Indulgence...The Lair

I laughed when Susan described her inspection of The Lair.  

That was quite an adventure!

It's now my turn to check out what makes The Lair perfect to join the   Luxury Oz Stays list of properties.  

Show me the luxury!

The Lair was created using only the finest fixtures and fittings from around the world, the epitome of style and design.

It comprises of two identical, sumptuously appointed suites at either end.  Each room opens onto an eastern facing deck.

You can stretch out on the emperor size leather beds or spread out in the generous bathrooms and soak up the view of the ocean. 

Immerse yourself in the tranquility of the voluminous living/ dining/ kitchen.  

The mini bar at The Lair is stocked with fresh local produce and some of the fine local wines that Tasmania is renowned for.

The complementary dry pantry is fully stocked.

Browse the library of books and games.  If you must keep in touch, boot up the 24" Mac.  Play your favourite tunes through the audiophile quality sound system.  Or better yet, plug your ipod onto the dock and bliss out in the spa pool.

A collection of contemporary art by prominent Tasmanian artists such as Michael McWilliams and Jonathan Kimberley adorns the walls.

For your viewing pleasure  you can kick back with Austar or a DVD on one of the three plasmas.

Personally, I wouldn't be able to drag myself away from the stunning ocean views of Oyster Bay.

So does it tick all the boxes for a Luxury Oz Stays indulgent, luxury property?

Tick, tick, tick! 

Grab a glass of wine and join me on the deck.

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Off road adventures, Susan style....

Ever wondered how we find the properties to put on our website Luxury Oz Stays?

Unlike a lot of travel websites we actually like to check out the properties that we represent before we recommend them to other people.  

Trust me, there are a lot of properties that claim to be 'luxury' but seriously don't meet our, and your, standards.

Wouldn't it be awful to book your holiday of a lifetime only to find yourself spending a week in a roach infested, hell hole?

That's why we do what we do!

A new property wanted to come on board with us and because it's in Tasmania we had to check it out.

Here's the lowdown of our adventure, checking out our swish new luxury accommodation. 

For your viewing pleasure, I bring you The LAIR.

THE LAIR is located 90 minutes away from either Launceston or Hobart airport.  The drive takes you through picture postcard views of the meadowlands, forests, coastal promonteries and beaches that give Tasmania it's unique character.

We live a little further away than the airports, but because I always inspect the properties before representing them, decided today was a day for an adventure.  

I love Tasmania and have explored most of it.  

I'm familiar with the area but Jason (my husband) thought we would attempt to drive the 3 hours to The Lair using a different route this time.   

Stupid decision, we ended up on this dirt road that went for about 40 kms at least! 

It was in the middle of no where, no cars, people, houses nothing!!! 


Bumpy as anything, it wasn’t just dirt it was pot holes, cracks, ridges and more dirt. Needless to say by the time we hit this road it was too far to turn back and go the way we came, so we thought we would stick it out.   

Anyways we learnt a valuable lesson, DO NOT SEND OUR GUESTS on this route, although scenic, it took forever!

To add to this, we did not know if we were lost or not, our GPS charger would not charge so it went flat, our mobiles had no service at all and we had been on this road for about 45 mins watching our petrol get lower and lower. 

I was thinking I was gonna end up stranded and walking – not to mention I had to pee, so go bush!

Finally at the end of the road we see a sign pointing to Swansea! It was a great relief to know we were not lost and back to civilisation!!
  
The adventurous road met up with the road we normally would have taken and we got to the property with a car that looked like someone had chucked red mud all over it – not a great look for the owner of a 2 million dollar property we were trying to impress. 

Luckily he knew the road and just laughed at us!

So in the name of research for our guests we took a gamble to try a new route for them along the ESK Hwy, we can now tell them NOT to take it and stick to the Bass Hwy!  It is much faster and safer.

What a mission!

So there you have it folks, we actually do inspect properties before we list them on our website to ensure the level of quality we expect.  We do travel our own state and even being locals we can get into silly situations!

But I think this was definitely worth the wait!

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Exploring Tasmania...Who is James Boag?

