There were “oohs” and “aahs” as the boys quickly spotted a timber table in their wing of the suite, adorned with blank sheets of paper and a tub of coloured pencils, inviting them to unleash their creativity.

Then they spotted a basket of board games, packed with an assortment of titles to suit kids (and adults) of all ages, along with a selection of picture books ideal for bedtime reading. And of course they were also excited about the side-by-side single beds and the fact they had their own bathroom, as well as a loungeroom complete with their own TV, perfect for watching early-morning cartoons while mum and dad enjoy a sleep in.

And then, when they looked out the window and realised we were only a short stroll from Riverbend Park, the boys were convinced they were in kiddie paradise.

But it’s not just kids that are well catered for here. We stayed in a newly renovated Two Bedroom River View Suite, which is a combination of a River View Studio and a One Bedroom River View Suite, sharing a lockable adjoining alcove. The benefit of this, was that we got to be together as a family, but still had our own space.

The spacious suites allow for kids to hang out on one side, and parents to be on the other, so you’re close enough to hear what they’re up to, but far enough away to feel like you have a quiet space to retreat to.

And, once the kids are in bed, you have the main living area and kitchen to enjoy, as well as your own bathroom and bedroom, so there’s no creeping around in fear of waking the kids up.

The four-storey, 60-room hotel opened in 2004 and has been recently refurbished to give the rooms a more stylish and contemporary feel, with new paint, carpet, furniture, mattresses, TVs and artworks included in the upgrade. We appreciated the large, well-equipped kitchen during our two-night stay, as well as the beautiful Tas Oak furniture, the comfy kingsize bed and the balcony overlooking the marina, where the North and South Esk Rivers meet.

The boys would have been happy to spend all their time at Riverbend Park, which is easily one of their favourite Tassie playgrounds. And it’s not hard to see why – the park’s Sky Walk and Confluence Net are hailed by Launceston City Council as being two of the largest pieces of play equipment in Australia. And the park caters beautifully for kids of all ages and abilities.

But as much as we love the park, there was no way we’d be spending the entire duration of our Peppers Seaport stay there.

The hotel is part of the vibrant Seaport precinct, which means it’s also perfectly located as a base to explore all that Launceston has to offer.

We visited some of our favourite kid-friendly Launceston hangouts – including a stroll around City Park, a ride on the train, a game of giant outdoor chess and a visit to the resident monkeys. We also returned to Tasmania Zoo, where the boys opted to get a bit closer to the animals they met during our previous visit to the zoo last year.

My eight-year-old couldn’t stop grinning as he stepped inside the enclosures alongside an animal keeper, first with meerkats, and then with red pandas (his favourite animal). Meanwhile my six-year-old (who is too young for the 8+ meerkat and red panda encounters) enjoyed the chance to cuddle a wombat.

We also discovered a few new kid-friendly hangouts – the boys loved the giant Jenga and the rock-climbing wall (with a padded floor and colourful beanbags scattered underneath) at DuCane Brewing, which is a great spot for wood-fired pizzas and locally-made beer.

The boys also enjoyed their first visit to Charlie’s Dessert House, where they tucked into kid-sized, warm-pan cookies topped with ice-cream, strawberry topping and sprinkles, while I opted for a salted caramel hot chocolate and a warm cookie topped with raspberry sorbet, pistachios, raspberry coulis and fairy floss.

Fairy floss actually became a bit of a theme for our weekend away, as we discovered that Reel Fish and Chips – located in the Seaport precinct, just a few metres from our hotel – had a fairy floss vending machine.

The boys loved watching the clever machine produce rainbow-coloured cotton candy creations – in the shape of flowers and hearts – as we waited for our takeaway fish and chips on the first night of our stay. They begged to return here the following night so they could sample yet another magical fairy floss creation for dessert.

With a number of eateries at the Seaport precinct – including Mudbar Restaurant, Rupert & Hound, Spice Lounge and Levee Food Co – you don’t need to venture far from the hotel for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

We enjoyed breakfast each day at Tidal Cafe, where there are plenty of pancakes, waffles and egg dishes on the menu, as well as sweet potato and parmesan fritters, ham and cheese croquettes, and a house-blend muesli, as well as coffee and freshly-squeezed juices.

Returning to our room at the end of each day, the boys loved the little self-serve area in the hotel foyer, with daily housemade chocolate truffles and cordial to sample, as they chatted to the friendly staff about their Launceston adventures.

Back in our room, my husband and I enjoyed the chance to sit back – without interruption – and watch the sky turn pink as the sun set each evening, while the boys happily played board games together, drew pictures and watched Bluey on TV, making this a memorable holiday for all of us.

The author was a guest of Peppers Seaport.

MAKE A NOTE

Peppers Seaport is a 60-room hotel located along Launceston’s Seaport Boulevard. Rooms start from $219 per night. The Two Bedroom River View Suite (comprising of a River View Studio and a One Bedroom River View Suite sharing a lockable adjoining alcove) sleeps up to six people and prices start from $543 per night.

Book at peppers.com.au/seaport