By Sophie Brennan · Australia & Pacific Property Editor
Freycinet National Park — on Tasmania's central east coast — contains Wineglass Bay, regularly voted one of the world's most beautiful beaches. The combination of pink granite mountains, pristine coastal wilderness, and the extraordinary quality of Tasmanian produce (abalone, oysters, truffles, pinot noir) has made Freycinet the centrepiece of Tasmania's positioning as Australia's culinary and wilderness tourism capital. Saffire Freycinet, which has won Australia's best luxury lodge award every year since opening in 2010, is the only five-star property on the peninsula.
Developer: Federal Hotels and Resorts (THL)
Saffire is owned by Tasmanian-based Federal Hotels and Resorts, Tasmania's largest private tourism business. The Farrell family's company has invested continuously in the Tasmanian tourism product across 60+ years and brings a depth of destination knowledge that overseas developers could not match. Federal Hotels also operates the Henry Jones Art Hotel (Hobart's flagship design hotel) and Pumphouse Point (a wilderness lodge on Lake St Clair).
Saffire's 40 suites are architect-designed pavilions with floor-to-ceiling glazing framing views across Great Oyster Bay. The lodge ownership programme — introduced in 2020 — allows buyers to acquire ownership of one of the 40 suite pavilions, with Federal Hotels managing all operations and rental bookings through the Saffire reservation system.
Unit Types and Pricing
- Bay Suites (1 bed, 100 sq m) — AUD 1.8–$2.5 million, the lodge's 30 standard-size pavilions with glazed bay views.
- Coastal Pavilions (1 bed, 150 sq m) — AUD 2.8–$3.8 million, larger units with expanded terrace areas and the best bay orientations.
- Signature Suite (2 bed) — AUD 5.2 million, the lodge's single largest pavilion, used as the property's most exclusive booking.
Saffire's pricing power: Published nightly rates at Saffire run AUD $2,200–$4,500 for Bay Suites on an all-inclusive basis (meals, experiences, guided activities included). Owner net rental income, after Federal Hotels' management fee, averages AUD $120,000–$180,000 annually for a Bay Suite with full rental participation. Saffire's high ADR and consistent awards-driven occupancy (typically 80%+) make this one of Australia's highest-yielding lodge ownership programmes.
Amenities and Destination Appeal
Saffire's all-inclusive programme covers meals at the single restaurant (Tasmania's finest ingredient-driven produce prepared by an award-winning kitchen team), guided sea kayaking, guided Wineglass Bay walks, oyster farm tours, fly-fishing, and wildlife experiences including platypus spotting and quoll nocturnal walks. The property also operates a spa — unique among Australian wilderness lodges for its facility quality.
Hobart Airport (HBA) is 2.5 hours from Freycinet, with direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and — increasingly — direct international services. Launceston Airport (LST) is 3 hours north. The Tasman Highway through the east coast is one of Australia's scenic driving routes, making the journey itself part of the experience for buyers who want road access.
Verdict: Australia's most acclaimed luxury lodge and an extremely rare ownership opportunity. The consistent awards recognition, Federal Hotels' Tasmanian operational depth, and Freycinet's incomparable natural setting combine to create one of Australia's strongest luxury lodge investment cases.