NRMA buys Lake St Clair resort
The NRMA is continuing to push into Tasmanian experiential tourism – also known as immersion travel – picking up Lake St Claire’s unique Pumphouse Point for a speculated $20 million.
The resort – with 31 rooms in two 1940s former hydroelectricity stations inside the state’s Wilderness World Heritage Area – was offered by tourism entrepreneur Simon Currant, who opened it on Crown land in 2015.
It took over two decades to garner approval.
JLL’s Peter Harper and Nick MacFie were the agents.
The deal comes 19 months since the motoring body paid RACV $130m for three Tasmanian resorts – Freycinet Lodge, the Cradle Mountain Hotel and Strahan Village – and the state’s Gordon River Cruises business.
Pumphouse Point
The bulk of Pumphouse Point’s tourist accommodation – 19 rooms – are in an ex-pumphouse.
The balance are in the Shorehouse building.
The cheapest suites are from $750 per night; the priciest is $1900.
There are also three bars and a restaurant (story continues below).
Massages are offered there too, as is boat and bike hire.
NRMA said the purchase is part of its expansion strategy into experiential tourism.
“The acquisitions of the business provides another opportunity for the organisation to showcase Tasmania’s exceptional natural environment and the best regional Australia has to offer,” NRMA Expeditions chief executive officer, Rachel Wiseman, added.
“Nature based tourism experiences are in high demand,” according to the executive.
“We need exceptional accommodation that delivers amazing experiences in remote locations,” she said.
“These are precious places that have significant meaning to our biodiversity and local communities”.
At the southern edge of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Lake St Clair is about 40 kilometres from Cradle Mountain.
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