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LUXOLOGIST LURE:
Eagle’s Nest Retreat, situated in Northern Tasmania approximately 1-hour drive from Launceston, is a unique luxury destination that combines exceptional privacy with an inspirational creative approach to hospitality in a spectacular untouched corner of the world.
After 40 years of dairy farming, Des Brown converted his 20-hectare property at the foot of Mount Roland into a one-of-a-kind private retreat with only three “Nests” available to hire. Each nest is an architectural landmark with breathtaking unobstructed views and cuisine and services, including a private butler who previously served the Queen of England, a private chef who prepares a customised menu with exquisite ingredients in your Nest’s kitchen, and massage therapists who visit the nests and deliver a treatment designed to your individual needs in a space that suits you and your partner best.
As Des says “When you come here you have your own garden of Eden”. This sentiment has been echoed by other visitors, including celebrity actress Laura Michelle Kelly, who visited while
working on The Goddess and exclaimed, “This place is heaven.” Personally, having consulted with castles, yachts, boutique villas, resorts, hotel chains, luxury campervans, cruise companies and private airplanes, I can genuinely say that this establishment is a world-class destination and I would not be surprised if it started featuring on Top 10 lists internationally.
GUEST EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS:
§ Exceptional intimacy, with only three villas or “nests”, providing an unparalleled private sanctuary of a splendid Australian landscape overlooking a picturesque mountain, Eucalyptus trees, green meadows and the occasional Kangaroo.
§ Each self-contained villa is a state-of-the-art custom designed and built residence. The nest that we stayed in for example, Nest II, was designed by the founder’s daughter and her husband (Sheree and Stuart Kent) and boasted a 4-metre floor-to-ceiling glass window, which framed picturesque Mount Roland, a modern kitchen with an expansive countertop island (which has featured in numerous television cooking series), three inviting bedrooms, an upstairs reading loft with a magnificent view, and a large private pond, visited frequently by the local platypus.
§ The interior details of the nests are truly unique. Our nest contained an Asian wing, which exhibited handmade silks and a traditional bamboo shower, and an African wing, which led into a comfortable outdoor shower. Rare objects and furniture from Asia and Africa also adorned the interior, adding further authenticity to the themes.
§ The service at Eagles Nest Retreat is in a class of its own. Upon arriving we were met by Des who provided us with fresh eggs, a splendid Eagles Nest Retreat Pinot Noir and several other local delicacies.
§ Gastronomy: The private dining experience was one of the highlights at Eagles Nest Retreat and I would unhesitatingly recommend chef Cynthia Osborne. Not only did she cook meals worthy of a leading international restaurant with regional and seasonal ingredients, but she also took care of the details, such as setting up a warm and intimate dining ambience so that we could make the most of our private culinary experience in the comfort of Nest II.
∼ Cynthia commenced our indulgent gastronomic affair by spoiling us with plates of corn pancakes topped with Tasmanian smoked salmon, chives, tomato and parsley, and a warm chicken salad with orange slices, Tasmanian walnuts and a honey and cinnamon dressing.
∼ Our mains were equally thoughtfully prepared and included a tender Tasmanian steak and slow roasted lamb shanks, both served with delicious vegetables from Cynthia’s garden. As for the desserts, each spoon was sensational, whether containing the sweet pumpkin pie or the irresistible apple and berry crumble with walnuts, blueberries and fresh local cream.
§ Massage: We chose to have our massages in our nest’s Middle Eastern reading loft where we unwound with an indulgent full body massage from our private therapist overlooking the mountains, with the scent of lavender and jojoba oils and the sound of gentle Japanese music.
INSIDER TIPS:
§ Book Cynthia for your meals and Rumiko for your messages.
§ If you require a car hire, we recommend Overdrive Car Hire who chauffeured us from Launceston Airport to a luxury car depot. From here we were handed a welcome kit, GPS device and the keys to our pre-booked and patiently waiting luxury vehicle.
§ 1 hour away guests can walk at Cradle Mountain. Best known as the starting point for Australia’s famous Overland Track, the mountain’s rugged landscape and pristine lake are essential inclusions in any Tasmanian itinerary. Visitors who consider the six-day trek a little demanding will also be pleased to discover more reasonable hiking options available, including a trail around Dove Lake or short scenic routes in the surrounding ranges.
§ 3 hours away, guests can explore Freycinet National Park. We recommend tagging on a couple of days either before or after your experience at Eagle’s Nest to explore this magnificent park, home to renowned Wineglass Bay. We visited Saffire Freycinet and would recommend it as an accommodation option.
§ For a little extra indulgence book an itinerary through Hobart Yachts with owner Mark Stranger. We Previously a Forest Ranger and then a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Tasmania, Mark now dedicates most of his time to organising sailing adventures with fortunate visitors from around the world. He organised us a sea plane trip to a yacht south of Tasmania and then a sailing trip past Bruny Island to Hobart. This was truly an experience of a lifetime and we would highly recommend it.
INSIDER SNAPS:
