This place is sublime. It’s quite an experience to arrive at the container, which is perched halfway up Mt Arthur, and offering breathtaking views of the pastoral valleys below. The afternoon sun casts a dreamy golden light against the undulating hills, and the sheep grazing on the grass make it look like you’ve stumbled upon a real life impressionist painting. No photos or words about this place can do it justice – it’s simply something you must experience in person. The interior of the container is stunning, and walking in for the first time is like arriving at a better, cosier version of your own home.

Susie and Gordon provide so many welcoming touches – a beautiful array of breakfast foods laid out on the kitchen bench like a still life, ugg boots to keep your feet warm, fur covered hot water bottles, a gently smouldering fire, and little notes explaining all the features of the container.

The container is decorated beautifully – lots of warm earthy tones to match the landscape outside, and the huge picture windows on either end of the living space are a great spot to curl up with a good book. This is a place to enjoy peace and solitude away from the frenetic chaos of city life. It’s a space to become re-acquainted with the crackly warmth of records, and also the deep silence of the countryside, which is only broken by the sound of kookaburras and sheep munching on grass.

Bathing outside under the stars, or in the morning when the sun peeks over the trees, is an experience we will never forget, nor is gazing out at the golden landscape with Simon and Garfunkel playing softly in the background. There’s an abundance of wood to build up roaring fires and the galley kitchen is incredibly well equipped with utensils, local produce, and Tasmanian wines.

Susie and Gordon were excellent hosts. Like others have said, you won’t even know they’re there, despite the fact that their house is only a few hundred metres up the hill. We got a lovely text from Susie on our first night to let us snow about snow further up the mountain, and a reminder to keep warm and keep our fire stoked.

We have stayed at some luxurious places around the world, but we are both in agreement that the container trumps them all. We’re torn between sharing this place with all our friends and keeping it as our little secret.

Thank you, Susie and Gordon, for providing this magical place. We were so sad to leave, but we’re looking forward to coming back next winter!

Monica and Jessica