Cocooned in Calm
This story first appeared in the Weekend travel lift-out of leading Australian newspapers, including the Herald Sunand The Daily Telegraph. It is shared here with full credit to the original publication.
Cocooned in calm
Perched high on a sand dune overlooking Tasmania’s dazzling East Coast, this home base for adventure, rest and repose feels like a sanctuary. From here, it’s only a few footsteps down to the beach, and a short drive to penguin, seal and whale sightings, and tidal caves. Bicheno has never looked so good.
Story by VICKY LARDER
Photography by DILSHAN BANDARA
There’s a gentle hush to the mornings here at Cooinda on the Beach. Step onto the deck and breathe in the salt air, the smell of eucalypt and the sound of waves rolling onto Redbill Beach below.
The coastal town of Bicheno, on Tasmania’s East Coast, has long been a drawcard for travellers looking to experience the state’s pure beauty, and Cooinda offers the ultimate vantage point.
This luxury holiday home, designed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings, sits nestled into the dunes with panoramic ocean views. Floor-to-ceiling windows invite the outside in, while warm timber tones and linen furnishings create a relaxed, organic feel.
Inside, you’ll find everything curated for comfort — a fully equipped kitchen with quality appliances, open-plan living and dining, a wood-fire heater for cooler nights, and three beautifully appointed bedrooms.
There’s also a large outdoor entertaining space complete with dining area, lounges, and a pizza oven — the perfect spot to watch the sun dip below the horizon with a glass of local wine in hand.
The attention to detail is evident everywhere, from the hand-selected artworks to the tactile textures of linen, timber and stone. It’s a home designed to be both lived in and luxuriated in.
A Place to Recharge
Whether you’re exploring the nearby Freycinet National Park, taking a coastal walk, or simply curling up with a book by the fire, this is the kind of place that restores you.
The name Cooinda means “happy place” in an Aboriginal language, and it couldn’t be more fitting. Guests often comment on the sense of calm that envelops them the moment they arrive.
For wildlife lovers, the property’s position is unbeatable. Step outside at dusk and you might spot a wallaby in the garden or hear the calls of penguins returning to shore.
By day, the surrounding region offers endless opportunities for adventure — from whale-watching cruises and snorkelling trips to gourmet food trails and winery visits.
At night, the starlit sky feels close enough to touch, unpolluted and vast.
Make It More
COOINDA ON THE BEACH
16 Chadwin Avenue, Bicheno, Tasmania
The house sleeps up to six guests and is available year-round. Rates start at $600 per night (minimum two-night stay).