Many of Tasmania’s most stunning attractions are found well outside of cities like Hobart and Launceston, which means fewer accommodation options. But, just about every town has a pub. Most of them have rooms upstairs. And they’re cheap.
What exactly is pub accommodation?
You know how most pubs are called “hotels”? That’s because many of them actually are. Sure, the ones along King Street in Sydney’s Newtown or scattered throughout Melbourne’s Fitzroy may not all have rooms to book. But, in many small towns they do. Especially in Tasmania.
What to expect when staying at a local pub
While often nicer and more private than a hostel, don’t book a pub stay expecting five-star service. Rooms are usually basic, but clean. There’s little more than a bed and a side table, most of the time. As bathrooms are usually shared if you’re booking the cheapest option, there’s often a sink in the room that’s perfect for brushing teeth.
You’ll usually check in at the counter when the bartender is between pours.
Rarely is there a lift, and the staff isn’t expected to help you with your luggage. (But if you ask nicely, they just might.)
Why we recommend staying at pubs in Tasmania
We’re huge hikers, and most of the time we spend in Tasmania is devoted to exploring the state’s beautiful walking tracks or in the car between them. Many of the best walks in Tasmania aren’t within easy reach of cities like Hobart of Launceston, so finding a smaller town to stay in is the best way to access them. But with that, comes limited accommodation options.
Although our time sharing dorm rooms in hotels is behind us, we’re still budget travellers at heart. So we’re always on the hunt for the best-value stay.
Pub stays tick a few boxes for us: they provide a place to sleep, they’re cheap, offer a place to eat and, if you’re in the mood, a place to drink and be social.
After long days in the car or sightseeing, it’s also somewhere you can just settle in and not have to worry about heading out again.
How cheap is it to stay at pubs?
Of course it varies depending on the type of room you booked and where you are, but we’ve booked plenty of private rooms in pubs in the $50-$75 range. If you’re travelling in peak periods it can be a bit more, but during some of the cheaper months to travel to Tasmania you should be able to find something well under $100 as long as you’re not in a major city.
The Tasmanian pubs we’ve stayed at
1) The Bridge, Smithton
Just south of picturesque Stanley where the afternoon was spent, Smithton was in the direction we were heading next — toward the wild West Coast towns of Strahan and Queenstown. The town itself didn’t have many things for tourists to do, but there was a Woolworths and a few cafes around.
There’s a few accommodation options here. You can stay in the pub itself, which will have more basic rooms with shared bathrooms. Or, you can opt for motel room out back, with private facilities. Like most pubs, The Bridge offers a restaurant and bar. There’s also an on-site bottle shop.
Would we recommend it? Yes. It was a clean and comfortable stay that was in an ideal spot along our route.
Check the latest prices: Booking.com | Agoda
2) The Railway Hotel, Queenstown
Yes, Tasmania also has a Queenstown. And it’s surrounded by some pretty stunning mountainous landscapes, too.
This sleepy town on the West Coast very much feels like an old mining town, complete with the nearby Iron Blow Lookout. It offers some incredible views of what’s been carved out of the rocks with the rugged mountains as a backdrop.
When it comes to pub accommodation, there are two options in town: The Railway Hotel (where we stayed) and the Empire Hotel (where we ate dinner). The Railway was definitely more basic and had less character than the Empire, which has been a Queenstown staple for more than 120 years.
Would we recommend it? While this stay we wouldn’t book again, there wasn’t anything wrong with it. We just got FOMO when we went to the pub down the street for dinner. That said, we can highly recommend visiting the Empire Hotel just down the road. We’re still kicking ourselves for opting for the slightly cheaper stay and not staying in this beautiful building (which did have a great restaurant).
Check the latest prices: Booking.com | Agoda
3) Deloraine Hotel, Deloraine
A stepping stone between a stop at Lake St Clair and returning to Launceston to catch a flight home, the town of Deloraine ticked our boxes. The pub here had plenty of charm with a dreamy wrap-around terrace. Just down the road, there was even a river with a platypus viewing area. (We had no luck during our stay, unfortunately.)
The accommodation itself was clean, with spotless shared bathrooms. A menu filled with hearty pub classics is served downstairs in the dining room.
Would we recommend it? Yes. Our stay was comfortable and had what may have been the nicest pub accommodation bathroom we’ve come across. While it wasn’t in the room, it was within a private room with a shower, toilet and sink that was very well maintained and spotless. Down the street, there’s also the Empire Hotel, which looked like it brought plenty of charm to each stay.
Check the latest prices: Booking.com | Agoda
What to know before staying at a pub
Admittedly, staying at a pub isn’t for everyone. There’s a few things that make it a not-so-perfect stay, but if you’re on a budget and looking for somewhere with some character and atmosphere, they can be a great option.
Noise
If you’re looking for a quiet stay, then a pub probably isn’t for you. In smaller towns, things do tend to settle down around 10-11pm. If you like to go to bed early, you may want to pack some earplugs.
Few private bathrooms
The cheapest rooms in pubs rarely have private bathrooms, so if you’re not too keen on using toilet stalls or a shared shower, then you’ll need to book a more expensive room type.
Lack of service
Don’t expect there to be doormen, bell boys or room service at these stays. Pub accommodations are generally quite basic and just include the room.
No facilities
Sure, there’s a bar and quite often the pub bistro. But if you like a pool or a gym at your accommodation when you travel, you won’t get that here.
