Country Retreats Take Many Forms
The Age
Friday September 2, 1994
ONE of the attractions of a Tasmanian touring holiday is the chance to stay in many different types of accommodation including historic mansions and more modest weatherboard colonial cottages and farmhouses.
Many of the owners of these grand homes, cottages and farmhouses have banded together to promote themselves as a group and to offer a central reservations service.
For example, a group of six establishments has gathered under the banner of Gourmet Getaways, offering a high standard of accommodation and dining. One of these is Lucinda in the historic township of Latrobe, near Devonport.
Perched on a hillside overlooking the town, the century-old home has a licensed restaurant that specialises in Tasmanian seafood and game.
Another accommodation group, Tasmanian Country Retreats, represents about 35 properties around the state.
Among the retreats are weatherboard colonial cottages and farmhouses, National Trust and federation brick houses, log cabins and modern stone, mudbrick, timber, and solar-powered country houses. They all offer private facilities, whether in the hosts's own home, or partly or fully self-contained.
One of the retreats is Carinya, a 20-hectare sheep and cattle farm in Sheffield in the rich north-west coast farmlands, which is close to Cradle Mountain and Lake Barrington.
Carinya offers two modern self-contained cottages for $80 a double including breakfast. A hearty home-cooked dinner can be provided by arrangement in advance.
The hosts are Garry and Christine Sutton and their three children, who can provide useful knowledge about local attractions, especially as Garry is a parks and wildlife ranger.
© 1994 The Age
