Unwind in a charming beachside retreat at Surveyor's Cottage. Tucked into a gentle outcrop, the house, though modest, has direct and easy access to sand and sea, with sublime views of the bay and distant mountains. A captivating location to recharge, delight in the inescapable presence of the changing sky and the sound of the rolling surf is a constant companion.
THE SPACE
Located 70 minutes drive south of Hobart, Surveyor's Cottage is far enough to feel like a getaway. The house is one of only a handful of 'shacks'/homes located on the beach side. These humble buildings were originally used as fruit packing sheds, where the bounty of the Huon Valley would be packed and shipped to Hobart. The remains of an old jetty pylon, weathered and sunk to the bottom of the sea, can still be seen by swimmers or from a kayak. Today, some of these packing sheds have been restored for comfortable living, but still preserve much of their character.
The house has direct beach access and with it's elevated position, you will feel as if you are floating above the sea yet it's only metres to feel the sand beneath your feet.
The restored beach shack includes:
- two bedrooms (1 queen, 2 singles),
- bathroom with over-head shower and hand-held shower,
- full kitchen including auto espresso machine grinding fresh coffee beans. You will also have access to a kitchen garden growing seasonal herbs, vegetables and raspberries,
- a spacious north facing sunroom with oversized chairs and lounge to take in the dreamy coastal landscape of Southern Tasmania.
- an outdoor shower to rinse the sand and sea-water after a dip in the ocean. Wetsuits recommended in winter but locals have been spotted swimming without such gear.
- a wood heater for cooler nights and reverse cycle air-conditioning for those warmer days (yes it can get hot even in this part of Tassie),
- compact gas Weber BBQ stove for easy meals,
- sheltered carport to make packing & unpacking comfortable should the weather turn,
- laundry for longer stays or families with kids or if you've been road tripping around the state.
Guest access
- Excellent opportunities for swimming, paddle boarding, snorkelling, kayaking, boating and fishing in the calm bay.
- Safe swimming beach with with pristine white sand, perfect for castle building
- A pebble beach right beneath you, making this feel like your own private beach. Rock scrambling involved.
- At low tides, explore the myriad of rockpools and marine life. Discover the cave at one end of the beach and the hidden beaches beyond - only accessible during low tides. If you are venturing there, you must keep your eyes out on the tides to avoid getting stranded.
- We provide 2 children sized kayaks for use during your stay. These are located beneath the outdoor deck. Please return them back to their place.
- A yellow canoe (seats 2) is also available at the public reserve for anyone to use (free). Again, treat these with care and return where you found them.
- During summer, there is a diving pontoon (with water slide) in the bay, this is privately owned (not ours) but the owners are generous enough to share, use at your own risk.
- Public boat ramp/jetty - a lovely spot to take the kids fishing or launch your boat. A little walking track adjacent to the property will get you there in less than a minute.
- Surveyor's Cottage is a convenient base to explore the outstanding bushwalking tracks of Tasmania's far south. It is a long list but start with the Hartz Mountains National Park, Hastings Caves and the SouthWest National Park - all are part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Other things to note:
SUPPLIES:
As you meander your way through the Huon Valley, discover the gorgeous fresh produce available throughout the region. From Huonville through to Dover, you can sample seasonal fruits including fat juicy berries and sweet cherries in summer and crisp apples most of the year. Feast on delicious local honey, cool climate wines, cider and wild caught fish and crays straight from the fishermen's boat. We recommend you stock up on these straight from the producers or the roadside stores dotted along the highway.
If you run out of time or find that you've not managed to leave the place once you've arrived, Woolworths (supermarket) in Huonville will deliver all your grocery needs to the address. Order online early as delivery windows gets filled quickly.
OUR PANTRY:
A basic pantry stocking: whole roasted coffee beans for the auto coffee machine, black and herbal teas, condiments & olive oil. Please stop by the local stores for the rest of your supplies (Huonville, Geeveston or Dover)
KITCHEN GARDEN:
You are welcome to our humble small kitchen garden. We grow fresh herbs, seasonal vegetables and an established raspberry patch. Don't forget to close the garden gates, the local wallabies and rabbits love our patch as much as we do. Unfortunately the possum has no respect for the gates and we are still trying to figure a way to deter her.
OTHER:
A small family of Tassie devils is known to reside beneath one of the neighbouring shacks, they have apparently developed an appetite for shoes! If you've left yours outside at night, don't be surprised to find holes in them the next day or even missing entirely.
