We are delighted to announce Montacute Boutique Bunkhouse in Tasmania as a 5 Star Hostel in Australia. This is our #1 choice out of a handpicked collection of the best hostels in Hobart.
Montacute Boutique Bunkhouse is THE place to stay if you’re traveling to Hobart…or actually, if you’re traveling to Tasmania in general.
Read: complete guide to the best hostels in Australia.
This charming hostel in Hobart opened in 2014, and has won multiple awards since, including being recognized in the top 3% of hotels (‘hotels’ not just ‘hostels’!) worldwide.
Once you’ve seen what owner Antony offer here, you probably won’t have any questions as to why the hostel is award-winning.
More Hostels to enjoy:
Hostelgeeks is your independent platform awarding hostels as 5 Star Hostels.
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- best hostels in Perth
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Before we start, pack smart…
Remember to pack accordingly for staying in a hostel – yet, do not overpack.
Here’s our full packing list, including Noise-Cancelling ear plugs and your padlocks.
Montacute Boutique Bunkhouse in a review
We’ll take you through the highlights of their cozy boutique hostel.
See for yourself why travelers love to stay here when they come to Tasmania.
There are actually plenty of fun things to do in Tasmania.
1. Sustainability & Champagne taste on a beer budget
Charity begins at home!
Yep, that old saying – it’s an oldie but a goodie.
The place is all about supporting local communities and charity projects through their hostel.
The hostel is locally owned and run, and they’ve done their best to install the latest sustainable technology here.
Additionally all the furniture in the hostel was bought secondhand from the Saint Vincent de Paul Charity (better known as Saint Vinny’s), which provides assistance for the poor.
Read: 46 signs that tell you it’s a great hostel
The result?
Montacute feels more like a boutique accommodation than a hostel – no wonder it is now awarded as a 5 Star Hostel.
The owner have restored a beautiful old house to its former glory.
All around you will see magnificent polished timber floors, high ceilings and no less than 8 fireplaces, with a log fire often roaring in the sitting room.
Beautiful antique furniture adorns the bright and airy rooms, and look out for the chic pops of Montacute red throughout.
Read: +110 design hostels to fall in love with.
There is also great attention to detail with modern conveniences.
There is free WiFi throughout, the kitchen has a fantastic range of appliances, and every bunk has its own plug and lamp.
Speaking of bunks, this is where Montacute really shines.
You won’t find foam mattresses and sleeping bags here.
In fact, as in many hostels nowadays sleeping bags are not even permitted!
Antony has invested in high quality inner spring mattresses, crisp cotton sheets, 100% Australian timber bunks, 100% Australian wool quilts and 100% Tasmanian merino wool blankets.
This is hostelling at its most luxurious!
There are also many areas at Montacute in which to relax (and enjoy a glass of champagne!).
The dining room has a huge timber table for 20 people and is the ideal place to make new friends as you chat over a meal.
There are also sofas throughout the halls, balconies with panoramic mountain views, the sitting room with its log fire, and a beautifully manicured garden.
You really will have to remind yourself that you are staying at a hostel.
Also, check out these 13 hostel design ideas to steal borrow from hostels.
2. Modern Boutique Style Meets Aussie Traditional
The building that houses the hostel today dates back to 1891, and it used to be a huge old house (that’s a really old house in Australia).
Today, it still conserves some of those traditional touches, like the gorgeous high ceilings, the large living room fireplace, the big green garden, and the charming upstairs balcony.
Look out for the vintage lamp in the dining room.
But as the foot is made out of actual marble, don’t try to pick it up – it’s heavy!
There are red accents all over the hostel, adding a chic pop of color to the light, airy rooms with their polished wooden floors.
Good to know: Check out all the different hostel room types, so you know what to choose from.
The owners brought in a bit of their own personal history too – the name “Montacute” refers to a small English town in Somerset that Antony’s great-great-great-great-great grandfather was from.
He set sail for Australia in 1821, and today you can still go see his wooden voyage box at the Narryna Heritage Museum, which is right next door to the hostel.
Alongside all the traditional style, there are a handful of modern touches that 21st century travelers will appreciate.
The hostel has a large car park, where guests are allowed to park for free.
They’ve also got free WiFi, adapters, and individual reading lights on hand. Enjoy the modern-meets-traditional vibes at their very best as you snuggle under one of their superfine merino wool blankets (100% Tasmanian-made) in front of a roaring fire.
3. What’s unique? Fit In With the Family
When you stay at Montacute, you become part of the big Montacute family, as you are actually staying at the home of Antony.
Other than their bedrooms, the family share all amenities with their guests, so you are likely to be cooking alongside them in the kitchen each evening.
It’s the perfect opportunity to pick their brains about things to see and do in Tasmania.
Or ask them about the best local produce to buy – Tasmania is a foodie’s paradise, and is particularly famous for seafood, cheese, chocolate, wine, whiskey, cider, beer and gin.
4. The Tassie lifestyle
All of the aspects described above combine to make Montacute a very relaxed place to stay.
In fact, guests often book for one night, then end up staying all week.
It’s not a party hostel.
Find all 7 types of hostels here.
It’s a place to enjoy a great bottle of wine and a cheese platter, chill out with your book, play board games with new friends, try a new whiskey, and cuddle the pets.
The pace of life in Hobart is slower than that of Australia’s other cities, and it shows in the faces of the relaxed, happy locals.
So soak up the vibe, recharge your batteries, rediscover your inspiration, and enjoy the Tassie lifestyle!
Read: Are hostels safe? An overview with useful safety tips.
It’s all designed to make interacting with people as simple and seamless as possible, from the communal dining table that can seat 20 (it actually used to be a table used at German Oktoberfest celebrations in Munich), and a comfy sitting room with a big fire and lots of board games and books on hand.
There’s no T.V. anywhere in the hostel, making it even easier to strike up a conversation with your fellow travelers.
They do have free WiFi, though!
While the hostel doesn’t officially plan any events, there are all sorts of things happening that pop up naturally.
People share their meals at the Oktoberfest table, and over a tasty dish they end up planning things like outdoor barbecues in the big garden, board game nights, and laid-back chill sessions.
5. Best staff in Australia
Antony is building up some seriously good online reviews.
In fact, they are consistently rated as being the best hostel staff in Australia.
Their commitment to customer service is exceptional.
It’s probably because of the way they welcome you into the big Montacute family, taking you on a tour of the house and introducing you to others.
We think it’s also because of all the little things they have thought about to make your stay as relaxing as possible.
For example?
They know that travellers appreciate tea, coffee, WiFi and parking, so all of these are available for free.
For a small fee, guests can also use the laundry or hire a bicycle.
And then there is the honour system – to buy a drink, shampoo, earplugs or chocolate, all you have to do is put your coins in the jar on the kitchen table.
Ecomama in Amsterdam has the same honesty-system.
It’s as simple as that.
It’s a very trusting approach and we think it’s one of the reasons why guests often say they feel like they are staying at their friends’ house, rather than at a hostel.
