Know Before You Go: Saffire Freycinet (Tasmania, Australia)
Be prepared for otherworldly beauty like you’ve never seen before. We came for the stunning natural setting and sleek design, and were blown away by the dining program, staff service, and wide array of unique all-inclusive activities (Tasmanian devil encounters, oyster farming, beekeeping, winery visits, etc.). This property, the experiences we had while here, the countless thoughtful touches, and the wonderful people we encountered, all surprised and delighted us at every turn.
OVERALL RATING
💛💛💛💛💛
Exceptional
Overview
At-a-Glance
Date of stay: May 2018
Length of stay: 2 night / 3 days (*booked 3 nights, but lost 1 night due to weather-related flight delays)
Trip type: Couples trip
Property type: Boutique luxury wilderness lodge
Tailor-made for: Outdoor / experience enthusiasts, gourmands, those who desire a personal and intimate travel experience
Highlights
Raw, seemingly untouched beauty of the setting
Stunning architectural beauty of the property
The staff experience, especially the Saffire-Wolgan crossover gift
The food and wine program
The activities, especially the hike to Wineglass Bay and the Tasmanian devil encounter
The perfectly-designed suite with the priceless view
Good to Know
There is a beach, but no pool here
Lunch service is somewhat limited
Stay was far too short -- we were nowhere near ready to leave
—
Location & Setting
💛💛💛💛💛
When we landed at Hobart (HBT) airport, we were promptly greeted by the driver of the car service we booked through the hotel and invited to take refreshment in the Saffire Freycinet private airport lounge before beginning our 3-hour car journey. We had just gotten our second wind and declined in order to press onward; however, we took advantage of the lounge on the way back, and it was fantastic. After a winding journey through Tasmanian towns, rugged countryside, pristine beaches, and black-swan-filled lakes, we finally arrived at the naturally- and architecturally-stunning property overlooking the Freycinet Peninsula and Hazards Mountains.
—
Property & Grounds
💛💛💛💛💛
Saffire Freycinet is an all-inclusive, design-focused luxury lodge on Tasmania's Eastern Coast with just 20 spacious guest suites. Saffire offers a full-service day spa, ample onsite and offsite activities (many of which are included in the all-inclusive rate), a beach, a fitness center, a restaurant, a bar/lounge, in-room dining, small boutique, kitchen garden, lots of indoor and outdoor relaxation spaces, and a Tasmanian devil preservation center. Saffire Freycinet, and all of Tasmania, is a birders paradise — there are no natural predators left on the island. The property also offers an extension of the Saffire experience at Hobart airport via their private airport lounge (open 9-5 daily), available to guests on arrival and at departure. The lounge is well-stocked with refreshments, fruit, and snacks. There is also a shower room, TV, Wi-Fi, computer, and reading materials available in the lounge.
—
Room
💛💛💛💛💛
We booked a Luxury Suite. At check-in, we happily discovered we had been upgraded to a Signature Suite (which came with added terrace and bath overlooking Great Oyster Bay). The suite was well-stocked with snacks, fruit, wine and beer, juices, sodas, and waters -- all included in the room rate. The views from the suite and terrace were mesmerizing, making it hard to leave the room, despite all the compelling experiences awaiting us outside. The luxurious bathroom had dual showers, heated floors, and a bath with incredible views.
—
Service
💛💛💛💛💛
Service here was a highlight. Staff interactions were truly outstanding from our pre-arrival interactions to our post-departure experience. The staff were adept at connecting with us on a human level and made us feel like we were their most frequent, most favorite guests, even though it was our first stay, and a very short stay at that.
An example: when we were checking out at Saffire, the GM of Saffire, Ross, was arriving back from a Luxury Lodges of Australia GM conference at the property we were headed to next (Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley) and he kindly offered us some great insights from his stay. Later, when we arrived at Wolgan, we discovered Ross had called the GM at Wolgan, James, ahead of our arrival and as a result, Wolgan greeted us with a special welcome bottle of wine as a gift from both the GMs. This was an incredibly memorable way for us to end our stay at one property and begin our stay at the other.
