UNIQUE HOTELS

Australia is quite good about creating unique travel experiences.  This is a culture that travels far more than most and really enjoys the whole experience.

In my Stanley post, I talked of the @VDL hotel done in an 1843 storehouse.

Later on the Tasmania trip, I stayed in a lodge at Tarraleah.  This elegant lodge was the place where dignitaries stayed in the 1930’s to see or be involved in the huge hydro project being built there.  The project was so big that they built an entire town to support it as it is at least 50 miles from anything.  After the major construction was completed, and the town fell into ruin, some man bought it all up and converted what was left to lodging and facilities for events, weddings and such. So, you can stay in the elegant restored lodge with a choice of at least 600 different whiskys to try, or you can rent out full houses, or stay in the converted schoolhouse.  As I was told, this owner is often mistaken for the gardener due to his attire and manner. But, he developed quite a classy place and is obviously a knowledgeable whisky aficionado.

There was a great pub and dining room on site staffed chiefly by young people from Europe backpacking their way through Australia.  You can see from the shots below it is still in the midst of an active hydro facility and the bar was a nice mix of tourists and workers from the power stations.   To see more, http://www.tarraleah.com

When I was in Hobart, I stayed at the Henry Jones art hotel, a wharf front conversion of a fruit jam factory from 1835.  It was a beautiful restoration that included an extensive art collection throughout the hotel.  Most of the art was for sale,and this was such a nice way to show it, lining the halls and public places.

http://www.thehenryjones.com/