With two new lakeside retreats and immersive experiences, Tassie’s Pumphouse Point is guaranteed to fill your cup.
Pumphouse Point sits on Lake St Clair at the southern end of Cradle Mountain National Park. (Credit: Adam Gibson)
The only sound I hear is the whisper of the wind and water gently lapping the shore. The silence is interrupted by a slap. Then another as something launches itself out of the water and dives back again faster than I can see with my naked eye. I’m searching Australia’s deepest lake for signs of platypus as the sun sets at Pumphouse Point – the award-winning wilderness escape in Tasmania/Lutruwita’s Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.
Originally built as a hydro station in the 1940s and reimagined into accommodation in 2015, the Pumphouse is situated 240 metres out over the lake and features 12 guestrooms across three floors. Back on dry land, six more guestrooms, a dining room and lounge can be found at the Shorehouse, the site of the hydro scheme’s former substation – which to this day still features the walls, floor and door of the original toilet. But it’s the Retreats, hemmed in by bushland on the lake’s edge, that offer the most exclusive guest experience.
The new Retreats blend into their surroundings. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)
Elevated spirits are served in the Shorehouse each evening. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The new Retreats offer views of the Pumphouse. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The bedroom inside the new Retreats. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)
The sun sets over Lake St. Clair at Pumphouse Point. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Resident wombats roam the property. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The weir flows into the Derwent River. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Heritage Shorehouse restaurant offers multi-course feasts. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)
Enjoy regional produce and freshly-baked bread. (Credit: Rachel Vasicek)
New all-inclusive retreats
Pumphouse Point gains two new luxury retreats (Credit: Adam Gibson).
Two of the three free-standing pavilions opened in August 2025 – a $2.25 million development led by owner-operators, member organisation NRMA Parks and Resorts (which acquired Pumphouse Point in 2022). I’m lucky enough to be one of the first guests to experience the new Retreats.
The two additions have been carefully crafted to mirror the original, designed by JAWS Architects and Cumulus Studio in 2017. From the outside, the timber-clad accommodation blends into its surroundings with the interior designed to welcome them in; light wells carved out of the bathroom corners offer a visual connection to the ground and sky, while the floor-to-ceiling glass wall in the living area delivers jaw-dropping views of the iconic Pumphouse on the lake framed by bushland – a vantage point enjoyed from every angle, including the bed and shower.
Room rates include breakfast and dinner in the Shorehouse restaurant. (Credit: Adam Gibson)
Each Retreat features an open-plan design with a king bed draped in premium linens, a lounge area, indoor fireplace and deep-soak bathtub. A communal-style buffet breakfast and seasonal three-course dinner at the Heritage Shorehouse restaurant are inclusive for Retreat guests, as well as an in-room larder generously stocked with Tasmanian craft beers, ciders, wines and the best local produce and gourmet treats – think salami, cheese, hummus, falafels, crudites and more. Fresh sourdough can also be hand-delivered to your door within 10 minutes on request.
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New immersive experiences
Treat your senses to a whisky tasting, one of three new immersive experiences. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)
“Let us move in the way of the water," announces Ian Andersen Munoz, as he leads our small group along the 820-foot concrete flume that once pumped water from the lake into the higher lagoon east of the Pumphouse. While technically hired as an all-rounder, switching between roles onsite as needed, the Chilean is blessed with a level of enthusiasm for the decommissioned Art Deco Pumphouse I can only imagine is rivalled by the original architect himself, as he describes the connection he sees between its beauty and function. I follow, thoroughly engrossed in his storytelling, until we reach the weir east of the Pumphouse. I watch it spill into the Derwent River, where it will wind its way to Hobart/Nipaluna, as Ian tells us about the Big River Tribe who cared for this land before they were mercilessly forced off it, and how the cultural landscape they shaped over millennia still speaks to us today if we know how to read it.
The 45-minute guided Pumphouse Point History Tour is one of three newly added experiences. There’s also a chocolate tasting journey in partnership with renowned Tassie chocolatier House of Anvers, and a whisky tasting featuring a curated selection of single malts from Tasmania’s most awarded distillery, Sullivans Cove.
Moments of wonder
It’s my final night and increasing darkness forces me to concede defeat as I walk the length of the flume back to my room after another attempt at spotting platypus. My movement startles a pademelon, who promptly hops behind a shrub in front of me. I almost miss the outline of two others; one frozen with her head turned towards me, the other, her joey, unfazed by my presence. It’s not the elusive monotreme I’d hoped to see, but it’s moments like this that make Pumphouse Point – and Tasmania, for that matter – a constant source of wonder.
Details
Pumphouse Point is around 2.5 hours’ drive from both Hobart/Nipaluna and Launceston, winding through World Heritage-listed wilderness.
Rates for the Retreats start at $1950 and include all dining, drinks and minibar, as well as the new onsite experiences.
If travelling from Hobart, stop in at the Agrarian Kitchen in New Norfolk for lunch.
If you’ve ever tried to book accommodation in Cradle Mountain National Park, you’ll know the options are extremely limited. This is a deliberate decision to preserve the natural environment. The retreats, on the lesser-visited end of the National Park, offer the chance to enjoy the wilderness in total comfort.
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Katie Carlin is Australian Traveller's Head of Content and when she’s not travelling or behind her computer, she’s hosting a dinner party (likely cooking an Alison Roman recipe), at brunch, working on extending her running k’s, or has her nose buried in a book.
She joined Australian Traveller in 2018 and is responsible for leading the editorial team across print, digital, social, email and native content. Her job is to make sure we create content that connects readers to incredible experiences in Australia and beyond. In addition to sharing her expertise on travel through industry speaking engagements, Katie appears onToday, A Current Affair and various radio segments.
