What do you get when you combine a COVID-free island and one of Australian Traveller Magazine’s 100 Great Australian Holiday Homes?

Tasmania is a wild island, packed with powerful landscapes both tranquil and pure, yet at the same time untamed. And it’s one of the safest places in the world to travel right now.

Set in the peaceful Huon Valley atop a hill overlooking Southern Tasmania, Villa Talia is a stunning holiday home which presents as an unassuming Australian homestead, though is packed with treasure in the form of opulent furnishings, contemporary fixtures, and tempting adult luxuries.

It’s an adult kinder surprise, and it’s best to be warned that no matter how much you love your own home, from the moment you step through the door, Villa Talia will forever become the home of your dreams.

It’s like running into the celebrity crush you have a free pass for, and discovering they’re just as eager…

You no doubt love your own home and understand the reality of needing to return, but a few nights with Villa Talia is the ultimate fantasy escape; a home you’ll never want to leave.

Villa Talia: Tasmania’s Ultimate Holiday Escape

Paradise in a Place Called Wattle Grove

You may not have heard of Wattle Grove, but this is where you’ll find Villa Talia. It’s a quiet suburb that runs along the banks of the Huon River, with views to the south of the Hartz Mountains and the southwest wilderness.

This paradise is less than an hour drive south of Hobart, and is known for its wineries, orchards, and plenty of fresh air. It’s here where 80% of Tasmania’s apples come from, giving rise to the island’s nickname as “The Apple Isle”.

To say that Wattle Grove and the Huon Valley is the antithesis of cities like Sydney and Melbourne would be an understatement, but not speaking in terms of it lacking in things to see and do (click here for the huge range of activities in the Huon Valley).

It offers wide open spaces with plenty of privacy and room to socially distance, and some truly exceptional views.

It seems fitting that a house like Villa Talia would be located in a place like Wattle Grove, the wattle being Australia’s floral emblem and a symbol of home and country.

Some of the nation’s first houses built by early settlers used wattle branches for framework and were known as “wattle-and-daub” huts. As you will quickly discover from Villa Talia though, Australian homes have come a very long way since those very first primitive Sydney huts.

Villa Talia: Photo Tour

Choose Your Own Adventure

Villa Talia is a luxury 2 bedroom, 2 ½ bath guest house with a cosy library/office with a day bed which looks out over the Huon River and beyond to the Southwest Wilderness.

It’s a perfect retreat for a romantic getaway, small family holiday, or a working holiday if you’re a digital nomad who’s either ditched their 9 to 5 office job or works for an employer who’s flexible in allowing you to work remotely.

The best thing about Villa Talia is that it allows you to choose the type of holiday you want. You can make it as adventurous, relaxing, or luxurious as you wish, all without having to stray far from the property at all.

You can opt for a stay filled with helicopter tours, sailing, kayaking, biking, fishing, and hiking to spot rare wildlife.

Alternatively, you can opt for a more relaxing stay filled with yoga and meditation (yoga mats supplied in the rooms), snuggling up next to the fireplace with a book from the well-stocked library, or sipping local wine while diving into a cheese and fruit platter.

You want 5-star luxury? Why stop at five stars when you can relax in an outdoor natural volcano stone bath beneath a million stars surrounded by total silence!

The Homestead

Villa Talia was originally built by a German couple from Sydney who modelled the house after a home they admired in Victoria’s Yarra Valley.

The villa actually features a bit of Sydney history, its floorboards crafted from timber that was from an old former Sydney wharf. Furnishings and art throughout the home though are a mix of European and Asian elements, and the tiled bathrooms are large, ultra modern, and stylish.

The entire home is opulent without being pretentious, offering up endless surprises such as a Dyson hair dryer, robes and slippers, luxury brand toiletries, washing machine and dryer, and even a giant telescope to spy on those million something stars.

Entertainment

When it comes to entertainment, there is a healthy selection of DVDs, CDs, board games, and lawn games such as a ring toss.

There’s also Netflix available on the TV which allowed me to sneak in an episode of The Crown during our stay, because what better way to watch the Queen than while feeling like a queen yourself in this private Tasmanian palace complete with chandelier above the dining table.

The Bose speakers were also a nice added touch as it allowed us to open the French doors and serenade the local birdlife with a bit of our own music in the form of Pachelbel’s Canon.

You’ll find binoculars and a bird guide in the library, which comes in handy for spotting local birds like the sea eagles, wedge tailed eagles, and falcons which seem to be constantly making passes over the property in search of a meal no doubt.

They’ve probably become well aware by now of the gourmet produce the kitchen stays stocked with.

A Gourmet Escape

When it comes to feeding yourself, the glorious kitchen comes equipped with high-end appliances and a wide range of kitchen condiments that includes an extensive selection of complimentary gourmet breakfast items.

The full fridge and pantry were both stocked well enough to sustain us for our stay and a selection of beer, wine, cider, and spirits were available for purchase via the minibar is you so desired.

The View & Grounds

As comfortable as the interior of the house is, the exterior is equally as inviting with its wrap-around veranda, outdoor barbecue, wood fire pit, manicured landscaping, and alfresco dining areas where you can take in the views of the Huon River and mountains.

Sleeping Beauty is one such mountain range, who looked just as relaxed as we were.

Around the Local Area

We found it hard to leave the comfort of Villa Talia and therefore never did, despite there being a variety of things to do in the Huon Valley and Hobart beyond.

It was our belief that nothing could top the relaxation of simply staying at the property, which is the type of holiday we were aiming for.

For those that want to stretch their legs and explore, there is no shortage of foodie attractions to check out such as the Fat Pig Farm, Home Hill Winery, Cygnet Cannery, and the famous Willie Smith’s Apple Shed.

Then there are the natural wonders such as the airwalk through the treetops at Tahune Adventures, underground adventures at Hastings Caves, and hiking in Hartz Mountains National Park.

There are also plenty of beaches around, many of which you may find you have all to yourself such as my personal favourite Eggs and Bacon Beach, my favourite mainly for the name alone.

For a full list of things to do in the area, I encourage you to read my article Things to do in the Huon Valley.

Further Afield

Further afield, Hobart is packed with popular attractions if you become too lonely back at the Villa, and is less than an hour drive away.

You have the eccentric MONA subterranean museum, glorious but often chilly Mount Wellington summit drive, the gorgeous Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, bustling Saturday Salamanca markets, historic Cascade Brewery, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery with its fascinating relics of the now extinct Tasmanian tiger.

For more ideas of what to see and do in and around Hobart, check out my article on How to Spend 48 Hours in Hobart.

Once in a Lifetime Experience

Tasmania definitely doesn’t have a shortage of unique properties to choose from, some of which were once colonial estates built by early convicts.

However, what sets Villa Talia apart from the rest is you aren’t restricted to staying in a single room of a beautiful estate or house, rather you get the entire house and extensive property all to yourself.

Villa Talia offers guests an escape of affluence that makes you believe if but for just a short period that you are true royalty. While reality may dethrone you as you say your farewells, your short reign will stay with you a lifetime.

For more information, or to check dates and availability, visit villatalia.com.au.

Tell George & Vivian we sent you!