It’s late afternoon and the Hobart horizon is tinged with pink as day begins to turn into night.

I’ve chosen a room with a water view, so not only do I have clear sight of the city skyline, but I can see across to Blundstone Arena at Bellerive and down the River Derwent to Wrest Point and beyond.

It’s a city I’ve lived in for all 43 years of my being, a city I know so well.

Yet it looks different from up here. Yes, I can see landmarks like St David’s Cathedral, Cat and Fiddle Arcade, Elizabeth Mall, Hadley’s Orient Hotel, the Treasury building and the GPO clock. But I’m seeing them in a new light. I can also see old signage – for businesses such as Kodak and Fitzgeralds – now hidden from everyday view at street level, which hark back to a bygone era.

A few gulls fly past, reminding me that I am most definitely getting a bird’s eye view of the city.

And it feels like such a luxury, to have time to simply sit and enjoy the view.

Action-packed holidays with a long list of daily activities certainly have their place.

But sometimes, all you need is a bit of peace and quiet.

And, when you’re a parent of two young children, it’s nice to leave the noise, and the mess, and the mental load at home, for a quiet, solo night of rest, relaxation and scenery-gazing.

I’m at Crowne Plaza, part of the InterContinental Hotels Group, and despite being right in the middle of Hobart’s CBD I’m struck by how quiet it is inside this 235-room hotel.

While I can see the hustle and bustle of the city, I can’t hear it. In fact, I barely hear a sound coming from outside my room during my entire stay, apart from the odd closing door in the corridor. The soundproofing here is first rate.

Being in the heart of the city, the hotel is an ideal base for visitors who are interested in shopping, sightseeing and eating out. But it’s also a great place for locals to escape to.

Crowne Plaza is only a few kilometres from my home, so there was little need for planning – I just threw a few clothes and toiletries in an overnight bag, got dropped off at the door, and I was ready to unwind.

It was a feat made easier thanks to the assortment of T2 teas in my room, a walk-in rain shower with Antipodes toiletries, a smart TV that allowed me to easily stream Spotify for some tunes, the exceptionally comfy bed and the snuggly alpaca and merino wool throw blanket which was perfect for curling up on the lounge by the window to watch the world below.

I’ve actually stayed at Crowne Plaza once before – to celebrate my grandmother’s 80th birthday in late 2020, only a few months after the hotel opened. And on my most recent visit, I noticed a few things had changed – for the better.

The hotel is on a mission to redefine the concept of hospitality by implementing numerous environmentally-conscious practices to achieve carbon reduction targets and show that luxury and sustainability can go hand-in-hand.

In-room experiences are now “greener” – the hotel uses bamboo key cards for guests, as well as an all-digital experience in-room, eliminating the majority of plastic and paper collateral. Bulk toiletries in each room eliminate small single-use containers, and there are also no plastic straws in the hotel.

Rooms have occupancy sensors, so when guests step out of their room for more than 15 minutes, curtains and blinds automatically close, lights turn off and the air conditioner goes into economy mode. When guests return to the room, the automated shutdown is switched off.

Water saving is also a priority, with plumbing fixtures designed to lower water consumption in showers, taps and toilets, without affecting water pressure.

As part of the “A Greener Stay” program, guests staying for two nights or more can opt out of housekeeping services to decrease their environmental impact, and in return be rewarded with IHG One rewards points.

And the recent installation of more than 200 solar panels is also helping the hotel reduce its annual electricity bill and its footprint.

There are a range of room types at Crowne Plaza Hobart, from standard rooms to more spacious suites, some of which feature luxury bathtubs with a view, and offer the choice of mountain or city views.

And it would be easy to spend the whole stay relaxing in your room. But of course there are other parts of the hotel which are worth exploring.

I stayed in a King Standard Club Room, which gives guests access to the Club Lounge located on Level 12, the top floor of the hotel. Club Room guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast here daily, complimentary coffee and tea during the day and complimentary evening drinks and canapes from 5pm – 7pm.

I embraced this evening offering, enjoying the view from Aura (Crowne Plaza Hobart’s rooftop restaurant and lounge bar), which is where the Club Lounge is located

Aura offers amazing views of the Hobart skyline in all directions, which I happily admired while sipping a fruity mocktail from the bar and helping myself to a delicious selection of canapes, including vegetarian arancini with romesco sauce, slow-cooked octopus, and chicken dumplings with chilli and soy vinegar.

I could easily have stayed here all night, polishing off plate after plate of those mouth-watering arancini balls.

But I needed to leave room for my main course and dessert downstairs at Core Restaurant and Bar.

I had planned to eat outdoors at The Deck (Crowne Plaza’s outdoor dining option, adjacent to Core), but on this particular night Hobart was being lashed by wild winds, so inside was a better option.

All eateries at the hotel source produce from local small-batch suppliers, and the kitchens have implemented low-waste processes.

I enjoyed watching the chefs work in the open kitchen as I dined on a calamari salad and a flan de queso (creme caramel) dessert, while also working my way through the mocktail menu (Marshmallow Passionfruit is my top pick).

Then it was time to return to my room for a quiet night in.

After a restful night of sleep, I woke when I was ready to – no kids or pets to pester me here – and opened the blockout blinds to a beautiful blue-sky day.

The view was just as good from the Club Lounge, where I enjoyed the breakfast buffet – there were plenty of hot options, and the chef will cook eggs to your liking, but I opted to fill a bowl with housemade granola and Bircher muesli, piled high with coconut yoghurt, nuts, shredded coconut and berry compote, along with a few bite-sized pastries.

I was impressed to see a selection of gluten-free and dairy-free options included as part of the breakfast spread.

I could see kunanyi/Mt Wellington covered in a fresh dumping of snow, and chatting to the chef I discovered the weather was wild last night – the city was lashed by thunder and high winds.

But, cocooned in my soundproof oasis of luxury, I didn’t hear a thing.

The author was a guest of Crowne Plaza.

MAKE A NOTE

Crowne Plaza Hobart is a high-rise, 235-room hotel located at 110 Liverpool St in the CBD, above Myer. Prices start from $200 per night for a standard room, or $300 for a room with Club Lounge access. There are three dining options within the hotel, all open seven days a week. Core Restaurant and Bar serves breakfast, lunch & dinner from 6.30am-11pm, The Deck serves food and drinks from 10.30am until late (with happy hour from 4pm-6pm, Monday to Friday), while Aura Lounge Bar + Dining opens for lunch and dinner from midday until late and can also be hired for private events. crowneplaza.com/hobart