Nestled into the foothills of kooparoona niara, Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers, the tiny rural township of Meander may not make it onto many must-visit lists.
But, on the outskirts of this charming town, cocooned by the otherworldly magic of World Heritage-listed wilderness, there’s a Slow Stay where time hangs in the balance.
Clusters of dragonflies flit across a blushing sunset in summer, mist and icy winds swirl in winter. Cedar Cottage Meander sits in solitude here, at the edge of a slowly rewilding eucalypt grove, waiting to be found.
The pademelons, echidnas and other rainforest critters making their way back to the regenerative forest may be somewhat new, but the eco-cottage and the ancient land on which it sits has providence that stretches across generations.
Born at the property next door, owner Sarah Williams’ own personal narrative is rooted deeply to this place. Built in the 1980s by her grandfather and a local master builder, there’s a sense of love and intention under the hand-split cedar shakes that hits the moment you emerge from the forest and wind up the driveway.
“The cottage itself is a labour of love,” Sarah explains. “It was built, I think, with an authenticity and a sense of purpose that perhaps you don’t find in a quickly fabricated construction. It was built to house family and friends.”
“It’s always been a place where we’ve come together,” adds Sarah, who lives in the hand-built cabin’s neighbouring twin.
Sarah eventually left Tasmania’s misty and mystical shores. But after 20 years on “the mainland”, the little cedar cottage tugged at Sarah’s heart strings. Returning to the island, she set about creating a private space for exhausted visitors to get a taste of life in rural Tasmania, launching in early 2020.
“The cottage itself is a labour of love,” Sarah explains. “It was built, I think, with an authenticity and a sense of purpose that perhaps you don’t find in a quickly fabricated construction. It was built to house family and friends.”
“It’s always been a place where we’ve come together,” adds Sarah, who lives in the handbuilt cabin’s neighbouring twin.
Luckily, everything about the bespoke build – from the Western red cedar shingles to red myrtle-wood floors and the Huon pine kitchen to the traditional Tasmanian bush cabin building techniques and the forested location – lent itself to the transformation into secluded “nourishing bubble”.
Drawing on her visual arts background, Sarah has taken her masterful touch to the cabin’s interiors, eschewing a more pared-back country look in favour of unique touches with heart. “It’s quite eclectically furnished,” Sarah says, explaining that the decision to opt for upcycled, vintage and secondhand pieces was both an aesthetic and eco-conscious consideration. Splashes of colour, like a forest-green feature wall, complement the warmth of wooden floors and organic character of natural fibre furnishings.
“I want different colours and I want to bring in different textures; I like providing some interesting things to look at, for people to kind of explore.”
Everything has its place in the cosy cottage. Carlotta + Gee linens cover the beds with Walter G textile cushions and Icelandic sheepskin slung across the comfy couch. The walls are adorned with local art, sourced directly from each artist, and fresh blooms catch sunlight streaming through windows. A thoughtfully curated library – brimming with books by Tasmanian authors that speak to ideas of place, history, art, creativity and sustainability – and a tidy selection of games are all fodder for slow days spent well.
Outside, a fire-pit also doubles as an outdoor cooking experience that gives the rare opportunity to “be outside and enjoy the incredible view” while cooking up the Apple Isle’s famed produce. Here, guests can gather and relax over local wine as well as abundant Deloraine Deli platters filled with goods from one of the many skilled artisanal producers in the region.
“We do offer a chef’s kitchen,” says Sarah, “but there’s nothing quite like being outside and cooking on the coals or in a cast iron pot. Or catching a fish and using the fish grill.”
Time in nature, comfort and luxury are high on Sarah’s priority list, but treading lightly is a fundamental philosophy.
“The idea of it being multi-generational and also older than just one family and one existence is important,” Sarah explains. “It’s really beautiful and a really special area, [one] that I feel a responsibility to help protect going forward.”
As a result, the water supply is off-grid and Sarah opts for sustainable alternatives at every opportunity. There are absolutely no mini cosmetic plastic bottles here and, as Sarah says, because all rubbish produced must be taken to the tip, waste production is considered in everything they do.
“We do offer a chef’s kitchen,” says Sarah, “but there’s nothing quite like being outside and cooking on the coals or in a cast iron pot. Or catching a fish and using the fish grill.”
Then there’s the show stopping “vegetable palace”, a productive and flourishing organic veggie garden – affectionately known as Veg Mahal. Overseen by Sarah’s mum Carol, a former environmental activist and lifelong green thumb, the enclosed plot is open for guests who want “more of a homesteading experience” to pick from and explore.
Set on around 54-acres, with an expansive valley splaying out below, these honest and wholesome moments are offset by the sweeping grandeur of the surrounding landscape.
“The main thing that strikes most of our guests is the view,” Sarah says. “We have an incredible view over the tapestry of Meander Valley, across to Mount Roland and also the peak of Mother Cummings.”
Views aside, Cedar Cottage is also singular in its location. On the doorstep of the lush forest scape of Meander State Forest Reserve and the mammoth Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area – home to the world-renowned Cradle Mountain – there’s an oversupply of outdoor adventures waiting.
“We love the fact that we can create a space for our guests to really relax, unwind and to enjoy spending time together and, hopefully, enjoy spending time exploring this part of Tasmania as well,” Sarah says.
Using the cottage as a base, visitors can explore snow-covered peaks, glacial lakes and alpine moorlands by day, retreating to the much-loved hot tub underneath a Milky Way blanketed sky by night.
The chlorine- and bromide-free cedar tub may be open to the elements, but when Tasmania’s iconically mercurial weather shifts, this sheltered attraction provides respite from the cold and a place to reconnect surrounded by nature.
It’s these cosy but quiet moments that get to the very heart of why Cedar Cottage Meander exists.
“We love the fact that we can create a space for our guests to really relax, unwind and to enjoy spending time together and, hopefully, enjoy spending time exploring this part of Tasmania as well,” Sarah says.
“[You can] have a mindful, intimate experience with your partner here, that feels sort of away from the world but also on the doorstep of something wild and exciting and beautiful.”
To book your stay click here.
