The Tasman

As far as Australian destinations go, the country’s southern most capital of Hobart – and indeed the entire Apple Isle – rates right up there with the very best the Antipodes have to offer. Aside from its formative days as a penal colony, when certain guests were obviously not thrilled to be there, Hobart has never had any trouble in attracting visitors. Local and international guests alike have long flocked to ‘Tassie’, attracted by its rich history, pristine wilderness, celebrated food and wine or any combination of these. As its capital, Hobart has always been at the very heart of things – a captivating destination in its own right as well as the perfect place from which to mount any onward journeys around the island formally known as Van Diemen’s Land.

It was the staging point for Mawson’s historic expeditions to Antartica back in the early 1900s, and is the finishing line for the world’s most celebrated open water yacht race – the Sydney Hobart Classic – which wraps up at Hobart's constitution Dock each year after its epic 628 nautical mile race from Sydney Harbour.

As a destination its offerings are myriad, and world class accommodation has long been a feature of Tasmania in various guises. But now a new property, The Tasman, brings yet another dimension to the luxury ranks. New in the sense that it opened its doors to the public just months ago, the original buildings which form the heart of this unique property date back to the 1840s and have been lovingly reimagined and incorporated into a stunning contemporary hotel.

Nearly 200 years of history marry seamlessly with the very latest in modern luxury at The Tasman, the past preserved alongside the best the present has to offer in a location right in the very heart of the city.

From the Georgian building which has occupied numerous roles since being built in the 1840s, to the art deco building from 1937 and the new modern pavilion structure, the three different eras have been brought together to create property harmonious in design, while being sympathetic to each era. 

The new pavilion, with its wedge design reminiscent of a ship’s bow houses the superb Aurora suite, named after the ship that carried Mawson and his expedition south in 1911. This modernist structure morphs into the art deco building, which in turn flows into the heritage wing, the new building designed to accommodate and highlight much of the original architecture.

The Tasman is the first Australian offering in The Luxury Collection by Marriott, 152 luxurious rooms and suites, drawing not only on the areas’s history, but celebrating all things Tasmania. From the meticulous $100 million build and fit out, to local ingredients and products in the hotel’s restaurants, bars and suites and lounges, as well as locally sourced products specially produced and packaged for the hotel – it offers an immersive taste of Hobart.

In terms of its location alone, The Tasman is impossible to beat, nestled as it is in Parliament Square overlooking Hobart’s famed waterfront, with Constitution Dock – where the Sydney Hobart wraps up each year – off to one side and Salamanca (home of the famous Salamanca markets) literally a stone’s throw away. Suites look out over the waterfront area to one side, St David’s Park and Salamanca or back into the city with the towering Mount Nelson in the background. Each one draws its architectural and design inspiration from the part of the building it occupies – art deco or heritage – their design and amenities a study in understated elegance with every conceivable luxury incorporated – but with the emphasis on subtlety.

Blinds and curtains open automatically each time you enter your room, which feature details that again celebrate Tasmania and local craftsmanship wherever possible. Native timber has been used extensively, with native sassafras beautifully inlaid into the ceilings of the art deco rooms as a focal point, the cabinetry and furnishings striking a perfect balance between sophistication and warmth.

From the plush bathrobes embroided with the hotel’s nautical rope insignia to the locally sourced and exclusively packaged soaps from Beauty and the Bees and even beverages, every detail has been carefully considered and included for best effect. 

Celebrated local distiller, Lark, the oldest in Tasmania, has created an exclusive drop especially for The Tasman – the nautical logo adorning the label – once again reinforcing that connection with the city and greater Tasmania.

“Wherever possible we use local providers and build personal relationships with them,” says General Manager, Stephen Morahan.

“But it’s not just a matter of using their products, but having them produce exclusive items specifically for us and creating that unique connection.”

The common areas too showcase the original architecture juxtaposed with modern inclusions, from the brilliant modern boardroom with the original sandstone walls but spilling out onto a contemporary patio area, to the wine cellar and tasting room to the function room which retains original notices to staff from a previous incarnation – the past has been brought wonderfully into the present.

Even the fully equipped gym, with its modern equipment is housed within walls feet thick that hark back to a time when hard physical exertion was simply a part of every day and not a recreation or routine designed to counter the excesses of modern life.

To that end, the thick, original sandstone walls lead into the bright open expanse of Peppina, the culinary heart of The Tasman, with its glass ceiling and indoor olive trees. Here, Peppina’s culinary director, Massimo Mele, creates mouth-watering menus, again with an emphasis on the very best produce Tasmania has to offer, his talented team of chefs toiling away in the huge open kitchen.

From a breakfast buffet that makes it impossible not to linger while you plan your day, to a kaleidoscope of creations inspired by Mele’s beloved Italy, the food is another pillar of The Tasman experience – no trip is complete without at least one signature Tasman lobster roll.

Right next to Peppina through an imposing steel door worthy of an old world bank vault, is Mary Mary, a cosy intimate bar that was once a part of St Mary’s Hospital but now celebrates the history and flavours of Tasmania with bespoke cocktails as well as time-honoured favourites. Try a new take on an ‘Old Fashioned’ with Mary Mary’s house whiskey blend, salt and Umami, as you settle in and enjoy the ‘speak easy’ vibe.

The sense of wanting to impart a unique experience is all pervasive at The Tasman. There is that quiet efficiency from the friendly staff that make everything seem effortless and impart the feeling that nothing is too much trouble. 

Arranging bespoke activities for guests is likewise all part of the offering, says, Stephen Morahan. There is no ‘activities menu’ as such, but rather it’s a matter of catering to the specific needs and desires of individual guests as they’re presented, using that local knowledge and those special connections to deliver one-of-a-kind experiences as an extension of the philosophy underpinning the hotel.

And that is really the essence of The Tasman – it is unique in the true sense of the word. It is quite simply, one-of-a-kind and another ‘must visit’ to add to what is already an embarrassment of riches for the country’s southern extremity.