Luxury is now affordable at these cabins in iconic Tassie national park

The cabins

Discovery Resorts - Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

Check in

One of a cluster of properties near the northern entrance to Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Discovery Resorts - Cradle Mountain offers a range of budget accommodations from camping to family cabins. A central reception facilitates check-in for all categories. From here, the resort is divided into two sections, accessed via passcode-operated cable gates to minimise through-traffic (and allow right-of-way for Tassie’s nocturnal marsupials).

The look

Throw away preconceptions of tired, tawdry digs overrun by screaming kids – after a $20 million expansion, this holiday park, tucked among lichen-cloaked forest on a National Parks-managed reserve, is now nudging the luxury market, with 11 Premium Mountain Cabins offering top-notch comfort with a generous dose of style. Accessed via an elevated boardwalk, each cabin backs onto a patch of native vegetation, ensuring nature views and privacy through floor-to-ceiling windows. The front entrances are not so enticing, however, as heavy-handed felling to install the cabins has left a scar that will take years to regenerate in this slow-growth forest environment.

The room

More than just a place to lay your head before hitting the Overland Track, these wilderness retreats are designed to soak in the serenity, with luxe touches including a king-sized bed, gas fireplace, freestanding bathtub and under-floor heating elevating the “tiny home in the woods” experience. From the galley kitchen – with Smeg oven and a compact dishwasher – step into a dressing area, with ample cupboard space should you care to unpack. The generous bathroom has a rain shower, that enticing tub, and a separate loo; while the bedroom and lounge open to a patio overlooking a gnarled myrtle tree and clumps of flowering Tasmanian waratahs.

Food + drink

Guests can dine on property at Hellyers Restaurant where each meal is paired with Tasmanian wines, whisky and spirits. There is also an on-site shop that sells basics (and some yummy local gourmet produce, including wine) for self-catering either in your cabin or the central camp kitchens, where there are barbecues and pizza ovens.

Guests can also dine nearby at Altitude Restaurant at Cradle Mountain Hotel; or for a more casual experience, Tavern Bar and Bistro at Cradle Mountain Lodge has a roaring fire and a pool table for post-hike wind-downs.

Out + about

While the Overland Track is a major lure, there are plenty of shorter hikes that showcase the scenic wonders of Cradle Mountain minus the blisters, mud and leeches that are an inevitable part of the epic six-day trek.

Stop by Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre (500 metres from the property) for National Park passes and shuttle tickets (parks.tas.gov.au); then head to stunning Dove Lake, where a six-kilometre circuit offers peek-a-boo views of mist-shrouded Cradle Mountain. Alternatively, join a morning paddle with Dove Lake Kayaks (cradlemountaincanyons.com.au), traversing the lake in double kayaks hand-crafted from recycled King Billy pine.

When the weather is inclement (as it likely will be!), head to the excellent Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery (wildernessgallery.com.au) or indulge in a spa treatment at Waldheim Alpine Spa at Cradle Mountain Lodge (cradlemountainlodge.com.au). Don’t miss the evening feeding session at Devils@Cradle, a conservation sanctuary for endangered Tasmanian devils, eastern quolls and spotted-tail quolls (devilsatcradle.com).

The verdict

With their stylish, spacious interiors and amenities, the Premium Mountain Cabins present a viable alternative to Cradle Mountain Lodge’s luxury offerings at a significantly lower rate.

Our rating

★★★★

Essentials

The Discovery Park is a 75-minute drive from Devonport. Accommodation for two in a Premium Mountain Cabin starts at $392 a night. While not wheelchair-accessible, there are several other cabins designed for reduced mobility access. See discoveryholidayparks.com.au

Highlight

With a hamper of complimentary Tassie-made goodies including a bottle of Josef Chromy Cuvee, a selection of Ashgrove cheeses and Anvers chocolate truffles, I’m set for the night.

Lowlight

My bathtub does not enjoy the enchanted forest views depicted on the website – only the three cabins furthest from the road have bathrooms overlooking bushland (request cabins 5, 6 or 11 for optimum views).

The writer was a guest of Discovery Parks and Resorts and Tourism Tasmania.