Furneaux Islands Festival Weekend

Echo Hills is a boutique rural retreat at the foothills of the magnificent Darling Ranges, Flinders Island with uninterrupted views to the east across farmland to Babel Island and Patriarch Inlet. At night, you can see the lighthouse on Cat Island - one of 52 windswept islands in the Furneaux Group, most of them uninhabited. This charming, and completely private cottage is at the heart of Flinders Island – centrally located, 20 minutes from the bustling townships of Whitemark and Lady Barron, as well as the airport and rugged coastlines. The airy, open-plan kitchen and dining space is a great spot to enjoy a lazy afternoon or post-beach drink. Sliding glass doors open onto a timber deck where you can watch the sunrise above Bass Strait or simply enjoy the serenity and wildlife. A cosy sunroom provides comfy reading chairs so you can spend hours relaxing or losing yourself in a good book. The modern kitchen is fully equipped with everything you need to create restaurant quality meals. The living room has comfortable sofas, a TV, reverse-cycle air-conditioning, and a wood-burning heater to keep you extra toasty on colder evenings. There are two large queen-sized bedrooms and a third with two king-singles, all fitted with luxury designer 100 percent cotton bed linen and hotel quality doonas.

As a Land For Wildlife property, if you are not into Australia's natural environment, don't bother going any further. The Perch, a bespoke energy-efficiently designed house located on two rocks on a secluded beachfront property on Flinders Island, and has facilities to accommodate up to four adults. These include two large luxury bedrooms (2 King or 4 Single) with built-in robes, two bathrooms and two toilets, all linen plus beach towels, along with a generous open living and dining area with a modern, fully equipped kitchen. BBQ facilities are also available. In addition to the above modern conveniences such as telephone access and mobile phone, Wi-Fi are included with the rate. The house has many activities to keep you occupied, including TV, games and puzzles. For the outdoor enthusiast, take advantage of the fishing, kayaks, boogie boards and snorkelling equipment. Landscaped native gardens with walks surround the house and access to the beach. The home away from home without the hassles of maintenance and management, but to appreciate both the Island and The Perch, you need to spend a minimum of 4 nights. Note the property is only licensed to accommodate 4 persons and is not suited for children.

Sawyers Bay Shacks offers upmarket, stylish but relaxed absolute beachfront accommodation on Flinders Island. Purpose-built as the ultimate beach shack getaway, they are located on acres of farmland fronting a beautiful calm water sandy beach with large granite boulders (voted by The Age as Australia's top secret beach). A wall of glass in the main living area lets you enjoy the spectacular Bass Strait views, whatever the weather. Whether it is a barefoot summer beach break or a cosy getaway by the open fire in winter, anytime is a great time to come to Sawyers Bay Shacks. Sawyers Bay is a great location to be on Flinders Island as they are central to everything the island has to offer. They are just a 15-minute drive from the main town but at the same time isolated in pristine wilderness on a beach with no public access. The shacks are fitted out with good quality furniture, linen and kitchen appliances. The property is teeming with wildlife, including hundreds of wallabies that come out to feed on the pasture at dusk. A visit to Sawyers Bay Shacks is a magical experience you will remember for life.