Travel guide Southport

120 King Fish Beach Road
Southport, Tasmania

Southport is the southernmost settlement in Tasmania, and as you round the sweep of King Fish Beach you come upon Summertime Cottage with its commanding views across to Bruny Island.

Overall rating?         Excellent

What makes Summertime Cottage different?
This is a classic older style beach house, with all you need to be comfortable and relaxed. The log fire keeps you warm in winter and in summer the expansive deck is the perfect place to sit and relax, while you watch the waves roll up onto the beach.

Accommodation overview
There are three bedrooms, the main has a queen-size bed, the second bedroom has a set of bunks and a single bed and the third bedroom has a double bed. The rooms are compact but comfortable and look onto the garden and bush at the rear of the property.

The main bedroom has a roomy wardrobe and there are plenty of coat hooks in the other two bedrooms.

Facilities overview
The open plan layout means that you can enjoy the ocean vista from nearly everywhere in the house. There is a wood-burning stove in the living area, which effectively warms the bedrooms and living areas, and there is an ample supply of wood. We stayed in July and didn’t even make a hole in the supply of logs stacked undercover in the carport outside the kitchen. There is plenty of room to lounge around and enjoy the views, sit by the fire or watch DVDs.

The kitchen is small but efficient and has everything you need to produce meals with a minimum of fuss. There is also a laundry with washer and dryer, bathroom with separate toilet and another deck out the back, overlooking the garden and BBQ.

Location
Southport is as far south as you can stay in Tasmania, yet within easy reach of the many attractions of the popular Huon Trail. We flew into Hobart and drove down the A6 to Southport, enjoying the scenic drive through the Huon Valley and passing through some lovely villages on the way. Southport is about 100kms from Hobart and the drive takes about 80 minutes.

Suitable for children?    Yes   

Suitable for pets?           No

Wheelchair access?       No   

Perfect for?
Summertime Cottage is the perfect base to explore the delights of the Huon Trail. We had plenty to see and do in our six-day stay in winter, but the big attraction in summer would be having the beach literally over the road. Our teenage sons loved every moment of the holiday and really relaxed into the serenity and natural beauty of the region.

This is the perfect place for those who love to fish, with beach fishing in front of the cottage, a new main jetty and an ‘all weather’ double boat ramp at the nearby Lune River. Pelican Island offers great snorkelling and diving opportunities – along with the chance to pick up a few crayfish or abalone.

Why stay longer?
There is so much to see and do … we experienced the brilliant Tahune AirWalk, the Hastings Caves and thermal springs, the wild beauty of Bruny Island and even played in the snow in the nearby Hartz Mountains. Hobart is close enough that a trip to the Cadbury factory was a must, finished off with lunch in an historic pub in the Georgian village of Richmond.

Why you wouldn’t stay longer?
If you need to be connected and online, this isn’t the place for you. Mobile reception is patchy this far south and the cottage doesn’t have TV reception, although there is a good screen and DVD player.

Pricing
2 persons for 2 nights $260, 2 persons for 7 nights from $490 up to $1100 (depending on the time of year). Check the Summertime Cottage listing for details.