SAFFIRE - TASMANIA
Saffire - Tasmania - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Saffire: A New Jewel In The Crown | |||||
| By: Jenny Caspersonn, Issue 43 – Winter 2010 | |||||
| (Saffire - Freycinet National Park, Tasmania, Australia) | |||||
| SET IN TASMANIA’S PRIZED PRISTINE WILDERNESS, SAFFIRE IS A GLAMOROUS ADDITION TO AUSTRALIA’S GROWING LUXURY LODGE FAMILY. JENNY CASPERSONN IS AMONG THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE THE NEW PROPERTY’S BACK-TO-NATURE OFFERING. | |||||
| Waist deep in the cool clear waters of Great Oyster Bay, we are looking particularly fetching in our neoprene waders. Squelching along the sandy bottom of Moulting Lagoon, the sex lives of oysters is up for discussion. At the Freycinet Marine Farm on Tasmania’s beautiful East Coast, thousands of lucky Pacific oysters are lazing happily in their pearly beds, growing plump and enjoying the good life. Fortunately just five minutes away at Tasmania’s new luxury development, Saffire, humans can enjoy the good life too. Around 2.5 hours drive from Hobart or Launceston on the edge of the Freycinet National Park, Saffire is set on 11 hectares of beachfront bushland situated near the township of Coles Bay – a long-cherished holiday spot for vacationing Tasmanians. From a distance, Saffire appears to float like an exotic marine creature contemplating the panoramic view across Great Oyster Bay to the rocky granite grandeur of the Hazards Mountains peaks beyond. Saffire, its name inspired by the local abundance of precious sapphire stones and the flame-coloured ridges of the surrounding areas, came with a price tag of $32 million. Architects Morris Nunn and Associates have produced an elegant contemporary design with timber, stone and the generous use of glass to take full advantage of the view. The reflective water features, massive windows and soaring curved ceiling, enhance the architectural drama of Saffire’s entrance. The roof of the main building consists of curved timber ribbed beams covered with a polymer membrane. The sea and the mountain landscape beyond clearly inform the building’s design while the roofs of the 20 accommodation suites evoke the arc of the waves breaking on the beach below. The main building houses the lounge bar and outdoor BBQ platform, a cool mezzanine library space, boardroom, gymnasium and spa and the outstanding Palate restaurant where the fare is as inspiring as the view. The intention of Saffire’s creators, the Farrell family-owned Federal Group, is to connect guests with the unique coastal wilderness, thus providing an authentic yet exceptionally comfortable high-end experience. With an optional all-inclusive tariff arrangement, guests can select from a range of stunning adventures and experiences all on Saffire’s doorstep. The visit to the Freycinet Marine Farm, which supplies succulent oysters and mussels to Saffire’s restaurant, takes oyster appreciation to a whole new dimension but it’s just one of many activities available to Saffire visitors. A highlight is the boat trip to Schouten Island - named by Abel Tasman in 1642 - on board Saffire’s own purpose-built 12 metre rigid inflatable NAIAD boat with specially designed snug Saffire over-jackets, complete with hand warmers for those chilly winter days. This is an opportunity to appreciate the majestic scenery where sheer granite cliffs drop into clear aquamarine waters and dazzling white beaches rim the fringes of the National Park. The boat’s ROV, (remote operated vehicle), an underwater camera that swims, can reveal kelp forests, seals, abalone, lobster and sharks below the surface. Of course kayaking, snorkelling, diving and fishing are remarkable here but on dry land, the walking options are outstanding. The perfect contours and colours of Wineglass Bay justify its reputation as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Walks there range from an easy 40 minute stroll to a more arduous three hour hike and guides will tailor a walk to guests’ wishes and abilities. Mountain biking is also an option. Quad bike tours trek through bush tracks then emerge to skim across the white crystal sands of Southern Friendly Beaches where an impressive beach break keeps the surfers happy. The local golf course is only a five-minute drive but a short flight in a fixed wing aircraft can facilitate a relatively inexpensive transfer to Tasmania’s renowned Barnbougle Dunes Golf Course. Indoors, other diversions await. Behind the scenes in Palate’s kitchen guests can pull on an apron and chef Hugh Whitehouse will give a hands-on cooking class, sharing his entertaining and creative kitchen expertise. While the spa is an inviting den offering a full range of treatments and therapies, as well as its own line of products featuring blue sapphire dust, Saffire is not a health retreat. The spa is a cosy addition, but Saffire is all about the experiences. Saffire’s restaurant, Palate, is the domain of chef Hugh Whitehouse who previously had taken Lilianfels’ Darley’s restaurant to two-hat status. Hugh has diligently sourced the best local produce and proudly tailors his menus accordingly. Hugh’s specialty multi-course degustation menu is matched perfectly with local wine from some of the many local wineries that produce cool climate drops including chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wines. Sommelier Andrew Michalanney is on hand for expert suggestions and advice and to host evening drinks in the lounge. At last it seems Australia is catching up to the New Zealanders in the luxury lodge market. With the addition of distinctive high-end properties such as Southern Ocean Lodge, Qualia and Wolgan Valley, the Kiwis may have to start taking notes. Saffire’s opening in June adds another glamorous newcomer to Australia’s luxury family and Tassie is a fitting location. It has the wonderful relationship between the water and the mountains, it lacks crowds and boasts prized pristine wilderness areas yet it’s more accessible than New Zealand and doesn’t require a passport. Like the happy oysters making the most of the beautiful clean waters, it’s a wonderful place to be. | |||||
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