Towering peaks, glacial lakes, and alpine vegetation. If these words conjure up images of the Alps or New Zealand, you’re not wrong – but there’s somewhere a little closer to home that offers all three. Join us as we take a closer look at luxury accommodation in Tasmania. 

In our perpetually online world where the only way to truly unwind (and disconnect) is to seek out far-flung destinations on lesser-travelled tracks, off-grid and secluded sanctuaries are all the rage. 

The answer to your next out-of-the-way escape, Tasmania is about as far removed from the outback scrub –meets Bondi beach mainland as you can get without travelling abroad. Here, alpine scenery abounds, with pink granite peaks and fjord-like glacial lakes spilling into temperate rainforests fringed by craggy shoreline cliffs. In winter, Mount Wellington’s peak is dusted with snow. Tasmania is home to an enviable collection of remote national parks (19 to be precise)- ripe for exploring. Resplendent natural scenery aside, the island also adds many history-rich hubs for culture, cuisine, and art to its tourism credentials. 

The Westpac Concierge service is made up of a team of travel experts who can help plan every aspect of your stay in Tasmania. We’ll also make sure you enjoy some extra-special treatment during your stay such as room upgrades, credit to use at the spa and more. What’s more, if you’re a Westpac cardholder, you might already have access to this service.

Luxury accommodation in Tasmania: city stays

The Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart  

Best for: unlocking the local art scene 

You may be a mere four-minute walk from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery but stay at this illustrious dockside hotel and you won’t have to step outside at all to immerse yourself in art. This warehouse turned art hotel was once the home of Australia’s most famous jam manufacturer – the eponymous Henry Jones IXL. Contemporary though the hotel may be (just wait until you see your room’s massive all-glass shower and spa pool), the building’s storied past remains key to the design, with stone walls and exposed beam ceilings adding an industrial flair. 

Art is central to the experience here, and you’ll have more than 500 pieces by local artists to discover. All the art appreciation will no doubt work up an appetite and, when hunger strikes, you can dine at sandstone-clad Peacock and Jones, where chef Julian Volkmer offers up his culinary love letters to local ingredients. 

📍 25 Hunter Street, Hobart TAS 7000

The Islington, Hobart 

Best for: luxury accommodation where history and contemporary design collide 

Don’t be fooled by the contemporary glass terrace that greets you as you arrive at this boutique address – The Islington propels you back to the Tasmania of yore within its regency-era home’s walls. While one only has to look at the hand-carved wooden staircase to believe that the building dates back to 1847, an abundance of antique furniture and crystal chandeliers further captures the character of a bygone era. You’ll find no chamber pots here though, and aesthetics is as far as the hotel takes its history. The rooms favour a more contemporary approach to decor and, in true Tassie style, colourful art is ubiquitous throughout.  

The Islington’s central location makes it the ideal base for trawling Hobart’s vibrant restaurant and bar scene, but there’s no need to skimp on the downtime, which you can enjoy in abundance in the hotel’s gardens – replete with tranquil ponds and Mount Wellington views. The high tea is also a must-try – an experience piled high with sweet and savoury tarts and cakes, and free-flowing bubbly to wash them down. 

📍 321 Davey Street, South Hobart TAS 7000

MONA Pavilions, Hobart 

Best for: art-led accommodation in Tasmania

A stay at MONA Pavilions is something akin to falling down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland, except instead of Wonderland, you’re in David Walsh-land: an eccentric art-led haven curated for the aesthete. Sharing a property with MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) – the country’s largest privately funded museum and Walsh’s passion project – these ultra-contemporary one- or –two-room accommodations are tucked away among the trees of the private riverside peninsula.  

If Walsh’s personal motto is not ‘more is more’ then it should be, because everything here is larger than life – from the often-eccentric art on display to the fact that the property has an on-site winery AND brewery, two fine-dining restaurants, and a constant rotation of music performances at its pop-up performance space, which was modelled after tin camps built by indigenous people.

📍 655 Main Road, Berriedale, Tasmania 7011

Luxury accommodation in Tasmania: off-the-grid escapes

Thalia Haven, East Coast of Tasmania 

Best for: bathing with a beach view 

A white deep-soaking bathtub sits alone on a wooden deck, facing out over the turquoise waters of Great Oyster Bay. This is Thalia Haven, an Instagram-worthy destination complete with a wood-fired sauna and outdoor shower. Completely off-grid and undisturbed, this eco-conscious property comprises four rustic stone cottages right on the rugged shoreline – making it a private, nature-soaked escape perfect for group getaways. 

Banishing the poky atmosphere stone cottages are known for, windows abound to bathe the contemporary yet comfortably clad interiors in natural light and deliver striking views of the surrounding coastline. This seaside sanctuary is self-catering, with a fully equipped kitchen that’ll ensure your Parmy is up to the usual standard. 

📍 House 3/11460 Tasman Highway, Little Swanport TAS 7190

Saffire Freycinet, Coles Bay 

Best for: all-round luxury accommodation in Tasmania

If Freycinet wears the crown of Tassie’s national parks, then Saffire is its jewel – a multi-award-winning retreat and champion of organic-led architecture that’s quietly tucked away in Coles Bay. It’s one of the island’s most coveted bookings and we’d be remiss not to say that it seems plucked from a dream – park off on your private deck’s chaise longue with a drink from your fully stocked bar in hand and gaze at the sunset-bathed pink granite peaks of the Hazards across the bay, and we bet you’ll see why.  

Chef Paddy Prenter’s acclaimed home-grown gastronomy is a delight available exclusively to guests – and that’s just one of the five-star perks at Saffire. From the personalised spa programmes to your pavilion’s private plunge pool, you’ve got everything you need for a rejuvenating retreat. Unlock Freycinet’s wonders through the complimentary excursions and activities on offer – whether you’ve set your sights on Wineglass Bay, with its crescent beach perfect for strolls, swimming, and soaking up the sun, or want to head to the nearby Marine Oyster Farm to wash down freshly shucked oysters with some fizz. 

📍 2352 Coles Bay Road, Coles Bay TAS 7215

Thousand Lakes Lodge, Central Plateau 

Best for: a steppingstone into Tasmania’s great outdoors 

Once an Antarctic training camp, Thousand Lakes Lodge is the off-the-grid destination of any conscious traveller’s dreams. What really stands out about this spot though is just how remote it is – located deep within the Western Lakes district of the Central Plateau. A haven for the avid outdoor enthusiast, the lodge is your gateway to Tassie’s highlands – and all the hiking, biking, fishing, and animal spotting the region has to offer.  

Exploring the great outdoors may be at the top of your to-do list for the duration of your stay, but the lodge’s appeal lies in ensuring that your daily homecoming is one to look forward to. You’ll return home to the communal lounge, where a crackling fire provides a cosy backdrop to tales of wild brown trout fishing or e-bike riding shared with fellow guests over a well-earned drink from the lodge’s extensive artisanal alcohol collection. 

📍 1247 Lake Augusta Road, Central Plateau TAS 7304