A private island awaitsTasmania, Australia

There’s something deeply satisfying about stepping onto a boat knowing you’re not just heading to a hotel, you’re heading to your own private island.

Just 800 metres off Coles Bay on Tasmania’s east coast, Picnic Island Tasmania has officially reopened after a major refresh. The private retreat, sitting in the shadow of Freycinet National Park, now features a brand-new primary suite and upgraded copper-clad accommodation, sleeping up to eight guests across four separate spaces.

But let’s be clear. this isn’t about squeezing as many people in as possible. It’s about having the place entirely to yourself. Book it and the whole island is yours, complete with a dedicated host and skipper, a private chef championing Tassie produce, and a new custom-built boat for transfers and coastal adventures. It’s all-inclusive, but done in a way that feels considered rather than over-the-top.

The owners have capped stays at just 100 nights per year to protect the island’s delicate ecosystem, including its resident Little Penguin colony. It runs off-grid on solar power and rainwater, and the focus is firmly on privacy, space and letting nature set the pace.

You’re within easy reach of Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet coastline, but far enough away that the loudest thing you’ll hear is the wind.

It’s AU$16,000 per night for the entire island, with a three-night minimum. Which is hella pricey. But when checking in involves your own boat ride to your own island, it hits a little differently.

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