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Maria Island Walk’s Bernacchi House Restored To Former Glory

For those that have done Maria Island Walk, you’ll know your final pit-stop of historic Bernacchi House in Darlington is a much loved and welcomed place to spend your final night of this four day walk, with its comfortable lounges, lovely dining area, porch perfect for wine and cheese, and hot showers.

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed area of Darlington, Bernacchi House recently received a beautiful and gentle heritage restoration by the Maria Island Walk/Wildbush Luxury team, bringing back much of the charm and sparkle of its former glory when it was one of the finest houses on the island.

Local Tasmanian designer Laura Stucken, also co-owner of Van Bone Restaurant, was in charge of redesign and choose a colour palette in warm natural earthy to breathe freshness into the homestead, which is a local landmark for her.

“As Van Bone looks out over Maria Island, I am very familiar with the landscape, environment, and the history of the island, and understand how important materials, furniture and finishing touches are to capturing the spirit of a place,” she said.

“I was delighted to work with the team on the re-design of Bernacchi House which now feels refreshed and sophisticated but still remains true to the building’s fabric and story.”

Local artisans were commissioned to design and make some new furniture, including Simon Ancher Studio’s beautiful sustainable Tasmanian timber beds and Scott Van Tuil’s sandstone tables, paying homage to the gorgeous Painted Cliffs on the island, much loved by the community.

Local potters Tim and Tammy Holmes also brought their work to ceramics through the house, and other furnishings and joinery was sourced from artisans and suppliers in the Hobart area.

To come and experience the revitalised beauty of Bernacchi, book the award-winning four day, three night Maria Island Walk today. Running from October to May each year, it celebrates fantastic walking (with optional climbs if you like), indigenous culture, settler history and wildlife galore, as Australia’s unofficial home of wombats and many other animals.

Book Maria Island Walk Now

“Ten days ago, I’d have struggled to identify a single flower, bird call or animal track in either of these magnificent Australian landscapes. Now, thanks to this clever and considering pairing of walks, led by two sets of infectiously passionate and wonderfully knowledgeable guides, they feel like reassuringly familiar treasures.” Rob McFarland, Traveller, Sydney Morning Herald/The Age.

Ranges To River combines two of the Great Walks of Australia – Arkaba Walk and Murray River Walk – into one magical nine day, 80 km hiking adventure through some of South Australia’s most iconic and stunning outback landscapes.

Traveller Magazine (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age) recently came and experienced the double Great Walk, profiled in their July 2021 cover story.

Read the full Ranges To River Double Great Walk Of Australia article in Traveller

Interested in experiencing it for yourself?

Remaining dates of Ranges To River Double Great Walk in 2022 are:

June 23 – July 1, 2022

July 28 – August 5, 2022

August 24 – September 2, 2022

Get more information and book the Ranges To River Walk here

Congratulations to Seven Peaks Walk’s Pinetrees Lodge on Lord Howe Island, which has just become Australia’s first-ever certified carbon neutral hotel through the Australian Government’s Climate Active Program .

The base accommodation for guests on the Seven Peaks Walk, Pinetrees Lodge wanted to demonstrate that with commitment and investment small businesses can be leaders in environmental and social change.

Following a rigourous certification period, the team spend over $5million in renovations to reduce the lodge’s carbon footprint. These measures included implementing solar passive design principles, converting 95% of lights to LED, water saving taps and toilet, and installing a part of the Fuji wastewater system.

Reducing waste, installing worm farms and compost bins and building a large organic market garden to reduce food miles were also part of the grand plan.

In total, they have managed to reuse their power consumption by 30% and water consumption for 35%.

Their carbon emissions from all sources was audited and offset with investments in habitat protection programs in Indonesia and Tasmania.

This only adds to the already amazing work Pinetrees Lodge is doing in conversation on Lord Howe Island, including regenerating the critically endangered Sallywood Swamp Forest – the only known patch in the world.

All Great Walks of Australia members are committed to conservation and preservation of the places we walk in and are very proud of Seven Peaks Walk and Pinetrees Lodge for everything they have committed to having achieved this certification.

Find out more about this special offer here: greatwalksofaustralia.com.au/offer

It’s not just the views and walks that knock your socks off on the Great Walks Of Australia… we give our guests some most incredible food experiences you can have in the wilderness, anywhere in the world!

Get a taste of some of the gourmet delights served to fuel your journey on the Great Walks Of Australia, and download our free cookbook ‘Recipes To Share’ now!

From Peter Kuruvita’s beetroot curry on the Seven Peaks Walk to braised Saltbush Lamb shoulder on The Arkaba Walk and orange bread and butter pudding on the Murray River Walk, we showcase the finest hyper local ingredients we can get our hands on, all freshly caught, picked and prepared for you to enjoy on your walk.