The Pavilions at Mona swap standard hotel polish for eight riverside dens, each stitched into Tasmania’s most talked-about museum – we bunked down in the quirky, two-storey Brett.
There’s a very particular thrill in checking into a hotel room that comes with its own artwork, and The Pavilions at Mona lean all the way into it. This isn’t accommodation bolted onto a museum as an afterthought – it’s baked into the whole David Walsh fever dream, which meant our stay in the Brett Pavilion started feeling like part of the exhibition before we’d even put our bags down.
Where are The Pavilions at Mona?
Treat yourself to the Posh Pit on the Mona ferry. (Credit: Mona)
The Pavilions sit on Mona’s private peninsula at Berriedale, right on the Derwent River, about 12 kilometres (a 15–20-minute drive) north of central Hobart. You can drive in or do it properly and take the Mona ferry from Brooke Street Pier, which drops you at the museum’s own dock before you wander down to the pavilions onsite. Splurge on the Posh Pit for extra couches, a bar and some snacks for the journey. Either way, you wake up with the river right outside the window and the museum itself only a short stroll away.
What is the style and character of The Pavilions at Mona?
Brett's kitchen vibe is pre-Columbian. (Credit: Mona and Rémi Chauvin)
Brett Whiteley's 1986 painting Cemetery in Sicily hangs in his eponymous pavilion. (Credit: Emily Murphy)
The three-storey, two-bedroom Roy Pavilion is named after Sir Roy Grounds. (Credit: Mona and Brett Boardman)
Think architecture as much as accommodation. Each of the eight pavilions is named after an influential Australian artist or architect – Brett, Sidney, Arthur, Charles, Robin, Esmond, Walter, Roy – and comes with its own artwork from the Mona collection hanging on the wall. It’s moody, materials-driven design: glass, steel and Australian timber cantilevered out over the water, bespoke furniture from Tasmanian makers, and enough conceptual weirdness that you half expect the coffee table to be part of the show. Brett, mine for the night, is the quirky one of the bunch – two storeys, split-level, with a kitchen vibe the property itself describes as “pre-Columbian." Accurate. Loved it.
What facilities does The Pavilions at Mona have?
The stunning infinity pool with its panoramic views. (Credit: Mona and Brett Boardman)
Pavilion guests are granted access to Mona. (Credit: Jesse Hunniford)
Siloam takes you from the museum’s underground galleries to the colourful, airy Pharos wing. (Credit: Mona)
All guests get access to a shared waterfront gym, sauna and heated infinity pool overlooking the Derwent, plus free parking, a safe and high-speed wi-fi. Book a pavilion, and you’re also handed the keys to the wider Mona experience: museum entry (including access to the new Mona library – Phrontisterion), after-hours access to James Turrell’s Amarna, entry to his Event Horizon, and a complimentary tasting at the Moorilla Cellar Door. It’s less “hotel with a pool" and more “private membership to an entire art precinct."
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What are the rooms like at The Pavilions at Mona?
Enjoy views of the scenery from the Walter Pavilion. (Credit: Mona and Jesse Hunniford)
An artful stay awaits in the Esmond Pavilion. (Credit: Mona and Rémi Chauvin)
Relax in the rainfall shower at the end of the day. (Credit: Mona and Jesse Hunniford)
Brett is a big, two-storey one – two bedrooms with king beds, great sheets, two bathrooms (one with a waterfront spa bath), a fully equipped kitchen and laundry, and a wine fridge stocked with Moorilla and Domaine A bottles for purchase. There’s daily housekeeping, a stocked mini bar, plush robes, and that slightly surreal experience of brushing your teeth next to a piece of actual art.
Sleeping four, it suits groups well – the split levels give everyone a bit of separation, which matters when you’re travelling with people you like but don’t necessarily want to share a bathroom with.
What is the dining like at The Pavilions at Mona?
Visit Faro Bar + Restaurant for dining with good views and performance art. (Credit: Mona)
Unwind with some cocktails at Void Bar. (Credit: Mona)
Breakfast is included and served at The Source, Mona’s restaurant in the Ether building, all glass walls and river views. For dinner there’s Faro Bar + Restaurant onsite too, both worth booking ahead for. If you’re there Friday to Monday when the museum’s open, budget time for the Void Bar and the Moorilla Cellar Door as well – it’s easy to eat and drink your way through an entire stay without leaving the property.
Does The Pavilions at Mona have access for guests with disabilities?
Each pavilion has different accessibility. (Credit: Mona and Rémi Chauvin)
Mona takes this seriously across the whole site. There are accessible parking spots in the main car park (around 320 metres from the museum entrance), an accessible tunnel entrance to the museum, three internal lifts, and accessible toilets scattered through the museum and the Ether building, where reception, The Source and the Cellar Door all sit. The grounds are hilly but mostly accessible via paths and ramps. Worth contacting the bookings team directly ahead of a stay if you have specific requirements, since pavilion-by-pavilion accessibility varies.
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Are The Pavilions at Mona family-friendly?
Brett’s waterfront spa bath is a hit for kids. (Credit: Mona and Rémi Chauvin)
It has a distinctly adult, sophisticated vibe, but kids are welcome – the private, multi-bedroom pavilions work well as family bases, and older kids in particular tend to get a kick out of the art and the pool. It’s not a resort with a kids’ club, so it suits families happy to make their own entertainment rather than have it programmed for them.
Details
The Walter Pavilion is named after architect Walter Burley Griffin. (Credit: Brett Boardman)
Best for: Couples or small groups after a distinctive art-and-design stay, rather than a conventional hotel experience.
Address: 655 Main Rd, Berriedale, Hobart, Tas
Phone: (03) 6277 9978
Cost: Rates vary significantly by pavilion and season – expect to pay from around $700 a night for the smaller one-bedroom pavilions, rising beyond that for larger ones like Brett or Roy. Check directly for current pricing.
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Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.
In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.
Where to stay
Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.
Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.
For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart. Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline, and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique from your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).
For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles. Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.
1. Bruny Island
Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Credit: Elise Weaver)
Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.
Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.
Catch a rare glimpse of the white-furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked. Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.
2. Mount Wellington
Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Credit: Samuel Shelley)
At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.
Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes, which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).
For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.
2. Port Arthur
Wander through convict-built grounds and gardens. (Credit: Alastair Bett)
Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.
The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.
Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.
3. Launceston
Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)
You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.
Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo, for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.
4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.
Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.
5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley
Trace the river through history and wine country. (Credit: Alastair Bett)
Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol, said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.
Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.
