The Arrival
We are a party of two couples: myself & Mr G and our foodie friends Mitch and Gemma in search of a luxury gateway to Cradle Mountain. The drive from Davenport has the imposing Mount Roland as our navigation system. We drive down gravel driveways. Pull up our cars and simply open the door, no keys, or codes just a handle to paradise. This is Nest II.
I immediately understand the assignment: stop, stare, breathe. This is not a home. This is a front-row seat to nature’s most cinematic performance. On a world stage of amazing places to stay, my travel writing has taken me all over the world, this place is in my top five.
Their Story – Des, Dianne and Sheree
In 1973 Des and his wife Dianne bought 117 hectares of land for dairy and cropping. Little did they know the sanctuary they would create 40 years later, which would see couples get engaged, married, anniversaries celebrated and people healed through peace and nature.
Eagles Nest I was first, then our house (#2) and two more followed. Today their daughter Sheree runs the houses. Through the build they collected an amazing group of local talent: joiners, woodworkers, landscapers, all have left their toil, personality and an imprint on the place which is Eagles Nest.
When you have property with views like this, to share it with others is one thing, but to share it weaved with your own memories, travels, art, sculptures and beloved collectables from journeys through Africa, Asia and beyond means this is a personal place to share with the world, and now us…
The ‘Wow’ House – Eagles Nest II
Eagles Nest II is the flagsip property. Wowsers. I am hit with the gravitas of this building. It’s naked, vast, commanding and intimidating in the best possible way. Mount Roland is centred directly in front of us. This is the nature lovers streaming channel, except there is no remote and absolutely no bad programming.
This is one quirky house. Many Airbnb owners with these views would create a neutral home. Not here. If Dame Edna went travelling to Africa, lived in Cambodia and beyond, this is the personality it would have. Bold, confident and wonderfully eclectic. The heart of the home is all open plan; a vibrant magenta kitchen with stainless steel tops sets a colour tone for a bespoke dining table created from the branches of a tree which is Sheree’s inspiration. A mustard yellow wall sweeps skyward with a curved staircase to an Arabian reading loft stacked with books. Floors are covered in woven mats, there are cushions and red drapes which creates a sensual escape. It is one step closer to the heavens.
It also doubles as a fantastic viewing platform for all wildlife, especially our resident platypus. Mr G dedicates a few hours to this each day and yes we do spot a trail of bubbles, a tail flick and see him! or her?
The central living area has a gravitational force which brings everyone together. It feels architectural yet cosy, dramatic without being showy. Every window frame has something worth looking at, Mount Roland, a cow contemplating existence and oh, meet Madonna: an affectionately pointy-boobed African statue so beloved by the family that the architects had to create a purpose-built nook for her. She gets her own alcove. Respect. If I had boobs that iconic, I’d demand architectural accommodation too.
The Bedrooms: Choose your own global adventure
The eternal Airbnb dilemma when you holiday with friends looms: Who gets the master bedroom? Cue the awkward dance of “No, No YOU take it”.
None of that drama here. There are two master bedrooms. Two generous suites sit on opposite sides of the main living space like elegant wings of an eagle. We’re separated by our own corridors and at least two doors, which means everyone gets their own sanctuary. We love Mitch and Gemma deeply, but is it more fun pretending we are the only people on earth in a house this stunning.
Bedroom One: The Africa Room
We are in the Africa Room. It’s warm, grounding, with a king-size bed that’s outclassed by a stunning standalone spa bath which takes the better part of an hour to fill, but Sheree’s thought of everything: bath salts, lavender toiletries from a Tassie specialist. My hair, hands, and body are now a tribute band to this flower. The shower hides behind a slate wall, which leads to an outdoor shower for the brave and the bold.
The views are breathtaking, and there are zero apologies for immersing us in nature. No curtains. No blinds. Just us , the mountain, and whatever wildlife might be watching; a cow (of the animal kind), a finch, magpie, pademelon (thats a wallaby not a kind of fruit). Eye masks are essential and Sheree has epic ones if you need backup. Sleep is quiet, soundtracked by the land, sky, and a local frog choir.
Bedroom Two: The Asia Room
Mitch and Gemma settle into the Asia Room. It is similar in scale and impact, with an Asian-style deep bath, lake views, and a huge shower cubicle. Both rooms have king-size beds. Both deliver. And yes, neither has curtains. We’re all in this curtain-less life together.
There’s also a third bedroom just off the living area called the Mountain Room. It’s smaller, less grand, and one morning Mr G emerges from it looking rather too smug. “It has curtains,” he announces, like he’s discovered electricity…
Day One – Massages & Sunsets
A great way to start a holiday is by relaxing. After being on the road for a few hours, there are few sights better than Mount Roland, other than two massage therapists walking up the drive! They arrive and set up their tables in our bedroom, (though we could have chosen the alfresco option). In minutes we are facedown and listening to the soundtrack of Jane Eyre whilst Helen’s magic hands delivers a perfect Sweedish massage. There’s no effort as we roll off the bed and into the lounge area.
