As one of Hobart’s most recognisable landmarks – and Tasmania’s tallest building – the 73m tower is one of those structures that is so familiar to most of us, that we tend to drive past it without really thinking too much about what’s inside.

But when you’re six and nine, there’s a certain level of excitement about spending the night inside such an unusual-looking curved building, especially when that building has an exterior that is lit in vibrant colours every evening.

And stepping inside the newly renovated Wrest Point – which has undergone $65m worth of upgrades over the past six years – also elicited some fresh excitement from me, because despite having visited the venue many times over the past four decades, the once-tired hotel and casino is now looking surprisingly sleek and sophisticated.

Step through the front doors and it’s like stepping into an entirely different hotel – the reception area has undergone a major overhaul and a curved lounge area, complete with bold peacock-inspired carpet, plush, jewel-toned seating and mirrored detailing creates a cosy and luxurious spot to sit and relax.

The Birdcage Bar opposite is looking equally as grown-up, along with the nearby Longhorn Smokehouse, where guests dine each evening in deep, curved booths upholstered in velvet, or in banquette seating swathed in leather.

But of course my two young boys were most interested in zipping up the Wrest Point tower in an elevator, to check out their room for the night.

As a family of four, having interconnecting Tower rooms – a Harbour Suite and a Deluxe Harbour Twin – was a perfect set-up. The boys felt grown up because they had their own room, with their own TV and bathroom, but they were still only a few steps away from Mum and Dad through an interconnecting door.

Meanwhile our suite was more spacious, with a king bed and smart TV, a separate living area with another TV, a walk-in robe/dressing room/luggage storage area and a roomy bathroom with a bath tub, a separate shower and toilet, and double sinks.

Our sunny, light-filled rooms looked out towards the Tasman Bridge, also overlooking Hobart’s waterfront and the Wrest Point lawns, and staff say a lot of thought was put into the design of the new rooms to ensure that the fixtures and fittings were modern but didn’t compete with, or distract from, the stunning views.

Altis Architecture was responsible for the sophisticated new design of Wrest Point – which aside from the aforementioned reception area, Birdcage Bar and Longhorn Smokehouse, also includes a new water feature in the hotel forecourt, a new sports bar and gaming areas and a revamped boardwalk area.

And of course, Wrest Point’s 271 rooms have also received significant upgrades, with local carpenters, joiners, upholsters and other tradespeople coming together to inject some Tassie flavour into the hotel, which is owned by the Federal Group.

Wrest Point has three accommodation offerings – the 4.5-star Wrest Point Tower (196 rooms), the 4-star Wrest Point Water Edge (42 rooms), and the 3.5-star Wrest Point Motor Inn (33 rooms).

There has been a major refurbishment in the tower and water edge areas, while the motor inn underwent a soft refurbishment.

As part of the facelift, the Water Edge rooms and corridors have been painted a deep shade of green, with the walls showcasing large black and white images of the many celebrities who have performed at the venue since it opened in 1973, including Tina Turner, Jerry Lewis, Shirley Bassey, Dame Edna Everage, Kasey Chambers and John Farnham.

Meanwhile back in the tower, warmth is added to the freshly renovated rooms through timber accents, textured cushions, throws from Tasmanian company Waverley Woollen Mills and local artworks, while on the upper levels the furniture has also been handcrafted locally. Heavy curtains and comfy beds ensure a good night’s sleep.

But upgrading the tower rooms wasn’t easy – curtain tracks and bedheads were too big for the hotel’s elevators, so they had to be lifted in through the windows with a crane.

As much as I could have relaxed and enjoyed the view from my room all afternoon, the boys decided there were other – more important – things that we needed to do.

Like playing a round of mini golf on the grassy lawn, overlooking the River Derwent, where we watched birds flit about in the spring sunshine as we cheered on my six-year-old who fluked a hole-in-one on the very first hole.

It was an achievement that none of us came close to matching for the rest of the course, which further fuelled our master putter’s excitement.

Another cause of great excitement was the heated indoor pool and hot tub. It was a fun way for the boys to burn off some energy, particularly on the first day of our stay, as we needed to work up an appetite for dinner at Longhorn Smokehouse.

Dinner here got thumbs up from both the adults and the children in our family – the staff were attentive, the food was delicious, the decor was stylish but the vibe was still relaxed, and sitting near the large windows – complete with water views – was a nice bonus.

The boys enjoyed burgers, chips and ice cream from the children’s menu, while my husband and I feasted on marinated and grilled calamari, Tasmanian scotch fillet, fried blooming shallots, corn ribs, fries and a chocolate almond brownie to share for dessert.

Inspiration for the restaurant – which uses recycled timber and metal accents to help give it a modern, barn-style feel – comes from Robbins Island, off Tasmania’s North-West Coast, where the Hammond family has been breeding Wagyu cattle for the past 20 years and supplies meat to the restaurant.

We also enjoyed a couple of pre-dinner cocktails in The Birdcage Bar, sipping delectable creations made by a bartender in a tropical-print shirt, while admiring the colourful wall murals and the two shimmering Swarovski crystal-encrusted peacocks on display in the window.

We spent day two enjoying another swim and a buffet breakfast at the Boardwalk Bistro before our 11am checkout.

It was the first time in about 15 or 20 years that I’d actually stayed at Wrest Point, and it had been a while since I’d last visited the venue for a meal or a show.

I was certainly surprised – and impressed – by the renovations, and the fact that, in many areas, it feels like an entirely new venue.

Meanwhile the boys returned home, happy that they finally know what’s inside the giant tower that they’ve driven past so many times before.

The author was a guest of Wrest Point.

MAKE A NOTE

Wrest Point is located at 410 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay and has undergone a $65m makeover.

There are 271 rooms – prices start from $189 per night for a Motor Inn room, $199 for a Water Edge room, $219 for a Tower room, and $459 for a Tower suite.

Call 1800 030 611 to book, and quote the codeword ‘Value Direct’ to receive a $20 food and beverage credit per night, along with a late checkout, free parking, free wi-fi, Foxtel and access to the hotel’s pool and gym. See more at wrestpoint.com.au.