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Saffire Freycinet. Tasmania, Australia

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Tasmania, an island best known for it’s population of the popular cartoon character, the Tasmanian Devil, is also one of the top places for a romantic and magical journey in Australia. The landscape is filled with both Glaciers and volcanoes, rainforests and farmland. If you’re looking for the perfect combination of food, relaxation, and nature, Saffire Freycinet goes above and beyond your expectations. What I love about the hotel is that everything has a local connection; they get their wine from the vineyard over the hill, the seafood freshly caught in the bay, and the produce from a farm down the road.

The rooms are modern yet cozy, with ceiling-to-floor windows, and incredible views. I prefer the Signature Suites because they come with a private deck lounge perfect for breakfast in the morning or a sunset cocktail. If you’re looking for an experience more intimate, opt for the Private Pavilions, they come with their own private kitchen and you’ll never have to leave the room because the chef comes to you! The concierge will tailor your stay for every occasion, and they have even gone as far to write out “Happy Anniversary” in the gravel outside of a guest’s room for their silver anniversary.

Head chef at Palate, the hotel’s culinary masterpiece, Hugh Whitehouse believes that, “…showcasing the best of the season allows us to offer a more balanced and textured dining experience.” The multi-course degustation menus change nightly to offer you a wide variety of eats and adventures. The food is superb and the wine list is extensive- you couldn’t ask for more.

Saffire Freycinet offers a wide variety of complimentary journeys to spice up your stay. From meet-and-greets with Tasmanian Devils to Oyster shucking and sparkling wine tasting (while standing in 4-feet of water int he bay no less), to Pelican Bay canoeing and guided mountain walks, the nature-lover in you (no matter how small) will be surprised at how much fun you have. For the ultimate luxury experience, charter a boat and explore Tasmania’s coastline, with frequent stops to explore deserted beaches and picnic along the cliffs.

Photographs courtesy of the property.

One & Only Hayman Island. Australia

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Imagine staying in the world famous Whitsunday Islands, now imagine staying in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, now imagine doing both while staying in the most spectacular hotel in Oceania. At One & Only Hayman Island the above three are possible, so if you are still trying to decide what to do for the holidays, look no further.

When I came across this property I was planning an Australian expedition to find even more hidden gems in the immense continent. Yes, I have been there many times, but anyone that has set foot in Australia knows you need more than that to really discover the hidden beauty of this gorgeous country, but not only is it unparalleled in it’s beauty, but it also happens to have the sweetest humans in the world (I guess coming from a criminal descend is not all that bad).

Forming part of the Whitsundays, named by Captain James Cook in 1770, One&Only Hayman Island (opened only 1 year ago) offers a front-row seat to the world’s largest coral reef system, and the largest structure on Earth made by living organisms. How cool is that?

The location of the hotel was carefully selected by it’s owners, and they couldn’t of think of a better place than this island. The Whitsundays have long been internationally recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of tropical coastline in the world. The hotel is set in one of the 74 islands, 66 of which are uninhabited so my favorite activity was to explore islands close to the hotel and pretend I was a castaway.

The hotel did it’s best to blend with nature without disrupting the view and feel of pure heaven. It has 160 rooms, however it feels smaller given that they divided it in different sections so the people that want to have a romantic getaway are not bothered by kids playing marco polo, and the kids are no bothered by boring adults reading a book.

The hotel has 56 suites ideal for large families. Nonetheless, the two bedroom pool suite is my favorite due to it’s fresh and clean decor. My second favorite room category is the beach houses which are more secluded and romantic.
The cuisine is always the tricky part in secluded hotels like this because when you stay in remote places the food is either frozen or stale. However, One & Only seemed to discover the secret recipe to fresh and delicious food.

The Great Barrier Reef provides the perfect setting for exciting activities including diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing, kayaking, water skiing and helicopter and seaplane adventures. However, my favorite activity by far was the Gourmet Picnic. You dine on a secluded beach, in the hush of the rain forest or surrounded by lush gardens.

Reason to love:

The resort recycles water and works with local suppliers to source sustainable ingredients for its restaurants. It also supports a breeding program for the endangered Proserpine rock wallaby on the island, and invites guests to donate to the ZooX fund to preserve the Great Barrier Reef and fund reef research.

Location:

The hotel is located just a few hour flight from Sydney, Melbourne and other large cities in Australia. You fly into Great Barrier Reef Airport, and then you are transferred by a luxury yacht or helicopter.