12. Tasmania

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder where you are… With any luck, you’re stargazing from one of these new glamping pods.

“Accommodation with a twist” is how Domescapes’ Matt Gower refers to his newly launched glamping pods in Tasmania (domescapes. com.au, above). A trio of these geodesic domes is at Swinging Gate Vineyard in Sidmouth, 35 kilometres north of Launceston. They sit lightly on the earth (and are capable of being completely off-grid) but still have comforts such as electric blankets for colder nights.

Inside the lattice-like padded interior, it’s a cosy, cosseted feel; all neutrals, blond wood and pastel-blues. A king bed faces the curving windows, allowing panoramic views of the vines and rolling green hills of the Tamar Valley by day and the beguiling star-filled sky at night. Each dome has an ensuite, which, true to its sustainable design, includes a composting toilet. But there isn’t a kitchen to speak of and no evening restaurants in the area so BYO goodies or request one of the tasting platters of local produce to keep you sated.

The domes at Swinging Gate are the first of a collection planned across Tassie. Gower and his business partners will unveil more in different locations throughout the year, including the gourmet haven of Bruny Island; Mayberry, on the fringes of Mole Creek Karst National Park, renowned for its impressive cave system; and Eaglehawk Neck, the narrow picturesque isthmus in the state’s south-east that’s considered the gateway to the dramatic rock formations and soaring cliffs of Tasman National Park.