As you round the bend and first catch sight of the pumphouse building perched on the lake, you literally gasp and only one word comes to mind...'spectacular'.
Steeped in history, the State's Hydro Electricity Scheme originally built the 5-storey pumphouse in 1940, to house enormous water turbines, however the need to use the facility failed to arise and the site was eventually decommissioned in the early 90's. Recognising its potential as a tourism development the Tasmanian Government appointed the Parks & Wildlife Service as caretakers with Simon Currant eventually securing the lease in 2004 and began the long journey toward bringing Pumphouse Point to life.
On my recent visit, I was fortunate to sit down with owner and visionary Simon Currant for a fireside chat about the magnificent development. Currant has been behind some of Tasmania's iconic tourism ventures such as Strahan Village (now owned by Federal Hotels), Cradle Mountain Lodge and Peppermint Bay. However, this challenging project was 18 years in the making, delayed by council approvals, involved riding out the GFC when funding dried up and finally with the support of Parks & Wildlife, Pumphouse Point opened on 1 January 2015, and we're so glad it did!
Developed and designed by architecture firm Cumulus Studio, the team have embraced the industrial heritage of the building and added some luxurious touches, while maintaining the integrity of the iconic buildings. The result is a boutique hotel embracing a new relaxed luxury that's quintessentially Australian. Curran says the hotel is "much more about the experience and the environment, rather than what the rooms are like and the food "although both we have to say are good, very good.
The exterior of the buildings have been largely untouched, showing years of distress and weathering, while inside the true transformation is revealed. There are 18 rooms in total, 12 out in the Pumphouse and 6 in the Shorehouse on the water's edge and include everything you need to hibernate in style and comfort.
When asked his favourite room, Currant replies "Room #18" for its spectacular views of the lake and the east/west aspect. When asked whether he has any other projects in the works, Currant becomes coy but reveals there are special projects underway all revolving around nature.
Currant also loves the unique shared dining experience at Pumphouse Point and we'd have to agree. During our stay we dined at the Shorehouse, arriving downstairs to a warm, cosy fire and a room full of guests all chatting and enjoying canapés and helping themselves to drinks from the honour bar. We then take our seats at the communal dining tables and enjoy shared platters of pork and steamed vegetables followed by an individual plated dessert. There is a commotion after dinner with people suddenly sprinting outside and we soon discover snow has begun to fall, a magical end to the perfect evening. You'll be surprised to know, the dinner is reasonably priced at $50.00 per head.
The honesty bar operates in both buildings and there is nothing better than some quiet contemplation, gazing out from the bay windows at the tranquil water and mountainous backdrop. It's amazing how much the outlook changes by just the simple shifting clouds casting shadows on the lake, it's quite simply mesmerising.
Retiring to our room there's a tablet compendium containing a curated Spotify playlist (love!) all the mod cons including WiFi, TV and beautiful en-suites with a cool industrial edge However, the pièce de résistance is the fully stocked larder of local produce available to graze for days. The larder includes minestrone soup, smoked salmon, smoked quail, pork rillette, olives, cheese, Tasmanian wine and sparking wine and more. Plus you can request freshly baked bread be delivered to your room at any time. Best of all, larder items are offered at retail prices, not the inflated prices often found with hotel minibars. We may never leave!
Excitedly I wake to find that overnight snowfall has left a soft white blanket of snow over the grounds. I'm the first to stir and explore outside (in -3 degree temperatures) taking some photos before breakfast. There's a similar relaxed but generous attitude to breakfast with a help-yourself continental buffet of muesli, toast, jam and more.
There's plenty to see and do at Pumphouse Point and while you may prefer just to sit fireside with a book and glass of red wine, there are plenty of activities on offer. Guests can explore their surroundings on bushwalking tracks ranging from 30 minutes to the full six-day Overland Track, or mountain bikes and fishing outings to name but a few. Don't miss The Wall in the Wilderness by sculptor Greg Duncan.
What is so charming about Pumphouse Point is its accessibility. It's not pitched as a super-elite luxury lodge for the wildly rich, but a reasonably prices escape with pristine landscape, warm service that's uniquely Australian and hard to beat. We would recommend at least a two-night stay to enjoy both a night grazing on the larder produce and another for the communal dinner and plenty of time to explore the region.
Pumphouse Point is available to book on alluxia from $240 per night for a Shorehouse Standard Room.
The writer was a guest of Pumphouse Point.Image credit: Adam Gibson, IG - alluxia
