THE RETREAT AT PUMPHOUSE POINT

You’d be hard-pressed to find a travel bucket list that doesn’t include the instantly recognisable Pumphouse Point, which juts out incredulously over the vast Lake St Clair (Australia’s deepest) in central Tasmania. If you haven’t yet crossed it off yours, the opening of the property’s luxe new bolthole, The Retreat, might just be the calling card to get you there.

Set on shore, the self-contained Retreat’s floor-to-ceiling windows look over the lake, the Pumphouse building (which dates back to 1940 and has a series of suites, most fully booked on any given weekend) and a set of epic snowcapped mountains. Despite the view, you’ll find it’s tucked behind just enough trees to retain your privacy – especially important when taking to the outdoor tub with wine in hand.

Dreamed up by one of the original developers of Pumphouse and JAWS Architects (also responsible for the sustainable cabin stays peppered along another Tasmanian wonder, the Three Capes Track), the Retreat has quickly become one of the most enviable stays on the island. Inside, you’ll find all the contemporary finishes you’d expect a city apartment to have (copper sinks, a freestanding bath, rain shower and clever lighting panels) married with wares resulting from a mindful approach that’s typical of the area and those who inhabit it. Think twin Jardan armchairs made of Tasmanian timber and Australian merino upholstery perched in front of a fireplace, a bed you could swim in custom-made by Launceston-based furniture designer Simon Ancher, and a myriad of other locally-sourced, ethically-produced pieces – all the way down to face masks sourced from local apothecary Fig + Elm.

That careful consideration extends to the edible, with delicacies from the island, hand-picked by staff, and a list of local wine, beers and spirits. If you can bear to leave your room, guests congregate nightly for shared dinners in front of the fire. Heaven.