One of the most exciting tourism developments in Tasmania’s World Heritage Wilderness Area since it was inscribed on the UNESCO list over 30 years ago has finally come to fruition with the opening of Tasmania’s newest retreat, Pumphouse Point on the 1st January 2015 – located in the middle of the Southern Hemisphere’s deepest lake.
Pumphouse Point is a new 18-room boutique property on Lake St Clair in the heart of Tasmania’s majestic Central Highlands. The 1940s building was originally constructed to pump water for hydro-electricity, and with a planned opening date of January 2015 the Pumphouse, along with the Lakehouse, will be given a new lease of life as a luxury but affordable wilderness retreat.
The Pumphouse sits at the end of a hydro flume, 250 metres from the shore of Lake St Clair, which is 200 metres deep, and also the end point for Tasmania’s acclaimed six day Overland Track in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Together with the Lakehouse on the water’s edge, it provides distinctive and exclusive accommodation within some of the world’s most dramatic wilderness landscape. Access by visitors is by car, or by seaplane with local operator Tasmanian Air Adventures which departs from Hobart.
The Pumphouse building embodies the extraordinary vision of Tasmania’s early pioneers, showcasing the simple excellence of the art deco era. The new development is the culmination of a 20 year vision by its developer, Tasmanian Simon Currant, although behind it lies a story of almost three decades of dreams that have failed to come to fruition until today, following a journey of hard work and persistence by Currant. Features include a glass section of the main lobby revealing the original pump.
Lake St Clair is a 2.5 hour or just over 100 mile drive from Hobart, Tasmania’s east coast state capital. It is a further 80 miles to the west coast town of Strahan, making it a superb stop-over on the scenic driving route that follows the Lyell Highway across Tasmania’s ever changing landscapes. The lake marks the beginning of the River Derwent, upon which Hobart is also located, and is surrounded by walks through extensive old growth forests, mountains and valleys that are rich in native birds and wildlife.
Tom Wootton, Marketing Manager for Pumphouse Point says: “We are not trying to compete with five star resorts that offer the last-word-in-luxury experience. Instead, Pumphouse Point is about authentic and personal experiences. Guests can immerse themselves in world-class wilderness and experience genuine Tasmanian heritage in an intimate and unforgettable setting. They will enjoy walking, paddling, fly fishing, wildlife spotting, exploring and lying back and gazing at the stars in an absolutely unpolluted sky.
Importantly, our guests will have the opportunity to ‘create their own experience’ whether challenging themselves in the spectacular outdoors, or taking time to reflect by the fire in the Pumphouse lounge with a glass of Tasmanian pinot noir. As anyone who has ever visited Lake St Clair will testify, Pumphouse Point’s spectacular connection to the lake, the mountains and the forests beyond delivers Australia’s most immersive wilderness experience.