James Boag beer has had some pretty racy ads over the years.

James Boag's Premium Lager is a European style lager brewed from the finest quality pilsener malts.  This beer is fermented at a lower temperature than most Australian lagers and employs an extended maturation period.  These combine with a mixture of kettle and late hopping to yield a crisp, pale lager that perfectly complements fine food.

You can experience a tour of J Boag and Son brewery in Launceston, Northern Tasmania.  James Boag commenced his brewing tradition on the banks of the Esk River in 1852.

During a tour of this brewery you'll see all the processes that produce this amber liquid.  At the end of the tour you can enjoy tasting four award-winning beers matched with King Island cheese.

In the spirit of exploring Tasmania, we have a six pack of this delectable beer to give away.

To enter, simply become a follower and leave a comment with your favourite holiday destination.  A winner will be drawn next week.  Good luck!

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A quick culinary delight...

Well the mayhem of Christmas is behind us and The Girl With A Suitcase is already organising my next weekend getaway.  I've developed an obsession with fresh local produce and beverages (cheers!) so in the next few weeks I'll be scouting out the best locations to experience some of these delicacies.

First destination?

Hobart.

Southern Tasmania has some of the most incredible food experiences on offer (wine, cheese, seafood, beer) and has quickly become a gastronomic extravaganza for those in the know!   Hobart is the perfect place to drop anchor and then explore the surrounding area.

My recommendations for a quick visit?

Grandvewe Cheese Factory in Birchs Bay.  Australia's only Sheep Milk Cheesery.  You can experience up to 15 different cheeses, visit the sheep farm and enjoy platters overlooking the spectacular D'Entrecasteaux Channel.

MeadowBank Winery/ Restaurant in Cambridge.  Just 15 minutes drive from Hobart puts you on the doorstep of this multi-award winning restaurant and cellar door, it's surrounded by a sea of vines and overlooks Coal River Valley.

Next?  The Lark Distillery in Davey Street, Hobart.  The cellar door and whiskey bar overlook Mawson Place and give you the chance to sit outside and enjoy your favourite drink whilst overlooking the Derwent.

                                

After all that booze culinary delight, you'll need somewhere comfortable to lay your head each night and recuperate, before the next days adventure.

I like to stay someplace that is full of old world charm but full of the latest modern convenience.

Here I can relax on the private balcony, sipping a James- Boag (yes, more booze but it's Tasmanian)...

and watch the boats sail in.

Upon a good friends recommendation I stay in Hobart at Kinvara House.  It was built in the 1890s but has undergone ultra- modern renovations to create a unique and spacious house with unsurpassed views of the city and Derwent River.

It offers fully self-contained luxury accommodation for up to 10 people.  That's fantastic for getting a group of good friends together or for the family.  It is designed for those who appreciate quality and privacy, with all the feel of a century old home with all the modern additions.

All located within walking distance to the city centre and famous Salamanca Place.

When you're not visiting all the gastronomic delights in the surrounding Tasmanian area, Salamanca Place is the place to go, with its daytime shopping, galleries and its evening restaurants.  It is in one of the most picturesque areas of Hobart and if you are in Hobart on a Saturday, you can't miss the Salamanca Market.

Regardless of the weather it is the place to visit for odds and ends and to taste Tasmania's famous local produce.  Food, more food.

(Insert Homer Simpson drool).

Ahhh, bliss.

More Tasmaninan experiences to come.

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Apartments by the Award Winning Last Architects...

For the stylish couples out there...

Have you ever been browsing through your favourite lifestyle magazine and thought "I'd love to stay there."

Well now you can.

The Last Villa in Sandy Bay, Tasmania is a multi award winning, architecturally designed property.  If you want it, they have it.  Stay for a weekend or a week.

"This eccentric Hobart building does double-duty as a home and B & B - all with a touch of cool." House & Garden.

We all want that little something extra when we go on holiday.  Depending on our personal style, we envision that where we're going to stay will be just a little bit special.  If you wanted bland accommodation you'd stay at a motel, right?

If you're looking for a unique property for your getaway, check this out.

