The views from the wall are the best you’ll get in Dubrovnik. You might even pick up on a few filming locations for Game of Thrones!
After walking the wall, why not try your luck on the Balancing Stone of Dubrovnik!
We spent the rest of the day exploring the old town, finding gelato and little alleyways filled with restaurants and finding somewhere to grab a bite to eat.
The old town is really beautiful.
On your second day, we can highly recommend taking a day trip to Kravica waterfall and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For detailed information on this day trip, click here to read our post.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
“There is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it.” – Charles Dudley Warner
The Brighton Beach Huts! The most famous of them all would have to be the Aussie themed hut, and if you keep reading you’ll soon find out what these little huts are worth!
Where are the Brighton Beach Huts
The Brighton Beach Huts are located around a 30-minute drive south of Melbourne in a suburb called Brighton. You can also take the train and get off at either Middle Brighton or Brighton Beach and walk from there.
A bit of history behind the Brighton Beach Huts
These wooden huts were built over 100 years ago and have pretty much stayed the same all these years. Over the years, the only things to really change about them are their artistic embellishments! They are a traditional Victorian style hut, built out of timber, weatherboards and have corrugated iron roofs. They are still used to this day! These little boxes sell anywhere between $180K – $300K, is it worth it? the locals certainly think it is (or is it simply bragging rights?).
Why are the huts so popular?
These iconic huts draw many tourists down to take a look. They turn what we could call a very average beach into a hot tourist spot! The array of colourful huts with different patterns makes it a very unique spot to visit.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
This is, of course, the most popular hut for photos!
Here are a few pictures from the area.
“Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” — Lawrence Block
Like many of you, the thought of getting up close and personal with a tiger sounds incredible! To be able to feed these creatures was an experience of a lifetime.
We had the luxury of staying at Taronga Western Plains Zoo Zoofari Lodge and spent two days exploring the incredible zoo which felt more like roaming around in Africa somewhere as you can drive through the zoo (bike, electric buggy or car). We decided to jump on to a big cat encounter with 100% of the proceeds going to protect these creatures.
There were only 5 of us on the tour which makes it even more special. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and being able to feed these big cats was definitely a highlight of our weekend.
It is easy to forget that these cats are in fact quite dangerous and the only thing between us and being eaten is that fence! So despite wanting to jump in for a cuddle, you quickly remember that they probably don’t want to cuddle back!
Take a look at our short video of our experience.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” – Anonymous
In the region of Dalmatia, Split is the largest city in that region and is also the second largest city in Croatia.
We were lucky enough to spend 24 hours in the gorgeous Split before sailing off into the sunset on our week long trip from Split to Dubrovnik with Med Sailors.
What to see in Split, Croatia
Given we only had 24 hours, we spent our time in the old town. Walking along the esplanade really gives you that seaside village feel.
The cobble stone alleyways and cute little cafes and coffee shops are perfect for a snack or a rest.
Now, the best spot to look over this pretty old town is, of course, the Cathedral and Bell Tower of St Domnius. It is certainly worth the climb up the stairs because you end up with a view of this!
The markets along the esplanade were great! Plenty to see and do and of course, you need to sample the local sweets! Our favourite was the Fritule! Basically, they are doughnuts, little-fried balls of dough and topped with your choice of Nutella, chocolate or sugar. They were absolutely delicious!
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
Hotel: Freycinet Lodge
Location: Freycinet National Park, Tasmania
Room: Premier Spa Cabin
Perfect for: Romantic getaway or for wanting to be in the perfect spot for Freycinet National Park tourist activities!
Category: Luxury cabins
If you’re wanting to visit Freycinet National Park and be amongst all of the action, then Freycinet Lodge is the place for you!
Located in the world famous Freycinet National Park, moments away from Wineglass Bay, the lodge has everything at its doorstep.
Our welcome experience…
We arrived at Freycinet Lodge after our drive from Hobart and were excited to see what the east coast of Tassie had to offer. We hadn’t done a lot of research for what to do around Freycinet National Park so were quite pleased when Andreas at reception highlighted several maps for us on what we should see, including from the locals point of view rather than just the usual tourist spots. We would have spent a good 30 minutes with Andreas, asking questions and getting a scenic flight booked in as well.
The Room…
The moment you open the door, you get a wow feeling! The cabin had beautiful timber floor boards, with a view over the beach from your room, the bath tub or private balcony. Our cabin was also located next to the lodge itself (which on a side note is much better for the WiFi connection!) which was great as we didn’t have very far to walk for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Behind the bedroom is a massive wardrobe and suitcase area which is great because who likes stepping over suitcases all the time, we sure don’t!!
Then, of course, the bathroom… A spa cabin would be incomplete without a spa of course!
