Summit to Shaft
Winter Underground
The Off Season at Risby Cove — intimate, firelit and uniquely Tasmanian
A Winter Made for the West Coast
In winter, Risby Cove takes on a different rhythm.
Set directly on Macquarie Harbour, the hotel turns inward; fires lit, suites warmed and the pace deliberately slowed. With fewer visitors on the West Coast, winter brings a rare sense of privacy, stillness and connection that summer cannot offer.
This is a season for lingering meals, quiet mornings on the water and experiences shaped by place rather than schedule.
Carved from the West Coast
From frost-dusted peaks to lantern-lit mine tunnels, this is a winter journey found nowhere else in Tasmania. Summit to Shaft is a rare, immersive day shaped by the West Coast’s extreme landscape, deep industrial history and winter conditions — exclusively available for Risby Cove guests.
Mountain Summit to Mine Floor
Begin high above Queenstown with a private 4WD ascent onto Mount Owen, where winter fog, wind and cold-season cloud transform the landscape into something stark and cinematic. From the summit, sweeping alpine views reveal the West Coast at its most raw.
Descend into mist-laced rainforest to walk old tracks once cut by miners and piners. Try your hand at pioneer-style gold panning and ore sampling, connecting directly with the labour and ingenuity that shaped this region.
This is not a tour — it is a passage through place, season and history.
Suites Designed for Winter
Winter at Risby Cove is experienced as much in the suite as beyond it.
Private hot tubs and infrared saunas are positioned for cold-season living; stepping from night air into warmth as rain moves across the harbour. Sparkling wine and chocolate truffles complete the nightly Romance Ritual.
Package Inclusions
Three nights in one of our luxurious suites
Welcome drink and cheese platter on arrival
One exclusive Summit to Shaft experience, including:
Private 4WD ascent to Mt Owen
Old world forest walk and pioneer gold panning
Deep underground Jukes mine tour and picking for ore
Three-course miners’ crib lunch underground on mine floor
Nightly four-course dinners at Risby’s Signature Restaurant
Daily continental breakfast hamper delivered to suite
Personalised pre-arrival concierge to plan your stay
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Available for stay from 1st of May to 31st of August 2026 only, minimum stay 3 nights in any of our suites.
Offer subject to change without notice. Summit to Shaft experience is weather permitting, and itinerary may be modified at our discretion
Waterfront Bliss
Set directly on Macquarie Harbour and built on the former Risby Brothers sawmill site, Risby Cove is Strahan’s only true waterfront luxury retreat.
Winter experiences here are offered quietly and in limited numbers, shaped by season, setting and history rather than scale.
Discover Risby Cove
Retreat to the tranquillity of our luxurious newly renovated suites this winter with our exclusive packages and offers.