Barnbougle Lost Farm hotel review, Tasmania: Beautiful coastlines, outstanding golf courses and wineries

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This was published 4 years ago

Barnbougle Lost Farm hotel review, Tasmania: Beautiful coastlines, outstanding golf courses and wineries

By Belinda Jackson
Updated
Barnbougle Dunes has 22 two-bedroom cottages, three four-bedroom villas, and a two-bedroom ocean villa.

Barnbougle Dunes has 22 two-bedroom cottages, three four-bedroom villas, and a two-bedroom ocean villa.Credit: Gary Lisbon

THE LOCATION

Barnbougle Dunes arrived on Australia's golf scene in December 2004 and its little sister, Lost Farm, opened in 2010. The two courses sit side-by-side on Tasmania's wild north-east coast, five minutes from the charming seaside village of Bridport. Golf Australia rates the course at Barnbougle second in Australia and Lost Farm, third. In 2018, US Golf Digest rated them 11th and 26th in the world.

THE PLACE

A room at Lost Farm.

A room at Lost Farm.Credit: Barnbougle

Barnbougle Dunes' accommodation includes 22 two-bedroom cottages, three four-bedroom villas, and a two-bedroom ocean villa. Lost Farm's eco-lodge has 50 suites, a mix of queen doubles and queen singles. Both have their own clubhouse and restaurant, and Lost Farm's gem is its tiny spa, which overlooks the sand dunes and the 15th hole.

Ease those aching muscles with a dip in the magnesium pool and a massage featuring West Australian Sodashi products. Then spend some time with Jaclyn Harris, a skilled naturopath lured back home to Tasmania from Dubai's swank Madinat Jumeirah, who will set you on the path to good health.

The environment is wild and natural, little wallabies skip over the greens and you may well have the beach to yourself.

Lost Farm's spa and restaurant are set on the highest point of the course and their ocean-facing walls are all glass. In the restaurant, deep sofas catch the morning sun and are the ideal spot for a drink while watching the sun set. Over at Barnbougle, the clubhouse lives up to its name, with leather sofas, a roasting fire and busy coffee machine. Memorabilia and excellent information panels tell of the region's maritime history.

THE ROOM

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Look, you're here to play golf, and the guest rooms in Lost Farm reflect that. While my double queen suite is vast, the decor is distinctly blokey, with dark, sensible colours and bathroom lighting that, if you wear make-up, may send you out looking like a clown. The two queen beds face big-screen TVs, there's tea and coffee and a shared guest laundry. I even find an iron and board in the cupboard. Luckily, the views save the room: full-length windows look out onto the dunes and Anderson Bay, or back over the vivid green course hemmed by scenic hills. Wild winds make it impossible to spend any time on the small balcony.

The magnesium bath at Lost Farm's spa.

The magnesium bath at Lost Farm's spa.

THE FOOD

I'm looking out toward Ninth Island, so feel a powerful need to kick off with a Ninth Island sparkling white. The meals at Lost Farm's restaurant are generous and feature plenty of Tasmanian fare: sweet little scallops, Huon ocean trout, lamb from Flinders Island and Cape Grim beef, which is supplied by Barnbougle's farm. This being Tassie, the cheese platter is a delight: South Cape triple cream brie, Ashgrove vintage cheddar and a Flinders Island blue. The vodka, the gin and quite a few of the wines are also deliciously local, and the wine room is a lush's delight. My sole criticism: please fix the music. One CD is not enough.

STEPPING OUT

Given its ratings, golfers have no real reason to leave the property. Two of Australia's best sparkling wine producers, Jansz and Piper's Brook, are 30 minutes' drive away and Bridport's cute Inspirations & Destinations, a homewares cafe on Main Street, is worth a look.

THE VERDICT

This is not just a place to please golfers. The easy walks around the courses, over the dunes and along the beach are beautiful, there are wineries galore and the small spa is top of its class. Golfers, you already know you want to visit.

ESSENTIALS

Rooms at Barnbougle Dunes from $185 a night, twin share. Rooms at Lost Farm from $225 a night, twin share. See barnbougle.com.au, discovertasmania.com.au

Belinda Jackson was a guest of Barnbougle Dunes and Spirit of Tasmania.

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