Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge: Smart design in a spectacular setting

Tasmania seems to have its heart set on beating Scandinavia when it comes to smart design in spectacular natural settings. With the latest bid, Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge, the Tasmanians might have their noses in front.

Freycinet Lodge sprawls among a few acres of bush inside Tasmania's Freycinet National Park, with its Hazards Mountain Range leaping up over the waters of Great Oyster Bay on one side and the state's East Coast on the other.

The lodge and its accommodation units were built in the 1990s; the Coastal Pavilions replace some of the units on the edge of the bay. Their designers are Tasmanian and so are the ingredients, with extensive oak and ironbark timber panelling adding to their sense of nature.

The proportions are generous, in bedroom, bathroom and lounge areas, with floor to ceiling glass to make the most of the views from the inside and a big deck (complete with sunken bath) to enjoy it all on the outside.

Rather than a balustrade, the decks have cargo-style nets around their edge to catch any falls and also act as a handy hammock.

​There are nine Coastal Pavilions by the bay, three of them with water views. In June, six more Pavilions will open with views to the spectacular Hazards mountain peaks – four single bedroom, like the Coastal Pavilions, and two family-size, two-bedroom pavilions.

There are beach and mountain walks nearby and sea and land tours, but the pavilions are so cleverly conceived, guests couldn't be blamed for just staying put.

​From $549 a night, bed and breakfast with further discounts for auto club members. See freycinetlodge.com.au

​Jim Darby was a guest of Freycinet Lodge.