So thanks to LizF and others we have decided to include Tassie on our Aussie tour (1 month Dec 06 /Jan 07).

We get into Hobart on Jan 1st (18:30) and fly out from Hobart again on Jan 8th (10:15).

So we probably need to stay quite close to Hobart on 1st and 7th. We thought somewhere near Freycinet for 2 nights and then Cradle Mountain area for 3 nights (we have provisional booking at CM Lodge for 4/5/6th Jan).

We would like to stay in cottage / B&B accomodation for the Hobart area and Freycinet bits - any recommendations? For Freycinet area we would love a cottage by the sea.

Your assistance greatly appreciated as ever.

Annelli

Just to put you in perspective with travel and distances, Hobart is only 20 minutes to the airport be it in peak hour traffic or not. You can get a little closer by staying in Richmond ( a must see by the way) and there I would choose the Mill House B&B which is absolutely delightful) Try and organize your time so that you are in or around Hobart on the Saturday morning for the Salamanca markets which is around the wharf area and well worth a visit - go early and have breakfast there.
I cannot help you with the Freycinet area for accommodation as I have not stayed over there but I know that others do know of some very good places.
As for in and around Hobart, well take your out of Hobart a bit and stay in the Huon Valley at my favourite place "Matilda's of Ranelagh" ( 25 minutes from Hobart ) and whilst in that region take the Tahune Air walk and see the Hastings Caves together with the drives around the coastal route of the Huon - there is nothing between there and Antarctica.
Don't forget places like Port Arthur which also is a must see I think, Mt Field National Park, the villages of Ross, Oatlands, Erindale, etc etc. If you are staying in the midlands area then the Old bakery at Ross is a great place to stay. These little villages are convict built villages and are very quaint and interesting. If on the other hand you are going near New Norfolk then "Tynwald" is my pick for accommodation and food. In Hamilton ( near Mt Field ) you cannot go past one of the 4 convict built cottages which are all furnished with furniture of around 1820's and are a bargain - to get one of those you call into the Tourist shop and they will show you where the house of the owner is OR phone from some other accommodation and book it first.

In Freycinet we stayed at the Pelican Bay B&B and really enjoyed it. It's often listed on wotif.com as well.

www.pelicanbaybedandbreakfast.com.au/

We also stayed at a great little apartment in Hobart (Bath Street Apartments), but since you're looking for B&Bs and cottages you might want to take a peek at these sites -

www.tasmanianbedandbreakfast.com

www.hobartstays.com.au

Have fun - Tassie is a wonderful place!

I think Battery Point in Hobart has some lovely little cottages you could investigate ( sorry don't know any specifically) and it is near Salamanca markets Liz referred to. Good luck!

We really enjoyed Tassie but if you are there in january you need to have your accommos prebooked. Aussie friends advised us against pre-booking in March and we couldn't even find a spot near Freycinet. We loved Port Arthur and Cradle Mountain. The driving is very easy, though the road to PA is very curvy and the speed quite high for the road conditions (we thought!). You can easily get around in one week. We often saw Fairy Penguins swimming around the boats in Hobart harbour so if you are walking around watch for them!

Yes book as early as you can. My sister wanted to go last January and when she tried she found there was no accommodation left.Have fun!

Annelli

We explored Freycinet NP from BICHENO wher I believe we stayed at the comfortable Old Tram Line B&B for about A$90.

In Bicheno one can do a very low key visit to the fairy penguins up close and personal

If you can't get a booking at Freycinet Lodge www.puretasmania.com.au ..then I would recommend staying in Swansea.

We went in april this year...and have a couple suggestions:

We stayed in Wagners cottages www.wagnerscottages.com.au in swansea and were very happy with the accomodations. They are not far from the beach...but if you want a cottage on the sea...our favorites were Piermont www.piermont.com.au and www.kabukibythesea.com.au We didn't stay at kabuki b/c of their website...but plan to stay there on our return.

Maria Island is beautiful. There's a ferry that leaves from Triabunna at 9:30 or 1:30pm and returns back at 12:30 or 4pm. You can hike or bike around the island...then come back and drive up via Ross to Swansea.

Then...another day trip could be to Freycient for hiking. There's a Marine Farm with fresh oysters and tons of vineyards on the way back to swansea, and a fresh berry farm in town.

The next day...we went fishing for fresh trout on Lake Leake and stopped off in Bicheno on the way back to Swansea, picked up fresh lobsters/crayfish...more wine and had another great tassie meal at the cottage.

If you're set on Cradle Mt...it's gorgeous...otherwise...continue up the east coast to Bay of Fires. It's just been rated one of the beaches in the world...and it definitely deserves the reputation.

One other thing we learned the hard way...the roads are windy and narrow. It will take a long time to drive anywhere. Even though everything looks close in proximity..it's deceiving.

Have fun...it's paradise on earth.