The Outlook on Mount Louis - a haven and home for nature lovers, aurora chasers and appreciators of a quieter place.
This luxurious 1-bedroom modernist inspired architecturally designed building, sits beautifully on Mount Louis in the Tinderbox Hills. Overlooking a canopy of tall eucalyptus trees are the magical views of the Derwent and South Arm Peninsula to Iron Pot Lighthouse and beyond. This is where you could have a bird’s eye view of the exciting finish to the Sydney - Hobart yacht race or watch cruise and tall ships and Oligarch’s fantasies sail by.
The open plan living area is comfortable and cosy. The bedroom is spacious and has a wardrobe and an indulgent ensuite. After a hard day visiting Mona and the Hanging Gardens in Hobart, you will sleep well on the very comfy designer mattress. The unusual Japanese influenced horizonal windows in the spacious living/dining area glide open easily bringing the outside vista inside.
Laze on the deck that runs the entire length of the building or meditate outside your bedroom sliding door. Behind the house, near the old quarry, are more magical long views over the D'entrecasteaux Channel, Bruny Island and North West Bay. You can enjoy both sunrise and sunset in this special spot.
All amenities have been thought through with practical style and ease. You will find the laundry hidden behind the breezeway roller door. Enjoy a glass of Tasmanian wine over dinner whilst taking in the stunning evening moonlight water views.
Later, get cosy, dim the lights and browse the smart TV or play your fav music through the pro Bluetooth speakers. Later still, sit on the deck not forgetting your wine and be awed by the galaxy of stars and stillness.
Many of Tasmania’s iconic marsupials graze lazily at dusk just beyond the deck. Wallaby’s, echidnas, bettongs, bandicoots, possums, potoroos, and the rare eastern quolls are all common visitors to the area. Harder to see is the tiny and endangered 40 Spotted Pardalote that nests in woodlands on Mount Louis and Tinderbox Hills.
Abutting the property, is Tinderbox Hills Reserve and Walking Tracks. For those who like bush walking and exploring, trailhiking.com.au/hikes/tinderbox is a great place to start and is full of useful maps and info. Tinderbox Marine Reserve is bustling with sea life and is perfect for snorkelling and contains Kelp forests that are home to many spectacular species, including colourful wrasse fish, rock lobsters, abalone, and seahorses. It’s also an amazing vantage point for the pursuit of the Southern Aurora, although your very own deck on Mount Louis can be an incredible vantage point.
Caution: Animals and road kill Approaching and leaving Mount Louis Road onto Tinderbox Road East, especially at night, please be acutely aware of animal activity foraging for food and crossing the road from one side to the other. The mountain and hills are their natural habitat so please drive slower and safer to avoid hitting our beautiful native wildlife and adding to more road kill statistics.
Blackmans Bay is about 10 minutes’ drive and is the closest town for essential services and eateries. Here, you will find beach front restaurants including pizza, curries and classic fish and chips. The secluded white sandy beach is a quiet place to relax and enjoy a picnic or just chill for a while.
Bayview Market in Opal drive is a crescent of shops that has a bakery, pharmacy, post office, bottle shop, Hill Street Grocer supermarket, hairdresser, and a medical practice. Kingston Beach has several waterfront cafes and restaurants. Check out Ebb+Flo and Robbie Browns and The Salty Dog Pub across the road. The bustling beach activity is shared with dog walkers and joggers, while kayakers, swimmers and stand-up paddle boarders share the waves.
Alum Cliffs Track starts at the northern end of the beach through a beautiful coastal trail that winds all the way to the Taroona foreshore. It’s a moderately difficult 8km return track.
Kingston Beach Golf Club offers casual games in a park setting with spectacular beach and river views at 1 Channel Highway, Kingston.
Channel Court Shopping Centre in Kingston has the usual eateries and speciality shops including Coles and Woolworth supermarkets.
If you feel like an easy scenic day trip from Tinderbox, Margate is the first town you’ll get to. It’s also home to Margate Steam Train that has carriages converted into boutique shops, a pancake house, and an antique centre and is well worth a visit.
A little further north is Snug, home to the famous Snug Falls walking track. Keep going north and you’ll hit Kettering, where you can board the 10-minute ferry to explore the wonders of Bruny Island and while waiting for the ferry or not, enjoy coffee and cake at the delightful Seawall Cafe.
Continue onto Woodbridge but blink and you will miss it. Best to map-in Peppermint Bay Hotel, an award winning and architecturally pleasing pub and bistro with unbelievable views of Bruny Island and D’entrecasteuax Channel. The Tasmanian beers and wines and freshly baked local food here is worth a long visit.
If you have time, continue on to Quirky Cygnet along the old winding coast road and home to The Cygnet Folk Festival. You will find, as I have, a plethora of lovely people, potters, painters, musicians, writers and photographers indulging in wholesome eateries like Red Velvet Lounge and The Port Hole Cafe. Join them! Have fun!
If you’ve had enough fun for the day, head home through Woodstock and Huonville, considered by the locals to be the best country town in Tasmania if not Australia!
Due to the property being contactless self check-in, booking guest is required to complete an online registration prior to check-in, which will include uploading a copy of their government issued ID (e.g. driver's license or passport). Retreats Tasmania have a strict no parties, no smoking, and no pet's policy.
