Thank you for your great ideas and photos. I love the concept and have been thinking about this idea also even a basic series of large timber frames to line the path. I really do need the shelter though so I pretty much want exactly what you suggest. A raised, almost floating verandah roof starting from the inside cutout of the roofline (to get height) and angled down to match the garage/stone wall but yes 600mm or so gap and say timber lined with nice chunky timber post or even stone based posts. My worry was would this look out of place in what is a simple country home and the best way to finish it off and "ground" the structure so it looks like it belongs to the original building. It is doable I'm sure but I don't want it to look odd either. The devil is in the detail so they so. Thanks again for your thoughts and ideas.

as a landlord you have a legal safety obligation to your tenants and if the verandah is over 1m off the ground you also need a 1m high railing above the floor of the verandah...you could always just paint the concrete and hope for the best but a repair that requires a new timber deck and steps will be a better tax deduction and a long lasting investment ..consider the diy treated pine stainable decking available from the major hardware

Great you are making some improvements. I was going to suggest some screening in front of the two windows so cupboards work. With you steps widen as much as possible and then add a horizontal plank on top of the retaining wall you have to act as a long seat. This and the steps will give more informal seating and add some depth. Consider some tall plants at start of your wind tunnel to disperse the wind or angled slats

I think you will have a difficult time achieving a tropical look in Tasmania, and at the same time missing out on one of the best things about living there. The temperate climate. You have access to garden species that those of us in the warmer states could only dream about. Why not use that? I'm not convinced you need a retaining wall anywhere except possibly under the patio. You definately need some bushes between 1-2m in height in that empty garden bed near the port box, to add a bit of visual interest and take away the fisheye effect of the sloping land. You are definately going to need either deciduous or frost hardy species. Off the top of my head these would do well there.... Silver birch, weeping or upright. It's a beautiful tree that loves the cold weather and gives you the added bonus of as much natural sunlight to your home as possible during winter when you need it. Also lovely soft screening that won't become a jungle in the front of your home. Pairs beautifully with Japanese maples for a lovely woodland look. Rhododendrons make a wonderful feature plant with it's spectacular display of flowers. If one of these is too large look to azalea's which are just low growing relatives. Under your deck seems like the perfect location for a Tassie native, the Dicksonia. Come on how could you not grow these?