Hotel Profile: MACq01 – Tassie’s Waterfront Gem

Hobart’s iconic waterfront hotel blends Tassie’s colourful history with clever design.

One can rely on Tasmania to do things a little differently and so it is with Hobart’s harbourside MACq01. This storytelling hotel reaches into the past to colour its elegant and contemporary style and bring a novel approach to hospitality. From an exterior design that softly alludes to the wharf’s warehouse history to tales of notable Tasmanians in every room, and an aesthetic that is both considered and beautifully executed, everything about this luxury stay embraces the character of our southernmost city.

Location

Hobart’s Macquarie Wharf was once a hub of seafaring commerce on which was plonked a market, then came a large shipping shed. Now, rather more elegantly plonked is the MAC01 complex, most of which is occupied by the luxury MACq01 hotel . That’s not a typo, by the way.

an aerial view of MACq01 hotel in Hobart — The luxury MACq01 hotel claims prime real estate at the MAC01 complex. (Image: MACq 01 and Stu Gibson)

Confusingly, the hotel inserts a lowercase q into its name to differentiate it from the complex in which it resides. Tipping its hat to its maritime and commercial history, the building is a beautifully designed finger of architecture in easy cooee of the artful Hunter Street precinct and a short-ish walk to the city centre.

Couple on MACq01 hotel balcony overlooking Hobart waterfront — Expansive waterfront views are one of the hotel’s many drawcards. (Image: Stu Gibson)

Style and character

A city with a past as storied as Hobart’s is well-deserving of an iconic hotel to match its frontier spirit and waterfront beauty. MACq01 is a self-described storytelling hotel. It has unearthed the city’s tales of survivors, settlers, battlers, convicts and captains and woven them into the texture of its design and character.

the exterior of MACq01 hotel, Hobart — Each room has been created with a specific Tasmanian trait in mind. (Image: Adam Gibson)

Each of the 114 rooms and suites has been crafted to reflect one of five Tasmanian traits, they being: colourful and quirky; grounded yet exceptional; fighting believers; curious and creative; and hearty and resilient. Divided between these five traits are 114 real-life historical characters, one for each room, whose story is revealed to those who check-in.

a couple relaxing in one of the rooms in MACq01, Hobart — Luxury found in the details. (Image: Adam Gibson)

While the concept may teeter on the edge of a gimmick, it’s thoroughly and wonderfully Tasmanian, which means of course, it’s charmingly tongue-in-cheek and artfully clever. You’ll find yourself drawn into the narrative as you explore the modern and luxurious surrounds of this sleek hotel.

a marble bathroom with a private tub at MACq01, Hobart — Soak in the marble bathtub.

Rooms

Behind every door of this hotel is the story of a remarkable Tasmanian plucked from history. You could be bedding down with the memory of a blustering bushranger, mercurial merchant or pugnacious publican, but no matter who has inspired your room or suite, you will certainly find yourself in a hyper-stylish confluence of history and design.

a look inside one of the suites at MACq01, Hobart — A melding of history and design.

Furnished with tactile natural finishes and a studied attention to detail, the rooms are a haven of distinctly Tasmanian aesthetics.

an elegant bedroom suite at MACq01, Hobart — Sleep soundly in one of the luxe suites. (Image: MACq 01 and Adam Gibson)

Choose from rooms facing historic Hunter Street or the glittering waterfront, where you can step out onto a private balcony or terrace.

one of the rooms at MACq01, Hobart — Wake up to views of the harbour. (Image: MACq 01 and Adam Gibson)

Storytelling Tours

For guests keen to go deeper into the stories woven throughout the hotel and beyond, they can book a complimentary tour with MACq01’s charismatic Master Storyteller. The 114 Doors Tour weaves you through the hotel, while The Sticky Stones and Secrets Tour leads you beyond the hotel walls and into the old buildings of Hunter Street. The Hidden Hobart: The Viewfinder Tour journeys from the virtual old wharf to the modern-day new wharf using retro viewfinders to see the same spots through the lens of decades past.

