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? 

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? 

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? 

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."

What are the rooms like at The Pavilions at Mona? 

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? 

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? 

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. 

Are The Pavilions at Mona family-friendly?

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

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.