—
Dining
💛💛💛💛💛
The dining venues at Saffire emphasized quality over quantity with well-curated, local-ingredient-focused menus:
Palate Restaurant - serving breakfast and dinner, the restaurant offered daily-changing menus, including multi-course degustation menus with optional wine pairings or a la carte menu for dinner
The Lounge - serving lunch, canapés, and drinks. Lunch typically consisted of various buffet-style options and two served entree options each day
In-Room Dining
The dining venues at Saffire are open only to overnight guests so the vibe is very intimate. The food at every dining venue was expertly-prepared and delicious, served up with professional, gracious service.
—
Family Services & Amenities
💛💛💛💛
If the Tasmanian devil enclosure and all the activities on offer (see below) are not enough to keep kids entertained, Saffire offers a book of games, puzzles and challenges for children aged 7 to 13. Kids of all ages can also take advantage of board games, beach games, kite flying, Nintendo Wii, quoits (rings), treasure hunt, craft activities and children’s bikes.
—
Activities
💛💛💛💛💛
Though the lodge may be small, the number of activities offered to Saffire guests were many and varied. Unlike some all-inclusive properties that offer limited activities as part of the all-inclusive rate, Saffire offers many high-quality complimentary activities in addition to the half-day and full-day signature experiences (additional charge). Pictured here is Devil’s Corner winery from the lodge’s winery excursion.
-
Experiences and activities included Tasmanian devil encounters, winery tours, guided hikes and walks, visits to a marine oyster farm, archery, beekeeping, kayaking and bird-watching, fly-fishing, quad bike tours (four-wheeling), cruises and water excursions, cooking demonstrations, mixology, and bespoke Tasmania tours, among others.
We did the Tasmanian devil encounter, winery tour, and guided hike to Wineglass Bay and found all of them to be worthwhile, unique experiences.
The hike to Wineglass Bay was a highlight and our guide was fantastic. She brought waters and snacks for us in her backpack.
We had booked the marine oyster farm experience as well, but had to cancel this due to our flight delays.
A short walk down a resort path led to a hard-packed beach overlooking Great Oyster Bay. The beach is well-suited to runs and walks. Though the beach is public and unattended, Saffire provides folding beach chairs for guest use.
—
Wellness
💛💛💛💛
We had booked a couple's massage at the Spa for what was supposed to be our second day at the property, but ended up being our first day at the property due to the weather-related flight cancellation. The spa was small but well-designed and well-appointed. The couple's spa treatment room was a nice size and had floor-to-ceiling panoramic glass-paneled doors overlooking a private, scenic courtyard. The treatment was wonderful with an atmosphere to match.
There was no pool at this property, which was its only real downside, from our view.
—
Wow Factor
💛💛💛💛💛
This place was a continuous stream of “wow” from the moment we arrived at the airport until the moment we departed, and every moment in-between (and even after we left, given the lovely surprise waiting for us at our next property thanks to the thoughtfulness of the resort’s GM).
—
Value
💛💛💛💛+
The value equation here is quite good, but comes with a hefty price tag. The dining and wine program here is exceptional — especially for an all-inclusive property — and the resort offers an impressive array of unique activities included in the rate. Everything here feels as though it is done with the greatest care and highest quality, but without pretense. For Americans, the favorable USD to AUD exchange rate makes the value here go even further.
—
Overall
💛💛💛💛💛
This place was perfection — substance, style, and experience all rolled into one dreamy stay. We were encouraged to return with the kids someday, and to reach out to the resort directly in advance should we do so. Meantime, we will wait and dream…
Rating Legend*
💛💛💛💛💛 Exceptional
💛💛💛💛 Notable
💛💛💛 Standard
💛💛 Substandard
💛 Unsatisfactory
*All ratings are relative to similar-class properties
