3 New Ways to Luxuriate in Tasmania

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed)
May 28th 2010 at 11:02AM

Tasmania, Australia's southernmost island state, is positioning itself for a luxury tourism boom -- at least judging by the number of new projects in the works.

I've already told you about two of Tassie's most prominent new projects: Saffire, a new boutique hotel and resort on the Freycinet Peninsula, and MONA, a new art museum that will be the largest private art collection in the southern hemisphere.

Another newcomer to put on your radar: Harmony Hill, a spa that's opening in Margate, which is just about 15 miles south of Hobart. Harmony Hill aims to be a wellness spa with a distinctive Asian flair. (Amie Nakamura, the owner is Japanese.) The spa relies exclusively on organic products, manufactured by Nakamura, and its eco-foot print will be small -- it uses solar energy, rain water, recycles grey water, and so on.

Gallery: Harmony Hill, New Day Spa in Tasmania

I visited just as the spa was preparing to open, so I can't comment on the quality of the spa treatments, which look to be comprehensive -- the menu includes a full range of massage, facials, and body treatments, many with an ayurvedic component. But I can confirm that the spa was designed to make the most of its commanding ridgetop view -- the yoga room is particularly charming, with a diamond shaped skylight.

There are accommodations cottages on site, but they're a bit basic -- or, if you'd like, supportive of the "simpler life". If you'd like your night life more complicated by luxury, book into Harmony Hill for a full day retreat which includes pick up and drop off at a Hobart-area hotel. (The Henry Jones Art Hotel, say, or The Islington.) You'll get a body work class, a body treatment, a massage, a sauna or herbal bath plus a spa lunch for $380 Australian per person, two person minimum.

Tourism Tasmania and Tourism Australia sponsored my visit, but I'm jaded and this doesn't affect my critical faculties in the slightest. Opinions are 100% my own.

Tags: hotels, luxury real estate, spa, spas, tasmania