From hip hotels to glamping, Tasmania is home to some of the most creative accommodation in Australia.
Filled with history and traveller’s stories, this majestic island has become a doyenne of design in recent years, leading the country with cool accommodation offerings served up with quirky style.
Here’s 9 of the best.
Stillwater Seven, Launceston
For well over a decade Stillwater on the Launceston waterfront has been one of Tasmania’s finest restaurants and now it shares a home with a fabulous boutique hotel.
Stillwater Seven has just seven striking rooms, all of which have waterfront views and designer style.
Each room features locally designed and produced furniture, a luxury Tasmanian pantry and even locally sourced toiletries, as well as access to the private guest bar. Think Netflix, Spotify and your own private eatery.
Satellite Island, near Bruny Island
Imagine your own private island, off an island (Bruny Island), off an Island (Tasmania), off an island (Australia).
In the heart of the d’Entrecasteaux Channel, south of Hobart, Satellite Island is dramatically beautiful with native bush, ancient blue gums, sheer sea cliffs, pebble beaches and sunny coves.
This is a very upmarket beach shack from which you can fish, go kayaking or simply enjoy 30-hectares of peace and quiet.
Think comfy beds, quality linen, a pantry stocked with gourmet goods and the sound of the ocean lapping on the shore.
Pumphouse Point, Lake Saint Clair National Park
Pumphouse Point is one of Tasmania’s most dramatically beautiful destinations.
Originally constructed in 1940 to pump water for hydroelectricity, this iconic industrial site has been refurbished to offer boutique accommodation inside one of Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage areas: Cradle Mountain Lake Saint Clair National Park.
You can stay either in the Pumphouse itself – on a long pier over Lake Saint Clair – or the Shorehouse, which offers magical views. Guests can explore the national park by foot, bike and boat, fish for trout and then return to Pumphouse at day’s end to relax by the log fire.
This intimate property offers just 19 rooms including an exclusive couples’ space, The Retreat.
Corinna Wilderness Cottages
Guests take a step back in time at this delightful former mining town deep in the Tarkine wilderness on the edge of the Pieman River.
There is no phone signal here at Corinna Wilderness Cottages, no wifi, no TV signal and no mains electricity (meaning no microwaves and no hairdryers) – making it the perfect spot to chill out from the stresses and strains of daily life and breathe in the freshest air in the world.
Set among 447,000 hectares of forest, wild rivers, exposed mountains, magnesite cave systems and extensive coastal heath, the Tarkine has the largest tract of temperate rainforest in the southern hemisphere and has sacred significance to Tasmanian Aboriginal custodians.
Cradle Mountain Lodge
Once a collection of basic wilderness shacks, Cradle Mountain Lodge has been transformed to a quintessentially Tasmanian luxury experience.
One of the state’s iconic retreats underwent a facelift during the Covid-19 shutdown with a multimillion-dollar upgrade to its accommodation, dining, and spa facilities.
The five new King Billy Suites are a delight. These offer central fireplaces, outdoor spa baths and elevated mini bars featuring a variety of items from high-end Tasmanian producers. Think heated towel rails, satellite TVs and serious rural spoiling.
With walking trails and waterfalls at your doorstep, you don’t have to look too hard to find wombats, wallabies, possums, pademelons and a Tassie Devil or two.
The Ship Inn, Stanley
You need to book well in advance to snare one of the seven rooms at the Ship Inn, a cosy guest house in the cute seaside town of Stanley.
The Ship Inn started life as a pub in 1849 but today caters for modern tastes with luxury suites that start from under $200 a night. For more active guests it has its own gym and yoga studio.
The next-door cottage where former Prime Minister Joseph Lyons was born is now open to the public as a museum.
Stanley is blessed with several eateries at which to refuel after climbing the local landmark: a volcanic plug known as The Nut.
The Alabama Hotel, Hobart
This Art Deco-style hotel is the best-kept secret in downtown Hobart and is frequently used by locals who want to stay overnight in town.
The Alabama was first established as a hotel in 1867 and is believed to have been named after the visiting American naval ship the USS Alabama. It has lived through a few changes since but was reborn as an Art Deco style boutique hotel in 2013.
The rooms are simple but comfortable and there is a nice vibe – although the bathrooms are shared.
The small bar, lounge area and balcony is open 8am-9pm daily and is a great spot to meet up with friends.
Captains Rest, Strahan
Just outside the West Coast hamlet of Strahan, Captains Rest is an historically-listed, absolute waterfront cottage in Lettes Bay Village that comes with its own jetty. The area is bustling in summer, but quiet in winter.
Think cuteness, curated curiosities, fine linens and superb views; along with a clawfoot bath. There’s a full kitchen, satellite wifi, TV, picnic amenities, wood heater, electric blanket, wall heater, basic provisions and firewood.
Truffle Lodge
Open only in the summer months, Truffle Lodge offers perhaps the snazziest glamping experience in Tasmania.
Set next to a Derwent Valley hazelnut orchard, this luxury camping resort is set on 12 acres of absolute river frontage dotted with eucalyptus trees. It is promoted as “five-star luxury under canvas”.
Calling Truffle Lodge’s canvas-topped lodgings tents is, however, something of an understatement. With hand-carved wooden baths, rain-showers, king-sized beds, coffee machines and heating, the tents are better equipped than your average hotel room.
All tents are furnished with ceiling-to-floor drapes, canvas, leather and recycled wooden furniture, deep luxurious beds, large decks with hammocks and rocking chairs looking out over the river.
Plus, each tent has a private deck from which to watch the water rush by.
