SLOW STAYS

The term ‘fairytale’ is often overused in the world of travel, but tucked within temperate rainforest in northern Tasmania, The Cob Barn truly is the type of place you’d wish upon a star for. There’s the row boat on the large pond in front of the barn inviting you to live out your Notebook fantasies. The ducks who waddle by to quack hello, and smoke billowing out of the chimney. Then there’s the love story of the walls themselves, built with cob – a mixture of clay, sand, straw, and water – and the interiors smoothed down with lime render; every inch a reflection of the loving hands who crafted it. Set on a peony farm on the northern slopes of Mt Arthur, a 25-minute drive from Launceston, it’s an idyllic setting to unwind in, complete with platypus hiding within the pond. Take to the minimal impact walking trail that winds alongside a mountain stream behind the barn, and upon your return, follow the maze to find a dreamy outdoor bathtub.