A sophisticated, beach front property with luxurious finishes and a heritage edge
When I was invited by Airbnb host Tania to stay at her newly renovated luxury apartment in Penguin, Tasmania I was excited to say the very least! I'd never been to Tasmania and had never even heard of Penguin before my stay.
Arriving to the sleepy, seaside town of Penguin is enough to relax even the most overworked Sydney-sider. To one side are rolling green hills as far as the eye can see, to the other, the endless blue stretch of Bass Strait, and right down the middle is Main Road; offering an eclectic array of cafes, homewares stores, an art gallery, hairdressers, supermarkets, a playground, a butcher, a baker and a soy candle maker.
The vibe of the town is relaxed, the coffee is amazing and the locals are so lovely.
It's so easy to spend a day wandering Main Road perusing collectibles, strolling on the beach and popping into cafes.
Although I had seen photos of the apartment prior to my stay and knew that it was incredible, nothing really prepared me for being in the space and calling it home for a weekend. I was in awe walking up the stairs and seeing the expanse of living space and the beautifully framed view of the ocean, which becomes more and more special as the day goes on and the light in the apartment changes. I immediately felt a sense of calm being in the space, Novo is a sanctuary and a home.
The furnishings and attention to detail are second to none with the fitout done by locals Cocoon Designers who have a stunning retail space directly below the apartment. Their philosophy of combining the old with the new, the modern and rustic works to create a harmonious, warm and inviting apartment which begs you to wander from room to room discovering the subtle details.
All of the furniture is supplied by Cocoon including pieces they custom designed and made for the space. The incredible central dining table is made using antique cedar pews! It is these heritage touches that make Novo truly unique.
The three bedrooms and two bathrooms are welcoming and luxurious with bedding and towels by Sheridan and signature scents by Wood House Candles hand made in Tasmania.
The textures are natural and homely; crushed linen, soft throws, velvet cushions, oak floors and exposed brick walls. I could easily call this place home permanently, it has all the little touches that make a house a home; even the books on the bedside table were titles that I have in my collection!
Dining
Novo has a stunning, fully appointed kitchen with a coffee machine, boiling hot and cold filtered water on tap. There are two IGA supermarkets, a green grocer, butcher, bottle shop and bakeries within a short walk of the apartment so you could easily stay in and enjoy the local produce. If you do want to venture out there are lots of options too.
There are local eateries on Main Road and also within a short driving distance. One of the coffee shops along Main Road is Renaessance Cafe with beautiful coffee, friendly service and gorgeous beach views.
A ten minute drive from Novo is the beautiful The Berry Patch at Turners Beach. Here you can enjoy fresh produce in the cafe from their seasonal menu as well as an authentic farm experience.
We had gourmet wood fired pizza, played hide and seek in the hay bails and then hand-pick our own sweet and delicious berries.
There is a lovely Spanish tapas and pizza restaurant El Perro right next door to the apartment. We dined here one night and found it warm, friendly, accommodating and the food was great, everyone left happy and content.
One weekend in this beautiful town and in this stunning apartment was absolutely not long enough. There were so many places on my list to visit but there was simply not enough time. I would definitely recommend hiring a car. We flew into Launceston and car hire was so simple from the airport. It's a region similar to The Hunter Valley in NSW, where there are so many incredible areas to explore all within a couple of hours drive. I would love to return and spend at least a week driving from place to place in this gorgeous part of Tasmania.