About Olive’s

Olive’s Cottage has been in continuous operation since 2004, welcoming guests from all over the world, for almost 20 years.

It provides self-catering accommodation but with a B&B feel. The fully renovated dwelling is on a delightful one acre (0.4 hectare) property at Windermere, on the banks of the Tamar River.

The defining features of Olive’s Cottage are the airy and welcoming feel, the serenity of the setting and the mesmerising, ever-changing views. You and your party have sole occupancy of the property.

Olive’s Cottage should particularly suit the food and wine lover. The owners have designed the cottage to cater for their own interests in these areas. As well as a modern, well-equipped kitchen, there are fruit trees and a herb garden, two wonderful decks for entertaining, and a magnificent barbecue pit. Enjoy a bottle or two of Tamar Valley wine on the deck during your stay.

The facilities and key features are summarised in groups below. (Go to Gallery & Feedback for photos and for reviews/comments from our guests.)

Accreditation you can trust

Olive’s Cottage has Quality Tourism Accreditation by Australian Tourism authorities and it is a Tasmanian Quality Assured tourism property. It has a four-star rating.

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Lounge, Kitchen, Dining Room

The cottage has a combined lounge, kitchen and dining area opening onto extensive decking. This ‘front of house’ area is comfortable and cosy. The colour scheme was inspired by the yellow-toned dining room in Monet’s house in France, with aubergine as a contrasting colour. This area has reverse cycle heating/cooling.

The lounge has a CD, DVD and radio system, as well as TV with streaming options such as Netflix. There is no wood fire, but there is a very effective artificial ‘fire’ which prompts rave reviews from visitors.

The kitchen is fitted with modern appliances (including microwave oven, coffee pod machine, dishwasher, and electric stove top and oven) and is well-equipped with crockery, glassware and cooking equipment. It is designed to be a functional kitchen which food lovers should find more than adequate.

The kitchen and dining area, with views to die for, lead seamlessly onto the main deck overlooking the river, which is almost two kilometres wide at this point.

Bedrooms, Bathroom and Ensuite

The ‘back of house’ is comfortable, but simple and non-extravagant. There are two bedrooms, the main bedroom with a king size bed, the second with a queen size bed. Both bedrooms are lovely in the early morning sun.

The roomy main bedroom has its own ensuite with an idyllic view of the river. It also has a separate sitting area with comfortable chairs and table – ideal for morning coffee, for reading the newspaper or for working on the laptop. It has reverse cycle heating/cooling.

The main bathroom has shower, toilet and vanity facilities and a front-load washing machine. The second bedroom has a wall-mounted electric panel heater.

Summary: Two bedrooms. Two bathrooms. One king size bed. One queen size bed. All linen provided. Two reverse cycle heating/cooling units warming and cooling the whole cottage.

Decking

There are two decks, both with clear overhead cover. The main deck, facing the river, is large and ideal for a leisurely breakfast, morning or afternoon coffee, or a flute of sparkling wine before a romantic dinner. It has extensive outdoor furniture and an electric barbecue. The weather can be amazing, so don’t be surprised to find yourself sitting outside well into the evening, especially with daylight saving.

Barbecue Pit, Table and Lawns

The property is about one acre in size, or 0.4 of a hectare. It stretches from the road, down to the river.

The main half of the block has been formally landscaped, with garden beds, lawns and barbecue pit. There are plum, bay, lemon, lime, cherry and quince trees and a small herb garden.

The bottom half of the block drops down to natural bushland and river flats and a stand of tea-trees at the river’s edge. The barbecue pit can be lit at night.

The dominant feature of the garden is the barbecue pit carved into the slope, with its wood-fired grill and magnificent Garry Lethborg table setting. Seating up to 16, the table is as much art work as it is functional furniture.

General

Olive’s is NBN connected and provides free WiFi for email and normal Internet browsing. The TV has streaming options with direct access to Netflix and user access to other services.

There is off-road parking for three vehicles, including one under cover.

There is a store and cafe two kilometres away which, although with restricted opening hours, is suitable for essential purchases, breakfasts and light meals.

Launceston and the Tamar Valley

Windermere is an ideal base to explore the northern region of Tasmania. Within short driving distances are numerous vineyards, a cherry farm, apple orchard and strawberry farm. Launceston and the Tamar arguably form the gourmet centre of Tasmania, with the island’s largest wine region and some of the state’s top-rated restaurants.

The Tamar in this area is serene and lake-like, with the Lake District in England providing the Windermere name. The beautifully sited Norman-style St Matthias’ Church along the road from the cottage is just one of the other British touches in the region.

Those who know the French countryside will appreciate the hills and vineyards of the fertile river valley. There are lovely country drives along the Tamar, with occasional roadside stalls selling local produce. Also reminiscent of France, within fifteen minutes you can be in the gorgeous town centre of Launceston with its excellent produce suppliers and delightful restaurants and cafes. Launceston’s sophistication – gourmet, shopping, architecture and culture – is a joy awaiting the visitor. Within easy drive of Launceston are many historic villages and hamlets.

Despite these European influences, you are not far from wonderful bushwalks, beaches and mountains. And at the cottage itself, you have your own slice of Tassie ‘wilderness’, with wonderfully scented gums and tea-trees on the river bank, and a passing parade of waterbirds as the tide ebbs and flows over the wetlands.