The reasonably steep, well-maintained track leads through coastal forest past impressive granite boulders to a gap between Mt Amos and Mt Mayson. Just to the left, high on the flanks of Mt Amos, a dramatic boardwalk with viewing platforms leads out into the open. You have arrived at one of Tasmania’s most celebrated views down to azure Wineglass Bay with its curvaceous beach of blinding white sand. For Saffire Freycinet’s guide and activity manager Hamish Cunningham, this view represents “all the things that make my home beautiful. I love sharing it.”
Mt Mayson (415m) and Mt Amos (454m) are part of a quintet of craggy granite peaks. They provide a visual feast from practically every corner of Saffire. Collectively known as The Hazards, they are the cornerstone of the award-winning architectural design of the resort. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame panoramic views, the suites’ windows create a picture destined for the cover of a coffee-table book and the setting competes for attention with Saffire’s culinary fare during breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Saffire Freycinet, which from the air resembles a stingray herding a school of fish, is perfectly positioned on the gentle slopes of a bush-covered hill. Guests enter the bold building via a ramp through the tail of the stingray – and are confronted with the jaw-dropping view towards Freycinet National Park. It is a defining moment that will be burnt into guests’ memories forever. Within the foyer – designed to impress with high sweeping timber ceilings, leather furniture and sophisticated lighting – are the reception and library. Below is the restaurant and the lounge, the social hub of the resort.
The main building is connected to the suites – shaped like a school of fish in front of the stingray – by a covered walkway. With only 20 guest rooms accommodating a maximum of 40 guests, Saffire is boutique. The well-appointed suites offer a private sanctuary where everyday life is left behind on entering. Guests can choose between Private Pavilions, Signature Suites and Luxury Suites. The difference between them is space. The commonality is tremendous views, ultimate privacy and contemporary elegance.
While guests retreat into the splendid seclusion of their accommodation for some private time, they come together in the Palate Restaurant, hailed as one of the most exclusive restaurants in Tasmania. The kitchen brigade showcases Tasmania’s best, be it from the water or the paddock. The produce shines especially in the multi-course degustation menus where the team matches the creations with outstanding local wines.
With the amazing playground of Freycinet National Park and its surrounds at Saffire’s doorstep, the resort’s activity program is extensive. Walking options in the national park range from a short stroll to the little hidden gem of granite-framed Sleepy Bay to the famous must-do walk up to the breathtaking Wineglass Bay Lookout. The oyster farm and wine- and whisky-tasting tours are understandably popular and the Tasmanian devil encounter right at the resort is an absolute winner. Guests can also take cruises in Saffire’s own boat. Destinations include the iconic Wineglass Bay with its turquoise waters and sparkling beach, or a cruise around wild Schouten Island for stunning marine life and dramatic granite cliffs. For Saffire’s general manager Patrick Barrie, the importance of the resort’s activity program is huge. “Our team forms an emotional bond with the guests and connects them to Saffire, the Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania and Australia,” he says. “A huge part of achieving this is our inclusive excursions and activities.”