With a BA in Communications majoring in Journalism and a career that has spanned roles at Fairfax Media and Are Media writing for titles such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and various lifestyle brands, she brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her most impactful trip to date has been swimming with whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef. For her next trip she is longing to experience the romance of train travel – hopefully on The Ghan or Indian Pacific.
Overlooking the winding Tamar River, the Tamar Ridge & PIRIE Cellar Door is where two of Tasmania’s most acclaimed wine labels come together. Sip award-winning cool-climate wines and world-class sparkling while soaking up the vineyard views in one spectacular setting.
The fire crackles softly as you settle into a comfortable armchair, a glass of Tamar Ridge Reserve Pinot Noir warming your hands. Outside, rows of vines stretch across the Tamar Valley, their gentle contours framed by rolling hills and ever-changing skies. Or perhaps it’s a sunlit afternoon, and you’re on the terrace with a flute of PIRIE Vintage sparkling in hand, watching the valley shimmer beneath you as each crisp sip captures the freshness of Tasmania. At the Tamar Ridge and PIRIE Cellar Door, the setting in one of Australia’s most celebrated cool-climate wine regions is every bit as special as the wines.
The two brands now share a beautifully refurbished cellar door, giving visitors the opportunity to sample both still and sparkling wines from the Brown Family Wine Group’s luxury portfolio in a single stop. Alongside the shared tasting space, they’ve also introduced a range of premium experiences tailored to each brand.
Tamar Ridge’s story began in 1994, when vines were planted at Kayena in Tasmania’s Upper Tamar Valley. Guided by renowned viticulturist Dr Richard Smart – the “Flying Vine Doctor” – the vineyard quickly gained a reputation for quality, with a new winery established in 1998 and the Tamar Ridge label born.
Sit outside to soak in the sun as you enjoy Tamar Valley views. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)
Today, New Zealand-born head winemaker Tom Wallace leads the cellar, brings his passion for cool-climate winemaking to help shape Tamar Ridge’s reputation for elegant, expressive wines.
Founded by Dr Andrew Pirie in 1995, PIRIE helped prove the island’s potential for world-class cool-climate sparkling.
Crafted in the traditional method from hand-picked Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in the Valley, PIRIE Tasmania sparkling wines are celebrated for their fine beads, depth and elegance. With a collection of trophies, gold medals and top honours behind them, these rare vintages showcase the very best of the state’s sparkling wine.
Brown Brothers – now known as the Brown Family Wine Group – acquired Tamar Ridge, PIRIE and Devil’s Corner on the island’s east coast in 2010, extending the legacy of a family wine company founded in 1889 at Milawa in Victoria’s King Valley. The company has continued its pursuit of exceptional cool-climate vineyards, recognising Tasmania’s unique potential in a changing climate.
Location
Get cosy by the roaring fireplace. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)
Tamar Ridge & PIRIE Cellar Door is set on the west bank of the Tamar River, just 20 minutes north of Launceston and around two and a half hours’ drive from Hobart near the riverside village of Rosevears in northern Tasmania. Stretching more than 60 kilometres along the river, from the mouth near Launceston north towards Bass Strait, the Valley is a vast patchwork of vineyards, orchards, farmland and historic townships.
Style & decor
Come for a regular tasting, or book an experience. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)
Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase panoramic views, while outdoor decks make the most of the surrounding scenery. Inside, the refined contemporary interiors strike a balance between modern luxury and the natural surrounds, with a double-sided fireplace to linger by. A Tamar River view creates a warm focal point. Natural wood accents add a sense of place, including a handcrafted 12-seat Tasmanian oak table that anchors the space with understated elegance.
Wine experiences
The cellar door’s curated wine experiences pair award-winning wines with local produce and the stories behind them. For those who prefer a leisurely visit without a set itinerary, the cellar door also offers cheese platters and small plates, best enjoyed with a glass in hand while taking in those Tamar River views.
Come for a taste, stay for an experience.
PIRIE & Oyster Experience
Taste the best of PIRIE matched with oysters. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)
A true taste of Tasmania comes to life in the PIRIE & Oyster Experience, created in partnership with Tasmanian Oyster Co. Exploring the connection between merroir and terroir – the influence of the sea and soil on flavour – this guided tasting pairs three premium oysters from different Tasmanian growing regions with three expressions of PIRIE sparkling wine: the NV, 2021 Vintage and Blanc de Blanc.
As each oyster and wine pairing is revealed, guests discover how Tasmania’s unique landscapes shape flavour, from the mineral freshness of the ocean to the elegance and precision of cool-climate sparkling wine.
Pinot Noir Blending Experience
Try your own hand at mixing. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)
For those who want to step behind the winemaker’s bench, the Pinot Noir Blending Experience offers a hands-on journey into the art of creating great wine.
Guests taste through three to four individual Pinot Noir clones from the previous vintage, each revealing its own personality through aroma, structure and character. Guided by the cellar door team, visitors explore how these individual components come together to create balance and complexity – before attempting their own blend.
Will you recreate the house style, or create something entirely original? This immersive experience offers a fascinating insight into the craft, creativity and precision that goes into every bottle.
Supreme Indulgence
Settle in for true indulgene. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)
The most elevated experience at the cellar door, the Supreme Indulgence (PIRIE Sparkling with Caviar tasting) is a celebration of luxury, refinement and Tasmania’s exceptional produce.
Priced at $99 per person, the tasting pairs PIRIE Tasmania’s most distinguished sparkling wines with carefully selected sturgeon caviar, chosen to enhance the elegance, texture and finesse of each cuvée. Hosted by an expert member of the team, the experience unfolds as a thoughtful exploration of fine bubbles, delicate flavours and the craftsmanship behind every bottle.