a woman holding a book of the 114 Doors Tour at MACq01, Hobart — Storytelling is woven throughout the hotel experience. (Image: Adam Gibson)

Food and drink

You’re in Tasmania, so it follows you won’t be short on opportunities to indulge in the incredible local produce while staying at MACq01. You could begin your evening with bright and briny Bruny Island oyster and a crisp Tassie white in the lounge, before proceeding to a table at the hotel’s sleek, harbour-adjacent Old Wharf Restaurant. Here, head chef Alvin Sim lets the produce upstage the view from breakfast through to dinner with refined takes on the classics.

the Old Wharf Restaurant in MACq01 — The elegant Old Wharf Restaurant. (Image: Adam Gibson)

The Story Bar is also a good place to initiate aperitivo hour. The space flows from the polished lounge edged with a wall of fascinating artefacts to an outside terrace, which beckons persuasively on a sun-filtered afternoon. On Friday and Saturday nights, a live band adds to the atmosphere.

a couple enjoying drinks at The Story Bar, MACq01 — A good story never goes out of style. (Image: Adam Gibson)

A nightcap or a clandestine interlude is best sought perched at the marble bar or in a leather armchair at the intimate Evolve Spirits Bar.

a bear fossil at Evolve Spirits Bar, MACq01 — The intimate Evolve Spirits Bar.

Be guided through the staggeringly large and somewhat intimidating selection of spirits on offer by the deft bar staff. Featuring a range of award-winning Tassie spirits and a list of rare tipples, it’s easy to lose time in this cloistered enclave.

a bartender preparing drinks at Evolve Spirits Bar, MACq01 — Perch at the marble bar for a nightcap. (Image: Evolve Spirits Bar and Adam Gibson)

Facilities

Lounge

The story begins the moment you step into MACq01, where your eye will drift directly to the circular waterfront lounge. The centrepiece here is a handcrafted fireplace around which stories are recounted, while above an installation that calls to mind seaweed dancing in the current tilts heads upwards.

the foyer of Old Wharf Restaurant — The eye-catching handcrafted fireplace. (Image: Adam Gibson)

The lounge is decorated with artefacts that represent the traditions of the Tasmanian Aboriginal toolkit, which have been made by today’s descendants of the First Tasmanians. Guests can enjoy a pre-or post-dinner drink here and watch the sun glint off the water beyond.

Valet parking and Tesla charging

If you’ve driven to Hobart or are circumnavigating the state by road, you can keep and charge your vehicle here.

Gym

A well-equipped gym is at your service from 6am to 9pm.

Access for guests with disabilities?

The hotel has six accessible rooms and suites available and was designed with equal access in mind. Specifications for visual impairment and hearing aids have been adhered to and all communal spaces in the hotel are wheelchair accessible. The hotel has been awarded Best Accessible Accommodation at the THA and Drysdale Awards for Excellence.

Family friendly?

Families can book interconnecting rooms that can accommodate king or twin bedding.

Details

Address: 18 Hunter Street, Hobart
Cost: Rooms start at $300 per night for a Hunter Street room, while suites start at $650.
Best for: Couples enjoying a luxe getaway that delves into city’s past and present and allows easy access to her stunning surrounds.

Head to our guide on Hobart accommodation for more great stays in Tasmania’s capital city.

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. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

Where to stay

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 to 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.

A stylish, Tasmanian-inspired bedroom at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, your perfect base for relaxing after the best day trips from Hobart. — Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

1. Bruny Island

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.

Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island. — Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)

2. Mount Wellington

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.

No matter where you are in Hobart you are never far away from the City's beloved mountain, Kunanyi / Mount Wellington — Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)

2. Port Arthur

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.

The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Australia's most important heritage sites and tourist destinations. Located on the scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area. — Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)

3. Launceston

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.

Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)

4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

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.

Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We're a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart. — Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)

5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

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.

Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart. — Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)

Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com .

blends history with luxury waterfront accommodation