VINE TIME ON EAST COAST
Whether you stay with friends in the house or choose a cute couples cabin, this waterfront hideaway is a great base for exploring the East Coast
One of the best views in Tasmania unfolds before you as you sit back in the comfort of a huge day bed and soak in the serenity at Hamptons on the Bay, just south of Swansea.
Sitting on 4ha are seven cabins neatly tucked away among trees and on the bank of the coast, but the jewel is an expansive threebedroom house with commanding views of the coast across to Freycinet Pensinula. The beautiful spot was once known as Kabuki by the Sea.
From the vantage point of a huge day bed in the loungeroom of the house, you can look directly along the East Coast, down on the rocky shore as the rolling surf crashes into rocks, or just out towards the horizon.
From the balcony, you can watch dolphins swim by. During the migratory season, it is also possible to see whales from here.
Accommodation is self-catering, but everything else is provided: towels, bed linen and toiletries. Just bring your meals to cook in the superbly appointed kitchen, or go with the up-market shack feel by barbecuing on the Ziegler & Brown cooker on the deck. Then sit down at the 10-seater table, warmed by the wood-burning heater, to dine while enjoying company and soaking in the view.
We barbecued steak on the deck both evenings while enjoying a beverage. How much more relaxing does it get? We fried our eggs and bacon al fresco in the morning, too. There’s a great firepit for cooler days.
The house is ideal for a weekend away or a longer stay for three couples, with each beautifully appointed bedroom having an ensuite. You can watch the waves roll into shore from the shower, the hypnotic sound of the ocean helping to wash away the stress.
Swansea is about 10 minutes up the road for extra supplies and it’s easy to grab some of Tasmania’s best wines, with award-winning vineyards Kelvedon Estate, Milton, Spring Vale, Gala Estate and Devil’s Corner all within a 30-minute drive.
I took a spin out to Milton Vineyard, north of Swansea, which was voted Vineyard of the Year in 2017. Producing cool-climate wines including sparkling, white, rose, red and dessert varieties, it is best known for its pinot noir. We enjoyed a pinot gris in the lovely tasting area overlooking a small lake.
We also visited Melshell Oysters at Dolphin Sands (9km down Dolphin Sands Rd, turn left into Yellow Sandbanks Rd and drive all the way to the jetty). It has a cute caravan where we bought freshly shucked oysters to eat on the sandbank overlooking the water. There are also tables near the van. (Open daily 10am4pm, but closed in August.)
An afternoon walk around the bay at Swansea was made even more enjoyable with hot chips from Salt Shaker Cafe.
We saved a visit to Kate’s Berry Farm, known for its preserves and other sweet treats, for our next trip.
We recommend guests arrive at Hamptons on the Bay in daylight, as there’s a quick turnoff on the right on the brow of the hill that would be easy to miss by night. Daylight will give you a chance to familiarise yourself with the lie of the land, too.
The visitors’ book inscriptions are testament to many enjoyable stays, with many enraptured by the serenity and peace that this retreat brings. The writer was a guest of Hamptons on the Bay