On 4th December 2006, a new 300-acre property, the Lodge at Tarraleah, opened, perched high on a plateau in the heart of Tasmania's Central Highlands.

The village of Tarraleah (meaning 'Forester Kangaroo'), on the edge of the World Heritage wilderness area, was originally built to house the pioneering hydro electricity workers in the 1930s. The village was bought by a local company in early 2005, and has been sympathetically developed to create a five star lodge with nine spa suites and a cliff-top spa tub. There are also 15 art-deco style cottages, ten apartments in the former 1940s schoolhouse 'Scholars', a gourmet restaurant, a café and tavern. Tarraleah is also offering visitors a vast array of activities, and facilities for campers and backpackers.

Tarraleah is situated midway between Hobart and the west coast town of Strahan, surrounded by Tasmania's temperate wilderness. With virtually no alternative accommodation along this popular but challenging six-hour drive, it will form a major part of Tasmania's wilderness accommodation offering, and will give visitors access to a vast area of ancient forests, streams, rivers, lakes and mountains.

Tarraleah will become Tasmania's leading fishing operator, with the state's top angler, Ken Orr, offering some of the best guided and unguided brown trout fishing in the world.

There are over 80 bird species in the region, including wedge tailed eagles and black swans. With an abundance of endemic, rare and elusive species including platypus and Tasmanian devils, Tarraleah will offer some of the best bird and wildlife spotting opportunities in Tasmania.

Activities range from playing golf on Tasmania's highest golf course, (from where on a clear day Mount Wellington in Hobart can be seen) to mountain biking, kayaking and boating on pristine lagoons, to bush-walking, 4WD adventure tours and star-safaris.

Prices for a spa suite at the Lodge at Tarraleah will range from AU$230 to AU$340 per room per night, including breakfast, pre-dinner cocktail, and a star-safari or night wildlife tour. Cottages range from AU$150 to AU$180 per night; Scholars House Apartments range in price from AU$120 to AU$150 per night.

For further information visit www.tarraleah.com