Cloudy Bay Villa

Four adults had a memorable three-night stay in this character-filled, cozy house in a secluded spot. The host communicated really well before and during our visit, and the kitchen supplies were great. In true Tassie fashion, the winter weather kept swinging around, but being stuck inside was bearable with the air-conditioning unit blasting heat, a Bluetooth radio and speaker, and two TVs.

We loved our stay, and the house worked really well for our two families. It had plenty of cooking equipment and crockery, plus basics like oil, sauces, and spices. The main drawback was getting down to the beach. Mowed tracks cross the headland, but the last bit involves wading through waist-high grass. It’s well worth it once you arrive. The views are stunning, especially curled up on the couch with a coffee from the machine, looking over the bay. We almost didn’t want to leave the house to explore Bruny.

The house was extremely comfortable for our group of eight, with a well-appointed kitchen, beautiful hardwood floors, wood panelling in the bedrooms, and four bathrooms. We held a big family reunion there, including my brother and his family visiting from Europe for the first time in Australia. Everyone had a fantastic time, and I’d love to return. It’s hard to describe how remote and restorative the place feels, surrounded by wind, waves, animals, and birds, with barely any lights visible at night. Cloudy Bay is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen in Australia, and the high-set house has a stunning view across the whole bay, with the seascape and sky always changing. There’s an easy path down to a completely deserted beach, plus a rocky point where bull kelp laps the rocks and a rare penguin rookery. It’s one of those truly amazing places on the planet.

The views are stunning, and it’s well placed for exploring all that Bruny Island has to offer. The kitchen could use more pans and cooking utensils, especially since there isn’t much nearby and most vacationers will likely cook for themselves. The dishes and pans in the cupboards weren’t clean; there were plates with food people had eaten from put back in the cupboards. Not ideal.