Stillwater Seven is housed in the historic Ritchie’s flour mill on Launceston’s waterfront, next to the mouth of the Cataract Gorge.
Planes
Launceston’s airport is just 15 minutes away by car – Qantas flies direct from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The hotel can arrange private transfers for AU$60 each way.
Automobiles
Scheduled bus and coach services can be sporadic (especially in winter), so if you’re planning to explore, we suggest renting a car at Launceston Airport; once you arrive, there’s free parking on-site.
Worth getting out of bed for
The hotel team can point you in the right direction for picturesque hikes: Cataract Gorge, the Tamar River Trail or the Heritage Forest. If you prefer two wheels to two feet, Alison from On Your Bike Tours can take you from tentative novice to hardened MAMIL on one of her scenic cycle adventures peppered with local history.
If you fancy your chances with a rod and reel, some of the finest trout fishing in the world is just outside the city – book in with Riverfly 1864 for guided days in the famed Western Lakes. If you land one, Stillwater will cook it for you for supper (just give them at least an hour’s notice); how’s that for service?
And bendy-backed yogis needn’t relax their regimens here – there are two outfits in town, Tiny Yoga and House of Prana, that offer everything from one-on-one sessions to Bikram, hot Pilates and meditation.
Fancy something farther flung? Just peep and Stillwater’s concierge can arrange all manner of active adventure, from Wine Route tours, river cruises, hot-air-balloon rides over the Tamar Valley or helicopter charters to Flinders Island.
Local restaurants
Work up an appetite by walking the one kilometre to Stillwater’s sister restaurant, The Black Cow Bistro, for premium cuts of hormone-free, grass-fed Tasmanian beef.
If your idea of a fantasy meal is gluten, more gluten and dairy (same, same and same), then head to Bread and Butter on Cimitiere Street for fresh loaves, pastries and its famous small-batch cultured butter.
For less lactose, Kosaten is a sushi spot where you order by iPad and your tuna tataki arrives by train (all aboard); Novaro’s is an upmarket Italian in a gorgeous Georgian townhouse; and Me Wah cooks up the finest Cantonese for miles.
Local bars
Craft-beer bros (and gals) should hop along to Saint John, a casual spot with beers on tap and live bands in its Barrel Room. At the adorable Bar Two on Brisbane Street, everything is diminutive and adorable… except for its wine list – it has 50 different kinds of local pinot noir.