Delight in the little details: Hotels Tasmania

WHAT are the little things that make in some of Tasmania's nicest hotels so memorable?

IT'S the little things that make something truly special. So what are the little things that make in some of Tasmania's nicest hotels so memorable?

Dragonfly Lodge
Rocky Hills (Swansea)
11903 Tasman Highway,
Rocky Hills

Perched on a rocky block a few hundred metres above the spectacular eastern coast, this innovative house takes full advantage of its ocean panorama. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the stunning outlook, which takes in Schouten Island, Coles Bay and the Hazards mountain range.

The lodge was designed around the landscape and built using local stone so it blends with its surroundings. The living areas offer unsurpassed views, as does the main bedroom.

It has an additional two bedrooms, all with king beds that can be split into singles, and each has its own ensuite. A living area with a central stone fireplace forms the hub of the home. The open kitchen has quality equipment and opens on to the dining area, and the owners' passion for all things Asian is reflected in the high-quality finish and furnishings throughout, including stone monks and antique apothecary cabinets. They have even created their own Dragonfly toiletries.

Dragonfly Lodge is the ideal base for a family or three couples to explore all the East Coast has to offer head south to Port Arthur or north to the Freycinet Peninsula.
See beautifulaccommodation.com/dragonflylodge

Somerset on the Pier
Elizabeth Street Pier, Hobart

You can't get more waterfront in Hobart than this, with the River Derwent providing picturesque surrounds on three sides of Somerset on the Pier. The building is a stylish conversion of the historic 1930s Elizabeth Street pier.

Downstairs are cafes and restaurants, plus a flotilla of watercraft from historic wooden boats and sailboats, to fishing trawlers and maxi-yachts. Upstairs are the apartments, each with incredible water views across Constitution Dock or to Salamanca Place and Mt Wellington in the distance.

The apartments are all similar in style, with the option of one or two bedrooms, making them perfect for couples, small families and business travellers wanting plenty of space and those superb views. If we had to pick a favourite, we would go for a north-facing apartment with a private balcony.

Somerset on the Pier is within walking distance of everything that Hobart has to offer, including the fresh catches of the day from Constitution Dock's floating seafood shops. Stock up on Tassie oysters, grab a bottle of sparkling and enjoy this indulgent feast in the luxury of your own apartment.
See beautifulaccommodation.com/somerset

Clydesdale Manor
Sandy Bay (near Hobart)
292 Sandy Bay Rd, Hobart

This is what a boutique hotel experience should be. In the perfect spot in Hobart's exclusive Sandy Bay area, it has just enough rooms to keep it feeling personalised, with attentive service from hosts who are helpful yet unobtrusive. And their optional breakfasts go beyond the everyday to achieve gourmet status. It also helps that the property is a beautifully restored Victorian manor one of Tasmania's heritage gems.

You know you will be in for a memorable experience when you first lay eyes on Clydesdale Manor. With classic lines and grand proportions, the superb restoration offers a mix of antiques and contemporary furnishings, which is exemplified in the guest lounge, with an inviting wood fire, chesterfields and stunning English wallpaper.

There are seven guest rooms, each with beautiful ensuites. We love the suites with their veranda overlooking the garden and bespoke two-person spa, and the front rooms are equally gorgeous with views of Mt Wellington.
See beautifulaccommodation.com/clydesdalemanor

Hatherley Birrell Collection
Launceston
Various locations, Launceston

Hatherley Birrell Collection is a divine collection of inner-city Launceston accommodation as diverse as they are gorgeous. The name is also a play on the owner's love of art, with gallery-quality pieces in each property.

The first options are set in the historically significant 1830s Hatherley House. There are two suites in the main house: one in the former ballroom with a contemporary dance theme, the other downstairs and decorated to reflect an original Matisse lithograph that features in the room. Both have exquisite bathrooms forming a translucent cube that in themselves are a work of art.

The next option fuses classic Edwardian splendour with contemporary interior design. This one-bedroom apartment (with office space) features bold artworks, an impressive Carrera marble kitchen and a deck overlooking the city and the river beyond.

The last option is completely different. It's a visual knockout a modernist interpretation of an inner-city apartment with a cubist-like design featuring innovative finishes, bright colours and clever use of space. They are all within walking distance of everything that Launceston offers.

See beautifulaccommodation.com/hatherley

This is an edited extract from Beautiful Accommodation, Victoria & Tasmania, Hardie Grant Publishing, RRP $24.95 and available at all good bookstores.