Saffire Freycinet

Character and identity

Saffire Freycinet occupies a stretch of Tasmania's east coast that was once the island's first national park, looking out across Great Oyster Bay to the Hazards. The main lodge's undulating, stingray-inspired roofline glints above the scrub, while 20 timber-clad suites are arranged like a line of boats along the shoreline. Interiors lean homey and warm, finished in celery-top pine and Tasmanian oak. Palate, the single restaurant, runs its tables along a wall of glass for chef Iain Todd's tasting menus built around local scallops, salt-grass lamb and kitchen-garden produce. Service is quietly attentive, present when needed and otherwise invisible.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you are paying for is the view, the cooking and the included excursions working as a single piece. Spend the extra A$300 on a signature suite for the outdoor deck and bathroom views, or stretch to a pavilion with private plunge pool. Request room #1 (Mayson) or #20 (Whimbrel) at the property's ends for maximum privacy. Aim for the drier April-May window.