A mini TR.24 hours at Freycinet.

[drron]

Mrsdrron has come down to Tassie for a week.It is her birthday during the week so it was time for a little pampering.So Saturday night was a stay at Saffire Lodge Freycinet.
Left Burnie just after 9am and arrived at Saffire at 1230.Unless you are staying you are not allowed access.As soon as I switched the engine off the car door was opened and greeted by one of the staff members.Everything is on first name terms.Although our room was ready we opted to have lunch first.A choice of salads first.The winter vegetable salad was just great.Then your wine selections.Mrsdrron had the Kelvedon Sauvignon Blanc.I asked for a Tassie Pinot Noir and was brought tastings of the Milton and Kelvedon-this was a much fuller body wine so it was my choice.
Then a choice of 2 hot dishes-roast pork with cauliflower puree which mrsdrron had and Ocean trout-my choice.

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Lunch was served in the casual lounge.Great views-

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The view from the room was just as good-

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[drron]

So to the room-

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Even a shower for 2-

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[KitKat]

don't forget to enjoy the spirits in the room bar

Ps don't kill the TV by lowering it on a bottle

 

[drron]

Next the complimentary minibar-

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In the fridge were a bottle of Tassie sparkling,a bottle of SB,3 beers and a cider plus soft drinks and juices.
Whisky lovers would be taken by the whiskies in the lounge,paricularly the whisky trolley-

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Quite a selection of single malts.

 

[love_the_life]

Looking good but no sunset? Oh I see, not up to that yet. The Lodge is on the 'to do' list and as I am planning to finish work shortly should have plenty of time to visit with Mr LtL.

 

[drron]

I should point out that you can drink everything in the minibar but must leave the empty bottle or be charged for it.The TV was hidden above the minibar.
It was now time for the afternoon activities.There is a $100 credit for the spa in the room rate so mrsdrron headed there.I headed up to reception for the oyster farm experience.This is included in your rate along with several other activities such as a vineyard visit,golf,kayaking,archery,various walks and a Tassie Devil enclosure-though Saturday is their day of rest.On the way to reception noted the presence of Ricky Ponting.

So a short drive out to the oyster lease.Five of us plus a guide.We all don waders and off we go.What better place for an oyster lease.

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First the babies-

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Then their bigger brothers-

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There is a table set up out in the water.The guide spreads a white table cloth,opens the sparkling and then starts shucking large,succulent oysters-natural,with ponzu,lime or tabasco as well.Absolutely magnificent.

 

[drron]

The oyster lease is in Moulting lagoon so called because it is a major bird habitat.A little early for all the Northern Hemisphere arrivals but still a lot around.Note the table in the first photo before our oyster feast-

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Driving back to the main road we saw a wombat,Bennet's wallably,pademelon and Eastern Green Rosellas.When we got to the main road about 100 metres from the track we came up was a police car with flashing lights and a policeman in the middle of the road.The rescue helicopter flew over and we all assumed there had been a bad accident.Instead it had been a search for a naughty couple from Lonnie in a stolen car.They abandoned it and headed on foot for Moulting Lagoon.We had obviously been close to a bit of excitement.

 

[drron]

We were back at our room in time for the Hazards to light up at sunset.There had not been a cloud in the sky until now.So no show that night.But hey they are still worth looking at-

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We were treated to a fly past-

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[get me outta here]

What a lovely Birthday weekend away for you both.

 

[boomy]

Wow looks amazing!

I have a few Aussie resorts on my bucket list:

1. Hayman
2. Freycinet
3. Lizard Island
4. Southern Ocean

So far done #1, now I see how #2 looks like

Thanks for sharing.

 

[kpc]

Been to Freycinet twice...didn't stay in such a luxurious abode but it is a beautiful part of the world

 

[smit0847]

I bet this cost a pretty penny!!

 

[RooFlyer]

If the East Coast Tas wine tour comes off next year, we'll be staying at Coles Bay (AKA Freycinet) .

Staying at Saffire will be optional.

 

[drron]

So off to dinner.Leaving the courtyard with it's Japanese influence looked much better with the lights at night-

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The lighting outside the restaurant was also pleasant-

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For dinner which is included in the tariff you get a 2 page list of wines by the glass which are complimentary.Mrsdrron was very happy with the Freycinet SB so stuck with that.I was less faithful and indulged with a selection of reds-a couple more pinots and finally ending up with a 2012 Leuwin Estate Art series shiraz.Here are those wines-

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For dessert I had a glass of the Freycinet Botyris.Enjoyed it.Really appreciated being able to select wines like this.If you have the degustation menu you can choose to have a paired wine selection.

 

[drron]

So to the food.All got offerred the gazpacho as the Amuse bouche and then a dozen big,juicy freycinet oysters for the 2 of us served with a finger lime granita-

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Note the black truffle bits on the gazpacho.The Tasmanian truffles are in season now.All the dishes in the degustation menu are on the A la carte menu so we went that way.Mrsdrron for an entree had the pork jowl dumplings with abalone whilst I had 2.The double cooked partridge and a scallop pie again with black truffle-

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The pie was very good and well presented.We both had the pink snapper with pickled mussels and fingerling potatoes-the mussels were under the fish.

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For desserts mrsdrron had the passiofruit souffle with passionfruit icecream and I the creme brulee with young coconut flesh,coconut granita and malt ice cream.Both were very good-

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We were both now very full and wobbled back to our room not even being able to eat the chocolates left at turn down.

 

[drron]

Love_the_life the sunset was a total miss.But knowing how that would disappoint many readers I made the supreme effort and was up for sunrise.The pictures will do the talking-

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[drron]

The last of the morning colours-

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Some of the Japanese inspired landscaping looked better in daylight-

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But it was time for breakfast.First their fruit salad along with Chia seed,papaya and coconut-

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For the hot dish mrsdrron had the French toast whilst I had smoked ocean trout with pickled onion,avocado and a poached egg on sourdough-

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We then had coffee and delicious just baked pastries.Just enough as we were still full from dinner.
The lounge where lunch is served.Also pre and post dinner drinks just in case you haven't had enough-

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On the way back to the room these sculptures were done by a fellow we had produce our water features at home a few years ago.Mrsdrron obviously has Saffire taste-

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Still my morning walk to come.Probably tomorrow night.

 

[love_the_life]

Gorgeous sunrise drron. Those plates for dinner look very large; no wonder you were full at breakfast.

 

[drron]

After breakfast it was a walk down to the beach.The resort fits well into the environment.This from the lower level of the track that runs around the resort-

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Then through the bush with glimpses of a lagoon and down to the beach-

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That is probably a relic of the old tin mine beside the resort.This time the resort from the beach-

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[love_the_life]

Lovely photos. Is that an Epacris plant, such a glorious pink. The lodge fits into the landscape beautifully and seems almost to grow from the land. You sound like you are enjoying yourself. Mrs drron - did she have a memorable birthday?