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We’ve reached that time of the year when it feels like half your colleagues are packing their bags for a sun-drenched Euro summer. But you don’t need to board a 24-hour flight to have a seaside, stone-walled escape. Tucked quietly away on Tasmania’s remote East Coast is a luxe retreat that’s part rugged Aussie wilderness, part luxury European estate. It’s the perfect place for a cosy winter wellness getaway, offering roaring fires and calm ocean views, minus the crowds or costs of an overseas trip.
After a few late nights at Dark Mofo – Tasmania’s wild midwinter festival – I traded the chaotic energy of Hobart for the coastal charm of Swansea. The scenic, 1.5-hour drive along the Tasman Highway leads straight to Piermont Retreat. Set across 230 acres of pristine waterfront estate overlooking Great Oyster Bay, this once-quiet farmland has evolved into a charming European-style stone village, home to 28 self-contained boutique accommodations.
Pulling up to the property just before golden hour, I was overcome by an immediate sense of solitude. It felt as though I had stumbled upon a private slice of wilderness, with nothing but the fresh sea breeze and rustle of the dune grasses to keep me company.
I checked into one of Piermont’s three original cottages, hand-built from locally sourced stone and timber back in the 1990s. Three decades on, it retains a distinct fairytale charm, featuring exposed hand-cut stone walls, bright blue doors, and a pitched roof that reminds me of the Hansel and Gretel gingerbread house. Inside, the split-level cottage was warm and cosy, with a wood-burning fireplace, a fully equipped kitchen complete with complimentary breakfast provisions, and two beautiful bedrooms with gas heaters. Watching the calm waters of Great Oyster Bay ripple just beyond my private balcony, I could have easily convinced myself I was hiding out in a rustic stone cottage in the French countryside.
Over the years, Piermont has added 25 more residences and suites to its portfolio, stretching along the shoreline of the property’s private beach. If it’s too chilly for a dip, you can hit the seas in one of the complimentary kayaks, warm up with a game of tennis, soak up rays by the outdoor pool, or mountain bike through the moody pine forest – the last remaining on Tasmania’s East Coast. As dusk falls, you’ll spot wallabies and pademelons grazing on the lawns and can admire the dark, starry skies from the Roman-inspired stone amphitheatre. There’s even a polo field, should you happen to bring your own horse along for the ride.
Wherever you end up, all roads eventually lead back to the charming 1938 homestead. Now the aptly named Homestead Restaurant, this rustic eatery is worth the 1.5-hour drive from Hobart or Launceston alone. The Mediterranean-leaning, seasonal menu spotlights neighbouring farmers, fishers and beverage producers, where the side dishes steal just as much spotlight as the hero mains.
I chose a sun-drenched table overlooking the sea, and enjoyed a winter apple hot toddy alongside their signature fried cauliflower dusted in a special spice mix that lives rent-free in my dreams. If you dine after dark, you can cosy up by the fireplace with local Pacific oysters dressed in koji hot sauce, before warming up with heartier mains like handmade pasta and braised beef cheek. The predominantly Tasmanian wine list is worth a look at too, featuring beautiful drops from the state’s finest cool-climate vineyards.
So, if you’re craving a slow-paced, relaxing getaway, bookmark Piermont Retreat. It’s a beautiful midpoint on any East Coast road trip from Hobart to Freycinet National Park, where you'll find the iconic Wineglass Bay. If you need more convincing, Piermont Retreat is opening a luxury spa this August, housed within one of its lovingly restored weatherboard cottage. You can find out more here.