The new retreat pairs waterfront views, luxury accommodation and the latest Tasmanian pinot noir.
Tucked on Tasmania’s east coast, Freycinet is the epitome of wild natural beauty. While it draws thousands of visitors each year, many are restricted to day trips due to the region’s limited accommodation options. But that’s all about to change with the opening of Wineglass Bay Estate in 2026 – and it’s more than just a place to rest your head.
The setting
Beginning at Coles Bay, the Freycinet Peninsula divides the Tasman Sea and Great Oyster Bay. Home to Freycinet National Park, it’s a natural playground for outdoor adventurers, known for its plethora of beaches and coves, hiking trails, scenic lookouts and pink granite peaks.
The Freycinet Peninsula divides the Tasman Sea and Great Oyster Bay. (Image: Luke Tscharke)
With so much natural beauty, there’s limited space for accommodation. While two of Tasmania’s most unique stays call it home, it doesn’t quite cater to the huge number of visitors keen to explore the region. But now, Wineglass Bay Estate is adding to this exclusive shortlist.
Unlike Saffire Freycinet and Freycinet Lodge , Wineglass Bay Estate isn’t necessarily by the sea – but that doesn’t mean you miss out on waterfront views. The new retreat is perched on Moulting Lagoon, a vast wetland home to a remarkable mix of plant and animal species.
The new Wineglass Bay Estate overlooks Ramsar-listed Moulting Lagoon.
It’s an ecosystem so rare and fragile that it’s protected as a Ramsar site , recognised internationally for its environmental significance. Wineglass Bay Estate is the only place to stay on this extraordinary wetland, offering guests a whole new perspective of Freycinet.
The accommodation
Wineglass Bay Estate is still under construction, so many of the details remain under wraps for now. What is clear is its focus on luxury, comfort and quiet indulgence, which guests can experience once doors open in June 2026. Upon completion, the retreats will be perfectly poised for uninterrupted views of the water, enjoyed with a local glass of wine from the spacious deck.
Earthen tones meet curved edges and timber textures.
Your king-size bed will be complete with soft linens.
Each luxury lodge will be filled with natural light.
Inside, each light-filled lodge will feature a king-size bed complete with soft linens, a modern en suite bathroom, plush lounge, small kitchenette and curated minibar. The colour palette will reflect the surrounding landscape, with earthen tones like terracotta and oatmeal complemented by curved edges, timber textures and contemporary furnishings.
Set on 21 hectares, Wineglass Bay Estate serves as a quiet window into the surrounding ecosystem. Wombats, echidnas and wallabies roam the land, while the lagoon hosts everything from white-bellied sea eagles to flocks of waterfowl. It’s also a major sanctuary for black swans – up to 8000 call this place home, roughly 80 per cent of Tasmania’s breeding population.
The vineyard
The luxury lodges at Wineglass Bay Estate aren’t the only things under construction, though. Rows of young vines are also being planted across the property right now, laying the groundwork for an intimate cellar door experience to open in July 2026.
Kitty’s Mistake will join other local wineries like Devil’s Corner. (Image: Getty/Andrey Chernev)
Kitty’s Mistake Vineyard will open in July 2026, shortly after the retreat itself. Set among the estate within walking distance of the lodges, it will join a small but impressive group of Freycinet wineries, including the award-winning Devil’s Corner .
Harnessing the region’s fertile soil and coastal winds, the team will be adding an all-new pinot noir to Tasmania’s incredible collection of cool-climate wines. The robust red only marks the beginning, with many more delicious drops planned to join the wine list.
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Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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 .
