The most relaxed we have been in a while! We stayed at the…read moreTin Dragon cottages for 3 nights and definitely will return. Graham and Christine have created an accommodation that makes you feel relaxed and stress free. A herd of 10 Alpacas, and the out door spas make for a memory to never forget. The energy efficient and thoughtfully created cabins are clean and well appointed. With historic walks, an on site hydro power station, electric car chargers, a river walk..... the list goes on. Feeding and walking the alpacas and working the sawmill are experience's I will never forget On top of everything that Tin Dragon Trail cottages provide, Graham, Christine and James go above and beyond to make you feel welcome and almost a part of the family.

Easily the best place we stayed in our month-long Australia adventure!…read more Graham was friendly and chatty at check-in, very easy going and enjoyable to talk to. He gave us a tour of his gardens while picking some amazing produce for us to cook with our dinner. Tomatoes, onions, and bok choy. He invited us to help ourselves if we wanted anything else, which I thought was really nice. Loaded with veggies for dinner, he guided us to our cottage and shows us the basics (how to use the gas stove and the outdoor jacuzzi). Cell phone number loaded into our phone, he encouraged us to call him if we needed anything, and then disappeared. Our stay was incredibly private, but we felt like we could have really called just about anytime and he would have gladly helped us out with anything we needed. Really. Now, I had been looking forward to our stay here for about a year, particularly the gorgeous outdoor spa (which exceeded expectations). Plus, in the month before our trip I had pneumonia and took several baths a day, each time thinking how much better it would be outside, in Tasmania. So the moment Graham left I jumped into that huge outdoor tub and just blissed out. The spa recirculates the water and keeps it warm, so you can stay in forever. So nice! And it's so big that two people can comfortably lay back and enjoy the stars (although we fell asleep before sunset both nights, still being a bit sick). The property is really lovely and well-kept, with walking trails and that gorgeous river running through it. And the cottages... Lovely! Our studio cottage was very well set-up so it felt cozy and spacious at the same time. The two person shower was a nice bonus :-) And the kitchen was wonderful! Well designed for use, and very well stocked! I made a big dinner our first night, and found everything I wanted and needed without any issues. In addition to bread and eggs, the fridge was stocked with milk, brekkie juice, butter, sausages, and bacon. Plus muesli, cookies, tea and coffee, chocolates, port, pasta, flour, sugar, rice, soy sauce, etc. In rural Tassie everything closes early, and it's really sweet that Graham and his wife have thought to include enough to make dinner in case you weren't prepared and didn't want to drive to one of the nearby towns. All in all, Tin Dragon Trail Cottages was an inspiration. My mom has been talking about opening a B&B for years and keeps trying to convince me to come do the farming/cooking/horse wrangling and I keep thinking about all the awkward B&B stays I've had and saying "no way!" After this stay, I'm thinking, "Yeah! Let's do this, but let's do this like Tin Dragon Trail and make it super awesome!" We will be back, hopefully soon!

Iain and Belinda (and pup Hannah) really live the life. Kayaking with dolphins, seals and penguins…read morein Coles Bay, cycling, bushwalking, and hiking through and around Freycinet national park, and coming home each evening to a gorgeous contemporary home overlooking Oyster Bay? This is the dream. Lucky for us, they've built two free-standing studio apartments along with a two-bedroom beach house so we can all steal just a slice of their lifestyle. With so many activities in the area, we barely spent anytime in the apartment, but the time we did spend was as close to perfection as gets for us. What it lacked in posh luxury it made up for in relaxing, comfortable, modern amenities. The design was stunning, the small kitchen was fully stocked, and the location was a perfect jumping off point for all of the area's activities. Most of all, Iain and Belinda were such kind and accommodating hosts, we wanted them to adopt us. They stocked our larder both evenings with fresh breakfast supplies so we could be up with the birds, and we even bumped into them while kayaking in the bay. Skip the resorts - this is exactly the type of boutique, local accommodation that you're looking for - trust me. Two days was nowhere near enough.