A Historic Stay at Raffah House, Oatlands
For our final stop on our Tasmanian roadtrip, we crisscrossed our way back through Hobart, heading north to the Southern Midlands region, where we reunited with Raffah House; a stunning sandstone cottage in the quaint town of Oatlands.
When we arrived, the sun was sinking low, spilling dappled shadows onto the walls from the willow tree in the courtyard, and as I glanced up, I could see smoke puffing from the chimney; a fire started inside as a simple yet appreciated courtesy of our host.
We've opened these doors before during a prior stay, however, the cottage seemed to feel brand new again. And as we walked inside, we found another sweet surprise in the kitchen; a bowl of juicy tomatoes, freshly picked from Raffah’s very own garden beds.
It’s in these lovely little details that remind me why I fell in love with Raffah House in the first place. Like the perfectly styled beds, lending to a perfect night’s sleep, and the heated flooring in the bathroom, where the large freestanding bath can be found, along with the beautiful alfresco dining area outside, ideal for barbeques during those warmer months.
With the end of our trip insight, there’s truly no other place I’d rather reflect in, than here.
These past two weeks have flown by, and having done a full circle of Tasmania, I’m feeling an overwhelming sense of joy, as we spend our last days in the historic and beautiful township of Oatlands.
Returning to these romantic streets after visiting here three years ago, we were brought back under the spell of its familiar old-world charms; with sandstone buildings dotted about at every turn, and the prominent Callington Mill standing proudly over the village.
But something noticeable was the feeling that Oatlands is about to move ahead in leaps and bounds, with the Mill grounds undergoing a transformation into an architecturally designed whisky distillery, along with ornate shopfronts in working progress, soon to open their doors.
And then there are the gems that are already here, waiting to be discovered; from the wine and cheese bar, Imbibers, and the beloved local pub, The Kentish, to the inspired art gallery, Podium, and the sweet eatery, The Pancake and Crepe Shop.
Given the way this town is heading, there's really no reason to delay a visit, particularly while you can still claim to have discovered this hidden hideaway for yourself — before its true promise becomes crystal clear.
