Pumphouse Point: This old ‘pumphouse’ in Tasmania hides an incredible luxury hotel

A 1930s hydroelectricity pumphouse nestled in a remote bay of a World Heritage listed national park is being hailed as the ‘ultimate escape’ from everyday life by holiday-starved Aussies who are unable to travel overseas.

Pumphouse Point, which is situated on Lake St Clair, at the far southern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park just two hours drive from Hobart in Tasmania, perfectly blends old and new and rustic and luxury – with its old-fashioned, distressed exterior and cosy, luxurious interiors.

The hotel has frequently been named as one of the best and most unique in Australia, thanks to its honesty bar system where you can just grab whatever you want from the hotel’s extensive selection, and the Pumphouse’s incredible other-worldly setting.

A 1930s hydroelectricity pumphouse nestled in a remote bay of a World Heritage listed national park is being hailed as the ‘ultimate escape’ from everyday life by holiday-starved Aussies (Pumphouse Point pictured)

Pumphouse Point, which is situated on Lake St Clair, at the far southern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, perfectly blends old and new and rustic and luxury (communal interior area pictured)

Pumphouse Point, which is situated on Lake St Clair, at the far southern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, perfectly blends old and new and rustic and luxury (communal interior area pictured)

Pumphouse Point, which is situated on Lake St Clair, at the far southern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, perfectly blends old and new and rustic and luxury (communal interior area pictured)

Every communal area is filled with books, roaring fireplaces and board games guests may like to play (communal area pictured)

Every communal area is filled with books, roaring fireplaces and board games guests may like to play (communal area pictured)

There are just 19 rooms split across the hydroelectric Pumphouse on the water, the main Shorehouse building and one exclusive 'Retreat' on the water's edge

There are just 19 rooms split across the hydroelectric Pumphouse on the water, the main Shorehouse building and one exclusive ‘Retreat’ on the water’s edge

There are just 19 rooms split across the hydroelectric Pumphouse on the water, the main Shorehouse building and one exclusive ‘Retreat’ on the water’s edge.

Prices start from $650 per night and are all inclusive of delicious seasonally-prepared meals, larder, e-bikes and rowboats. 

The hotel is situated at the end of the gruelling Overland Track walk, which is one of Australia’s most prolific hiking routes.

Highlights of a stay at Pumphouse Point include the rowboats you can take out on the lake, roaring fireplaces in every room and the three-course shared platter dinners served up by the staff.

Each night, guests gather to enjoy hearty, home-cooked and chef-prepared meals accompanied by local Tasmanian wines in front of a giant fireplace.

Saturday nights are particularly special, where local meats are seared over flames on two enormous grills, before being served with antipasti, chargrilled vegetables, indulgent puddings and mulled wine. 

There are also tiny libraries scattered throughout the communal areas, as well as an array of board games, luxurious bathrooms and cosy bedrooms. 

The hotel is situated at the very end of the gruelling Overland Track walk, which is one of Australia's most prolific hiking routes (the surrounding national park pictured)

The hotel is situated at the very end of the gruelling Overland Track walk, which is one of Australia’s most prolific hiking routes (the surrounding national park pictured)

Many of the bedrooms in the original Pumphouse are situated right on the water's edge (pictured)

Many of the bedrooms in the original Pumphouse are situated right on the water’s edge (pictured)

Highlights of a stay at Pumphouse Point include the rowboats you can take out on the lake, roaring fireplaces in every room and the three-course shared platter dinners served up by the staff

Highlights of a stay at Pumphouse Point include the rowboats you can take out on the lake (pictured), roaring fireplaces in every room and the three-course shared platter dinners served up by the staff

Highlights of a stay at Pumphouse Point include the rowboats you can take out on the lake (pictured), roaring fireplaces in every room and the three-course shared platter dinners served up by the staff

The hotel has frequently been named as one of the best and most unique in Australia, thanks to its honesty bar system where you can just grab whatever you want from the hotel's extensive selection (honesty bar pictured)

The hotel has frequently been named as one of the best and most unique in Australia, thanks to its honesty bar system where you can just grab whatever you want from the hotel’s extensive selection (honesty bar pictured)

Those who have been lucky enough to stay at Pumphouse Point have left glowing reviews on Tripadvisor, where the hotel boasts more than 600 five-star ratings.

‘This is a sublime location and an absolute bucket-worthy experience,’ one reviewer posted.

Another added: ‘I can’t recommend Pumphouse Point highly enough. This is an amazing place. The whole experience has been beautifully designed to fit in with its surroundings.’ 

Pumphouse Point has been named one of the top 50 hotels in Australia in Gourmet Traveller’s Australian Guide, as well as the Best of State Award for Commercial Design at the Australian Interior Design Awards.

Those who have been lucky enough to stay at Pumphouse Point have left glowing reviews on Tripadvisor, where the hotel boasts more than 600 five-star ratings (communal area pictured)

Those who have been lucky enough to stay at Pumphouse Point have left glowing reviews on Tripadvisor, where the hotel boasts more than 600 five-star ratings (communal area pictured)

The hotel is situated at the very end of the gruelling Overland Track walk, which is one of Australia's most prolific hiking routes, and there are large bathtubs for weary hikers (pictured)

The hotel is situated at the very end of the gruelling Overland Track walk, which is one of Australia’s most prolific hiking routes, and there are large bathtubs for weary hikers (pictured)

The origins of Pumphouse Point began in the 1930s, when Tasmania's Hydro Electricity Scheme set out to build a five-storey pumphouse, 900 feet on Lake St Clair, to house water turbines for their hydropower system (the Pumphouse pictured)

The origins of Pumphouse Point began in the 1930s, when Tasmania’s Hydro Electricity Scheme set out to build a five-storey pumphouse, 900 feet on Lake St Clair, to house water turbines for their hydropower system (the Pumphouse pictured)

It wasn't until 2004 when developer Simon Currant was successful in securing the lease and began his journey towards bringing Pumphouse Point back to life, and today much of the buildings remain the same from the outside (pictured)

It wasn't until 2004 when developer Simon Currant was successful in securing the lease and began his journey towards bringing Pumphouse Point back to life, and today much of the buildings remain the same from the outside (pictured)

It wasn’t until 2004 when developer Simon Currant was successful in securing the lease and began his journey towards bringing Pumphouse Point back to life, and today much of the buildings remain the same from the outside (pictured)

The origins of Pumphouse Point began in the 1930s, when Tasmania’s Hydro Electricity Scheme set out to build a five-storey pumphouse, 900 feet out onto Lake St Clair, to house enormous water turbines for their hydropower system.

The state-of-the-art facility was designed to pump water from Lake St Clair into the nearby St Clair Lagoon, where it was to be stored and fed to the nearby Tarraleah Power Station as required.

However, when the need to use this facility failed to arise, the site was eventually de-commissioned in the 1990s, before it was recognised for its significant industrial heritage and placed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register. 

It wasn’t until 2004 when developer Simon Currant was successful in securing the lease and began his journey towards bringing Pumphouse Point back to life. 

After a decade of hard work, Pumphouse Point opened its doors on January 1 2015 as a hotel. 

To this day, the buildings still stand in all their weathered glory as they have for over 70 years.

For more information about Pumphouse Point, please visit the website here. You can also follow the hotel on Instagram here