IKEA may have infiltrated many a home, but you don’t want to feel like you’re stepping into their latest catalogue when you’re exploring at the foot of Kooparoona Niara / the Great Western Tiers in Tasmania. Blessedly, everything about Cedar Cottage Meander – an hour’s drive from both Launceston and Devonport – is bespoke. The structure itself was built by hand by the owner’s grandfather; the Myrtle floor and Huon Pine kitchen crafted slowly and thoughtfully. In this pristine natural environment, the magic of the surroundings is matched in every carefully considered choice of decor. You can’t help but be drawn to the romantic 1940s cane daybed, a French faux bamboo coat rack, and a lamp fashioned from an old brass and wood surveyors’ tripod. On the walls, Australian artworks purchased directly from the artists themselves. During your stay you’re invited to pick your own fruit and veg from the abundant ‘Veg Mahal’ organic garden and soak in the chlorine- and bromide-free cedar hot tub under the stars.
Things we love
Cedar Hot Tub
Organic Veggie Garden
Fire Pit
Vintage and Handmade Furniture
“…pick your own fruit and veg from the abundant ‘Veg Mahal’ organic garden and soak in the chlorine- and bromide-free cedar hot tub under the stars”
While you’re there:
Work on building that appetite! You could visit an ethical land-based salmon and ginseng farm at 41 Degrees South or you might carve out an afternoon to sip locally brewed beer and polish off a few plates of tapas at the Wandering Trout after a morning exploring the Mole Creek caves. Keen for a day trip? Explore the cute riverside town of Deloraine, just 15 minutes drive. Stop for brunch or just coffee and one of the delicious pastries at Frank and Lotti, and if you’re lucky, the owners will show you their micro-farm at the back of the shop. Cradle Mountain is also within reach – two hours drive away.
Here, you’ll have time to:
Balance life-affirming day hikes in the Meander Forest Reserve with gastronomical endeavours – foraging for truffles at the oldest truffle farm in Australia, perhaps?
Extra special touches:
We love the hand-printed cotton yukata robes to slip into after a soak in the hot tub and the collection of books and cookbooks, many by Tasmanian authors and chefs.
Book it for:
A DIY retreat where you can take care of yourself and feel like you’re in a nature-swaddled bubble. Cedar Cottage Meander sits at the foot of kooparoona niara / the Great Western Tiers – known as the “mountains of our spirits” to the local Pallitorre people – and is made for outdoor adventurers who appreciate coming back to the peaceful cottage and drinking in the views after a day’s explorations. Stock up on the incredible local produce available at Launceston’s Harvest Market before your stay.
Sustainability credentials:
- Hand-built cabin & furniture
- Spring water
- Veggie garden
- Regenerative forest
- Eco cleaning products
- Tasmanian eco bathroom products
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