THE BACKSTORY
Far from the madding crowd, in the heart of northern Tasmania's historic farmland settlements, sits Leighton House, one of the early farmsteads in the area, renovated and reimagined into luxury accommodation that is a destination in itself.
THE LOCATION
Leighton House is nestled on a 120-hectare working farm by the South Esk River with serene paddock scenery, close to the quaint town of Evandale and not far from the Launceston airport. It's also an easy 20-minute drive into Launceston itself and everything that UNESCO City of Gastronomy has to offer, and the perfect base for exploring Ben Lomond National Park and Ben Lomond Alpine Resort, where you can ski in winter.
THE STYLE
The renovation of Leighton House has preserved the historical elements of the original 1840s Georgian cottage and added a sympathetic extension along with modern conveniences with an arty edge. Clawfoot baths, open fires and bay windows are blended beautifully with underfloor heating, a sleek kitchen and modern Australian art. There is an air of luxury and rich comfort about everything from the impossibly plump and comfortable beds to the marble fireplaces. Bespoke furnishings and curated decor add to the luxe feel created by rich timbers, carved stone and expansive glass.
THE ROOMS
Leighton House lends itself to both romantic getaways and group retreats. All three luxurious suites in the main house are spacious, elegant and impeccably appointed. They are wonderfully comfortable, with a bathroom for each and views of rolling acreage to warm the cockles of any city-dweller's heart. In the contemporary wing, along with the soaring space of the living area and the stunning kitchen, there is an upstairs bunk room that sleeps six, as well as another bathroom and a games room.
THE FOOD
Guests are greeted with a food basket that provides coffee beans for the espresso machine (and excellent instructions on how to use it) and gourmet breakfast staples from local suppliers. Outside is a wood-fired pizza oven and barbecue courtyard. Inside, the kitchen is a chef's dream and ideal for creating your culinary masterpieces from ingredients you bring - the 12-seater dining table makes entertaining larger groups easy - or you can pop into nearby Evandale for a gourmet pub meal or to gather supplies from the small but well-stocked supermarket.
THE ACTION
If you do want to adventure, Leighton House is centrally located and a perfect base from which to take day trips to Tasmanian icons such as Cradle Mountain or the East Coast beaches. The Sunday market at Evandale is a local institution and the town itself has historic sites to visit if you don't want to venture far. But you may not want to leave Leighton House at all - between the pool table, entertainment area, pizza cooking, outdoor spa bath and barrel sauna, shower and more, everything you need can be found at the house itself - including good books for you to curl up with by the fire.
UNFORGETTABLE
The rolling farmland setting - and the detailed, luxury decor that makes every room an adventure with more things to look at and enjoy every time you enter.
The writer was a guest of Leighton House