A private island, a resident penguin colony and only 100 nights a year to experience it – Picnic Island Tasmania is back.
After a major renovation, a private island retreat located 800 metres offshore from Coles Bay near Freycinet National Park has relaunched, and its deliberately limited availability might make it the hardest booking in the country.
Picnic Island Tasmania, has officially reopened with the addition of a brand-new primary suite. The island accommodates up to eight guests across four spaces and operates as a fully exclusive rental only. No other guests. No neighbours. Just you, your party and one of the most dramatic stretches of Tasmanian coastline in the country.
The catch? Owners Mark Israel and Elisa Yu have capped availability at just 100 nights per year – partly to protect the island’s resident Little Penguin colony, and partly because that’s what genuine exclusivity actually requires.
What’s new
There are four distinct spaces in the luxury retreat. (Credit: Adam Gibson)
See the island's resident Little Penguin colony. (Credit: Getty Images / phototrip)
The island accommodates up to eight guests. (Credit: Adam Gibson)
The reopening represents a significant step up from the island’s previous iteration. The centrepiece of the renovation is a newly built primary suite, joined by two fully renovated copper-clad structures that have been thoughtfully reimagined for modern luxury. The result is four distinct spaces that can sleep up to eight guests in total, with the intimate scale that defined Picnic Island’s original appeal deliberately preserved.
A custom-built Tasmanian boat now handles all transfers and marine excursions – meaning the journey to the island is as considered as the stay itself. The property runs entirely off-grid through advanced solar systems and rainwater collection, a commitment to environmental stewardship that sits at the core of the island’s philosophy.
What’s included
Weekly travel news, experiences insider tips, offers, and more.
Enjoy personalised daily activities during your stay.(Credit: Adam Gibson)
You'll have a dedicated island host and skipper. (Credit: Adam Gibson)
Picnic Island has partnered with Waubs Harbour Distillery. (Credit: Adam Gibson)
At $16,000 per night with a three-night minimum, Picnic Island operates on a fully all-inclusive model. That rate covers complete island exclusivity, a dedicated island host and skipper, a private chef showcasing Tasmania’s exceptional produce, and a curated selection of premium Tasmanian wines and spirits. Daily activities are personalised to each group, with the island’s location offering direct access to Freycinet National Park, iconic Wineglass Bay and the pristine marine environment of Great Oyster Bay.
Exclusive partnerships with local makers – including Waubs Harbour Distillery , regional oyster farmers and cool-climate winemakers – mean the Tasmanian provenance story runs through every meal, drink and experience.
The philosophy
Picnic Island is what genuine exclusivity looks like.
There are only 100 available nights annually. (Credit: Adam Gibson)
A private chef showcases Tasmania's exceptional produce. (Credit: Adam Gibson)
Israel and Yu are deliberate about what Picnic Island is – and isn’t.
“We’re not trying to recreate a five-star hotel on a remote island," Yu said. “We’re offering something more valuable: complete privacy in a place where nature still dictates the rhythm."
It’s a philosophy that extends to the renovation itself. “Their commitment to doing things right, rather than simply doing things quickly, has created something special," Israel said of the architects, builders, local artisans, and conservation partners involved in the project.
That restraint in scale, availability and approach is increasingly rare in a luxury travel market that often mistakes volume for value.
The island will likely attract discerning travellers who are looking for somewhere that feels genuinely irreplaceable. With only 100 available nights annually and bookings open, that somewhere is filling up fast.
Details
The property runs entirely off-grid.
The newly built primary suite is a highlight. (Credit: Adam Gibson)
Relax in complete privacy in a place where nature still dictates the rhythm. (Credit: Adam Gibson)
Price: $16,000 per night (3-night minimum) Number of guests: up to 8 Location: Coles Bay, Tasmania, 7215 Bookings and enquiries: Picnic Island Tasmania
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.
In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.
Where to stay
Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.
For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart. Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).
For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles. Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.
Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.
1. Bruny Island
Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.
Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.
Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked. Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.
Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)
2. Mount Wellington
At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.
Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).
For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.
Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)
2. Port Arthur
Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.
The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.
Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.
Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)
3. Launceston
You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.
Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo, for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.
Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)
4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.
Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.
Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)
5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley
Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol , said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.
Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.
Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)
Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com .