The Penthouse caters for couples in eclectic European inspired interiors overlooking the famous River Derwent, Mt Wellington and prestigious Sandy Bay.

The Cruise Ship also caters to couples and  is fitted out with an eclectic mix of historic and designer furniture themed on yachting.  The apartment has stunning views of the Derwent River and beyond.

The Barcelona has a Romeo and Juliet inspired balcony and provides fresh sea air and leafy green garden views.

Voyager has a Japanese inspired, minimalist interior.  It caters to adventurous couples with a hint of Japanese culture.

Studio Last is an inspiring place to do business while you are in Hobart.  It has a drawing table, desk, kitchenette and bathroom, opening onto a deck with its own fireplace.

But what are you and the significant other going to do on your getaway?  Don't be alarmed, there's plenty for the two of you to do.

Visit nearby art galleries

Salamanca Market

Nutgrove Beach and cycleway

Sandy Bay Massage Centre

Wrest Point Casino

Wineries

Bush walks

100m to the beach

Indulge in the fabulous restaurants, cafes and eateries.

Indulge, enjoy and make memories to last a lifetime.  Let the Luxury Oz Stays team create the holiday of a lifetime, everytime.

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Beaches (and no, not that movie with Bette Midler)

I have a confession to make. The Girl With A Suitcase is a beach holiday kinda girl. Yes, I know it's a cliche but who doesn't dream of lying on a white sandy beach somewhere, sipping on a daquiri and watching the waves roll in.

Two years ago we bit the bullet and decided it was time to visit the ultimate beach location HAWAII.  I had visions of miles of pristine beaches, the towering waves at Sunset Beach and a whole lot of daquiris.

Reality check.

It took 10 hours to fly from Melbourne to Honolulu.  The flight itself wasn't bad (thank you Jetstar for amusing the kiddies) but sitting still for that long is enough to drive anyone crazy.  And I don't sleep on planes.  EVER.

We picked up our hire car after haggling for an hour with every rental company in the airport (could have used your  help here, Susan!) and set off to explore Hawaii.

Let's just say Hawaii is...um...overrated.

There were places of genuine beauty and the kiddies had a wonderful time.

But the beaches looked like this.

And every spare inch was covered in these.

Not exactly my fantasy beach holiday, fighting for sand space with a million American tourists.

And the view from our pokey hotel room above a nightclub?  Skyscrapers.

So The Girl With A Suitcase has learnt a few things on her travels.

No. 1.  Stay local.  Sitting on a plane for hours can drive you crazy.

No. 2.  Hotel rooms and families do not mix.

No. 3.  Australia has some of the worlds best beaches!

I'm not talking about The Whitsundays.  Too many tourists and backpackers.

This beach has been voted one of the top ten in the world.

Simply stunning.

Wineglass Bay in Tasmania.

When I saw this place, I did a little happy dance.  It ticks all the boxes for a stunning, family holiday.  And look.  No skyscrapers.

Freycinet National Park and Coles Bay is located 202km north east of Hobart and is noted for its spectacular coastal scenery and its emphasis on fishing, boating, bushwalking and swimming.  Apparently Wineglass Bay is so beautiful that on the last royal visit to Australia, the Royal Yacht Britannia anchored there to allow the Queen ashore for an Australian-style beach barbeque.  So if it's good enough for royalty...

Second must have for a family holiday?  Room to move!  No pokey hotel rooms here.

Plenty of room to hide the kids away.

Freyscape is luxury accommodation and has stunning views of the water and coastline.

The kiddies love to be kept busy on their holidays.  Trust me, in Hawaii the activities were very expensive (we're talking US dollars) so it cost us a small fortune to keep them occupied.  Here they can go kayaking, mountain biking, swimming, bird watching, abseiling, surfing, fishing, heck there's even a golf course in the area to keep the hubs amused.

But we all know that The Girl With A Suitcase prefers to take it easy and indulge on her holidays.

All I need is a quick visit to the Freycinet Vineyard cellar door to pick up a few of these...

So I can relax on the pristine beach, sip a vino and take in the amazing scenery.

Only in Australia.

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