Free Spirit Pods Bruny Island | Tasmania

Why we like it

Tucked away at the wild northern end of Bruny Island, Free Spirit Pods are for people who want their holiday with a side of wallaby. Forget the hotel lobby and the buffet queue.

Here, you’ve got bush, water and a pod to call home. Just don’t forget your sense of adventure, because the road in is part of the fun.

Some places try hard to feel remote. Free Spirit Pods just is. Everything here is easygoing, from the free breakfast to the free kayaks. And when a stay hands you fishing gear and says “off you go”, we’re sold.

Additional info

The neighbours are the best bit at Free Spirit Pods. Pademelons hop about like they own the place (they do), wallabies pop by for a look, and bandicoots do their shy little shuffle at dusk.

Meanwhile, the freebies keep coming. Breakfast is included, and the kayaks and fishing gear cost nothing extra.

All that’s left for you to bring is a good attitude and maybe a hat.

A heads-up: the road to the pods is 4WD only. Think of it as a very bumpy welcome mat. It also keeps the crowds away, which is rather the point.

Features:

Where?

State

Who we recommend it for

Bedrooms

Cosy pods, big views. Inside, you’ll find a pillow-top mattress, down duvet, comfy seating for lazy afternoons, and a kitchen for whipping up your catch of the day.

Step outside onto your own deck, furnished and ready for sunrise coffees and sunset drinks.

Snuggle in after a day on the water, and let the bush be your bedtime soundtrack. Sleep doesn’t get much better than this.

Things to do nearby

Out on the water, your free kayaks are the obvious first move. Paddle the calm waters near the pods, then cast a line off the shore or from your kayak and see what bites.

On land, wander the bush for wildlife spotting, especially at dawn and dusk, when the pademelons, wallabies and bandicoots are out and about.

Further afield, the island’s greatest hits are a scenic drive south:

• The Neck: Climb the steps to Truganini Lookout for the postcard view of the narrow isthmus joining North and South Bruny. Come back at dusk, when little penguins and shearwaters waddle home to their burrows.
• Adventure Bay: Walk the long, sweeping beach, or tackle the Fluted Cape coastal track for big cliff views.
• Bruny Island Cruises: Take the 3-hour wilderness cruise past towering sea cliffs, caves and seal colonies.
• Cape Bruny Lighthouse: Tour the historic tower on the wild southern tip, with views that stretch toward Antarctica.

Bring a camera, because the wildlife won’t hold still for long.

Food and drink

Breakfast is on the house, so you’re set for a good start.

For the rest, Bruny Island is a foodie hotspot, with local oysters, cheese, chocolate, and wine all within reach.

Pack a picnic, stock up on island produce, and, if the fishing gods are kind, catch your own dinner.