TARRALEAH ESTATE
Danny Spelic satisfies all tastes in the heart of Tasmania’s Central Highlands.
Situated on a high plateau overlooking the Tasmanian wilderness and only 1.5 hours drive from Hobart, Tarraleah Estate is a holiday and fishing destination with something for everyone.

Originally a Hydro village created during the construction of the Tungatinah and Tarraleah power stations, Tarraleah was once considered to be the capital of central Tasmania and was home to more than 2000 residents. Remnants of those bygone days still linger today with original building facades still giving the place that highland village feel.

As the saying goes however, you should never judge a book by its cover. The old dwellings have been restored and Tarraleah has been transformed into a multi-million-dollar tourist development. From the luxurious high-end Lodge through to the restored cottages, caravan park and converted school house, Tarraleah now caters to every budget and taste.

The caravan park supports powered and unpowered sites and has a full communal kitchen facility. The cottages are fully self-contained and are perfect for a family getaway. They are spacious and well appointed, and comfortably sleep up to 6 people. One of the larger cottages, known as ‘The Last Bunk’ can sleep up to 21 people. It contains a fully equipped kitchen and reading room, making it perfect for club groups, back-packers and the like.

A little further up the road you will find Scholars House. This is the original school house, which has now been converted into contemporary, apartment-style units. The communal chef’s kitchen and lounge/dining facility gives it that ski-lodge feel, which makes it ideal for groups, families and couples.

If you really want to indulge, the boutique luxury lodge is for you. Situated high on a hilltop overlooking the Nive River valley, the Lodge has 7 rooms and accommodates a maximum of 14 guests. All rooms contain custom-crafted king-sized beds, silk filled doonas and mohair throws, internal spas, heated floors, plasma screens and the finest in bespoke furniture. If you are a single malt whisky connoisseur, there are a staggering 160 varieties from which to choose. If you prefer wine, the ‘wall of wine’ will have over 300 varieties, rivalling some of the best cellars in the country.

The lodge’s lounge and bar is the ideal place to enjoy pre dinner drinks in front of the open fire or to sit back and relax with a book after dinner. The Wildside Restaurant provides lodge guests with the finest in fresh Tasmanian produce and the chef interaction tops off a truly fine dining experience. Before retiring for the night, the cliff top hot tub provides welcome relief after a hard day out on the water.

Meals can also be purchased from the village café (Café Teez) as well as the Highlander Arms pub for those wanting a hearty meal without the lodge price tag. Lunch hampers and take-away breakfasts can be arranged for those wanting to hit the water early.

As far as fishing goes, more than 20 lakes are readily accessible in the area including Bronte, Bradys and Binney to name just a few. Several rivers are also a stone’s throw away including the Nive, where a 20 lb brown trout was recently captured by a local. For all your tackle requirements and guiding services, there is a fully equipped G.Loomis Pro Store on site (as well as a small convenience store and souvenir shop) and expert guiding is provided by Ken Orr and his team.

Other activities include golf, kayaking, mountain biking, wildlife and waterfall walks, and there is a fully equipped fitness centre and squash court for those with energy to burn. To sum it up, Tarraleah has everything you need, and more.

See www.tarraleah.com for price and booking information.