This massive spa was perfectly situated next to a window for natural light, but because of the nice shrubbery kept the privacy. Separately there was a shower, double sinks and toilet and of course, heated bathroom tiles for those cool mornings.
The mini bar was fully stocked with delicious goodies, always a bonus.
What was fantastic to see from a travellers point of view was the number of power points! I don’t know about you, but when we are travelling we are always trying to find spare plugs, unplugging lamps etc for our two phones, laptop, iPad, camera, Go Pro as well as other bits and pieces.. so it was a nice surprise to see so many power points available in our room!
Here is a short video of inside the room.
Outside of our room was the beach access path. It was nice to be able to walk to the beach so quickly.
Meals…
We ate at the Bay Restaurant on our first night. We had had some lovely meals during our time in Tassie, but I can tell you that the meal I ate at this restaurant was the nicest of my trip by far!
I ordered the Spring Bay Mussel Laksa for my entree and this was the meal of our trip. It was absolutely cooked to perfection, the flavours and quality of the produce were amazing. Each table also receives some freshly baked bread with accompanying condiments.
For our mains, I ordered the Freycinet Bouillabaisse which consisted of clams, mussels, prawns, oysters, salmon, blue eye trevally, rouille and crusty bread (yep, I love seafood!!). Again, I couldn’t fault my meal – it was delicious.
Jenna ordered the battered fish of the day which was Flathead which happens to be her favourite (and just about only!) type of fish. They did warn us that the meal was pretty big… it came out and it was enough food to feed around 3 people! By the time Jenna had finished eating (because she had to save room for dessert!) it hardly looked like she had touched it! It was scrumptious and the Flathead was so fresh.
It then came time for dessert… now after you have eaten as much as we did, you probably won’t have room for dessert… but we managed to save enough space for some ice-cream! Caramel Fudge and Vanilla Bean to be exact and it was topped off with some fairy floss. Who knew ice cream could look so pretty?!
I would recommend you make a reservation because it is a very popular restaurant not only for guests of the hotel but for other holiday makers in the nearby area!
We ate lunch on our second day at Richardson’s Bistro. This area is much more informal and bistro style (as the name suggests). The views are amazing so if you’re looking for something quick and casual, you should give it a go. We ordered beef burgers and they were yummy.
No need to make a reservation for the bistro!
Breakfast was also held at the Bay Restaurant area and is a full hot buffet breakfast which is always a great way to start your day.
Health and Fitness…
In case you want a break from hiking or walking around the surrounding areas but want to keep active you can play a quick game or two of tennis.
Hotel Grounds
If you’re looking for somewhere to unwind after a big day of exploring or hiking, then you should definitely enjoy Hazards Bar & Lounge. It has a chilled atmosphere and in winter you can enjoy the open fire place.
When travelling, it can be tricky when you’re living in suitcases and moving from hotel to hotel so it is nice when there is a guest laundry so you can do a spot of washing after all of those walks 🙂
The view from outside the restaurant are lovely and that jetty makes for a perfect picture.
The hotel has a shop and souvenir shop, as well as a letterbox and boot cleaner! It seems to have everything you might need.
And, if you have a Tesla – there is a charging station for you!
Now, Jenna was super excited to see a puzzle table set up for guests to work on. No better way to spend a bit of time on an overcast rainy day!!
Good to know…
There is a network of regional Tasmanian properties that offer a massive 25% discount on accommodation for all Australian and International Auto club members (eg NRMA, RACV etc). So, it might be worth looking at joining an auto club because you will most likely get your money back and more with 25% off accommodation. I wish I had of known this before we booked 🙂
Checking out…
Checking out was quick and easy which meant we could get on the road quickly and head up towards our next stop which was the Bay of Fires via Bicheno Blowhole!
Above and beyond…
The staff at this hotel all went above and beyond. In particular, Andreas. He was super friendly and helpful and ensured we were able to make the most out of our holiday.
The not so good…
A heading we have in all of our hotel reviews… Although this time I don’t have anything to put in this space, honest!
The verdict…
Yes, Yes, YES!! If you’re visiting Freycinet National Park then you shouldn’t look past the Lodge for your accommodation.
For more on Freycinet National Park, check out our other posts which you might find useful.
- Wineglass Bay Lookout
- Scenic Flight over Freycinet National Park
- Friendly Beaches
- Cape Tourville Lookout and Lighthouse
- Honeymoon Bay
- Sleepy Bay & Little Gravelly Beach
- Renting a car in Tasmania
- The ultimate packing list for Tasmania
For more on the rest of Tasmania, keep an eye on our Tasmania page as we’ll be adding to this page to include posts on Cradle Mountain, Hobart, Bay of Fires, Wine Region, Cataract Gorge and the Great Eastern Drive.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