It’s not long before Mitch pops a bottle of Tamar Ridge PIRIE Sparkling. We clink glasses as Gemma gets to work in the kitchen. It’s fantastically equiped. We have champagne glasses, white wine glasses, water and red wine and whisky glasses. As couples who love to cook there are plates, platters, cooking utensils all from the Sheree god! She’s even stocked the pantry with herbs, asian sauces, housemade muesli, Tassie cheese, yoghurt and fresh Leaping Goat Coffee. Gemma is Italian, and whips up a mean prawn spaghetti. We settle in around the large dinner table, share plates, drink wine and sink deeper into the rhythm of the house.
We take a bootle of Pinot Noir to the lakeside, crunching across white gravel and behaving exactly like people in a luxury travel ad who have no real jobs.The frogs are chirping their evening opera, and we’re greeted with the most insane performance by the sunset – blue, purple, red, crimson. No Photoshop. No filter. Tassie is a ridiculous show off. We watch the edge of the universe go to sleep and feel grateful.
Day Two – Cradle Mountain, Sheffield’s Murals & BBQ life
Morning sunrise rolls in like dry ice on a theatre stage. Light shifts. Weather performs with a lovely sunny morning. I find myself glued to the glass, coffee almost going cold, because honestly, how rude is it to miss a scene change?
Mr G, M&G are out early, driving 40 mins to Cradle Mountain. The destination is Marion’s Look Out, starting at Ronny Creek and taking the overland trail up past Crater Lake, it’s 3 hours of trekking with a hard climb up to Marions Look Out. I opt for the easier day which is our backyard, around the surrounds of Mount Roland and our property. I meet our new neighbours, a mighty fine herd of seriously good looking cows. There’s something magical and grounding meeting these huge creatures with their fouls nuzzling mum for more milk which is why udders were invented.
Outside, wrens bob about like they have places to be. House martins are madly feeding their chicks from a nest created in the eaves of the outside Moroccan Hammock nook. There is movement everywhere when I slow down enough to notice it. I consider the outdoor spa bath, positioned for maximum romance, briefly imagine the logistics, and instead head down the road to Sheffield. Its a famous tourist attraction known as the ‘Town of Murals’ it’s an absolutely gorgeous with over 160 murals. Who knew? If only more of Australian regional towns could be like this.
The guys return early in the evening, smelly, happy and full of beans and in need of a shower and good food. They had the BEST day.
Mr G is on BBQ duty, cooking a Tomahawk steak like a true Aussie, while Mitch, our honorary Boy Scout, reveals an alarming natural talent for lighting fires (who knew?) as we ceremoniously christen the fire pit. Mr G has clocked a thoughtful tub of marshmallows tucked into a drawer, practically begging to be toasted. Nothing says “I’ve achieved peak relaxation” quite like sitting by a fire, wine in hand, calmly watching my marshmallow catch fire…
Day Three – Dove Lake & Dream Chef Cynthia
We’re off again to Cradle Mountain. I immediately begin cursing our so-called four-wheel drive, which handles like a non-responsive sofa on wheels. Every corner fills me with the quiet certainty that we’re about to tip over. The weather takes a turn, rain pours down, and we wait for the National Park bus to ferry us to our starting point.
Despite the gloom, the walk is spectacular. Immaculately maintained pathways weave in and out of the trees, hugging the lake’s edge. We stop at small beaches, gawp at impossibly pretty views, and I start recognising most of the “natives” from my local florist, now seen in their natural habitat.
We head back early because tonight is a pure treat: our private chef is coming to cook for us. We’re dressed for dinner when the power goes out. No power also means no water. Including toilets. Brief panic. Then luxury does what luxury does. Within half an hour, Chris and a squadron of helpers arrive with a generator and calm competence, and we’re back in business.
Chef Cynthia arrives unfazed, and immediately gets to work. The meal is exceptional. We’d each pre-selected our own starter, main and dessert, a level of personalisation that is wildly decadent. Cynthia, we learn, is an avid gardener, and it shows on the plate with many of the herbs and veggies being picked that day from her garden which makes the entire experience more personal.
I kick off with a beautiful mushroom soup rich and creamy. Mitch opts for wallaby kofta balls (the national emblem, apparently), while the rest go for an elegant salmon rösti. My creamy chicken main is outstanding, as is a generous slab of pork loin and steak, the side of magestic roast veggies take centre stage. Desserts of apple and rhubarb crumble are almost universally ordered and disappear in record time.
Dining in a restaurant is something most of us do, but to have a private chef share their stories, hum away in the kitchen, cook, clean up and disappear Wicked-style, is quite simply…magical. Which quite frankly sums up our stay.
The Verdict
What are we Addicted to? An impossibly beautiful house with impossibly beautiful views, set in an undiscovered part of Tasmania. I searched for a luxury stay near Cradle Mountain and kept coming back to the same question: why pay a premium for a bedroom when you can stay in a house with space, privacy, a private chef and your own spa team for a fraction of the price? Eagles Nest II isn’t just a place to stay; it’s a memory I will carry with me long after I leave.
What do we need to be more Addicted? We were lucky that the weather that was warm. They have underfloor heating in the main living area, my concern is how cold it could be in the winter and what control you have if its not warm enough. They have electric blankets, however, there is only a tiny wall mounted heater in the bedroom. Come prepared with good eye masks or your sleep will be disrupted.
Eagles Nest – Luxury Accomodation in Australia. 49 Browns Rd, West Kentish, Tasmania