Pumphouse Point
Stunning Scenery and Unsurpassed Serenity!
If you are looking for a peaceful break away in an absolutely beautiful part of the world then look no further than Pumphouse Point. We had our booking to look forward to for most of the year - we booked in January and visited for a three night stay in August. We were hoping for snow but were treated to seeing it frosting the nearby mountains without having to trek through it on our walks.
The room was amazing. We booked an accessible room and were delighted to find that this was one of their more deluxe rooms - on the top floor of the pumphouse building and with gorgeous views over the lake. The room was very spacious and had a HUGE bathroom. There was a shower and a bath - I was rapt as I love a bath!! The bath was also positioned so that you could sit with a glass of bubbles in hand and stare at the lake whilst soaking in the delightful bath salts provided. All of the bathroom products smell delicious and felt luxurious to use. We requested a shower chair and they happily provided a range of options so that John could select the best one for his use. There was also a Dyson hair dryer - OMG, I want to buy one of these! Best hairdryer ever!! John rated the bathroom as one of the best we have ever stayed in for wheelchair access.
Our room was spacious and had a lovely lounge area, perfect for a picnic with goodies from the larder. Each room has a kitchenette space packed with local produce - cheese, meats, olives, pate - and guests can call up for freshly baked bread, which is delivered on the hour, to complete the lunch. There is also a backpack with everything you need to pack a picnic lunch to take on one of the many hikes around the lake if you are so inclined.
There is a lovely range of local wines available to purchase, both in the rooms and at their numerous honesty bars, where you can sit by the fire and while away the hours watching the ever-changing lake. The bed was huge and very comfortable. There was not enough room to get the wheelchair alongside the bed so John had to slide from the end to get into bed but the view was worth it!
The pumphouse building is at the end of the flume(jetty)which can make it quite an adventure getting to and from meals each day in the weather. Breakfast and dinner is served each day in the dining room of the shorehouse. The weather was quite changeable when we stayed - but not nearly as dismal as the forecast predicted! It was very cold and we had some showers but we felt quite lucky and got in some amazing walks. We enjoyed the brisk walk along the flume. Not many of the bushwalks are wheelchair friendly but a few are quite manageable(with the freewheel on the front) and wandering along the road was very pleasant. The door to the pumphouse building was very large and heavy - a lone wheelchair user could find it quite challenging to open on their own. The pumphouse has an elevator and the communal spaces are roomy with lots of cosy spots to sit.
We loved the meals - there were some aspects which were very unique. The staff are very friendly and accommodating - we felt very well looked after. Covid restrictions are adhered to without being intrusive and they have kept the communal dining aspect, although now tables are just two or three couples. We loved getting to know other guests and hearing their stories. The food was fantastic - a delicious three course dinner every evening and a wonderful fire feast on Saturday night. Again the wine was an honour system where you select from their extensive cellar and jot it down on your room tab. Local wineries dominated the selection. Breakfast was fabulous - a great range of choices and lots to fill you up ready for a day of walking. We enjoyed the cook-your-own eggs and the delicious house-made granola with freshly stewed fruit(rhubarb for us!). The coffee machine also made good coffee - one thing I was a little apprehensive about being so far from civilisation!
Here are some photos of some of our food:
Beef Cheek!
Basque Cheesecake!
A True Feast!
Samosas
Each evening there were pre-dinner drinks and canapes provided by the fire and guests could chat and mingle. We met a lovely, newly married couple from Perth who had eloped to Tassie and been married at Freycinet. We engaged in a lovely game cards with them before dinner. The enamel mugs which we enjoyed our hot toddies from could be purchased from the well-stocked gift shop which was also in the reception area.
Pumphouse Point offers amazing massages too by the wonderful Ella Pascal and her team. We chose to take up this offer early in our stay and did not regret it! John said it was one of the best he has ever had and I was not surprised, having been a fan of Ella's massages for a long time! She has magic fingers!! Our massages were with one of Ella's team, Simone. Here is a link to Ella's website if you would like to know more about this goddess:
I recommend having a massage on one of the first days of your stay so you are truly relaxed for the rest of it.
We were treated to seeing lots of beautiful wildlife - birds, wombats, wallabies. One of the wombats was very relaxed around the guests and came right up to us all on the way back to our rooms after dinner. She was more interested in eating than in us!
I highly recommend a stay at Pumphouse Point. We left feeling thoroughly spoiled and very, very relaxed. It is such a peaceful setting with beautiful, wild scenery and a genuine sense of serenity. The staff are amazing and so attentive and friendly. I would definitely choose three nights(at least) rather than two to make the most of everything on offer. I loved everything about it - the wild walks in the weather, the delicious food, the beautiful rooms, the communal spaces, the honesty bars for a yummy Tasmanian gin or wine, the massages, the peace. Yes, it is pricey but considering what is included makes it very good value.
There is a yoga space currently being built on site which I am excited about! Hopefully next visit there will be some yoga offerings which would only add to the perfection!
Pumphouse Point Website:
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