The Woodbridge (New Norfolk, TAS)
Location: New Norfolk, TAS
Getting there: 35 minutes from Hobart
Sleeps: 18
Bedrooms: 9, sleeping 2 guests each
The Property:
The Woodbridge celebrates 2 centuries of Tasmanian history in one of Australia’s oldest historic houses.
Reimagined as an boutique private hotel, The Woodbridge is small, intimate and personal. Its 200-year old blackwood floors, convict made bricks and square-panelled Georgian windows blend seamlessly with modern amenity. The Woodbridge has been described at ‘less a hotel and more like being given the keys to a friend’s country mansion”.
The Woodbridge is an ideal choice for exploring southern Tassie. Situated in historic New Norfolk, it is close to the beautiful Derwent Valley’s wilderness wonderland and surrounded by vineyards, boutique breweries and whisky, rum, vodka and gin distilleries. And all this just 35 minutes from Hobart.
Steeped in stories and defined by gracious hospitality and modern comfort, The Woodbridge quietly continues to benchmark standards while adapting to modern travel preferences.
About your local community:
New Norfolk, then known as ‘Elizabeth Town’, was originally the ‘capital’ of the colony in Van Diemen’s Land, because this was the ‘top of the tide’, where the sailing ships could safely drop anchor. The ferryman’s cottage still stands across from The Woodbridge. Australia’s oldest continuously operating pub is a few hundred metres walk, Tasmania’s oldest church a little further. The remains of Tasmania’s first mental asylum for the care for convicts broken by their punishment, is nearby as is the first trout hatchery in the Southern Hemisphere. The first white woman to step ashore is Australia is buried across the river from The Woodbridge.
It is little surprise therefore that New Norfolk is famous for its antique shops - 9 at last count.
But New Norfolk is no tourist construct. This is a genuine Tassie country town. In recent years it has developed as a gourmet food and beverages destination, home to the famous Agrarian Kitchen Cookery School, Eatery and organic edible gardens.
What is your favourite thing to do at this property:
Oh, without doubt it is gazing out over the river. The river is just beautiful. We have resident platypus living in a den on our banks. Duck and scrub hens are regular visitors, and we have had penguin, seal and dolphin visit. The human activity is also great entertainment - the locals fish, swim and kayak, paddle board and hydro bike and the local rowing club sculls are wonderful to watch.
What is your favourite trip close by:
This is a hard one because there are so many options - The Woodbridge is within 2-3 hours from almost everything in Tasmania.
But Our Valley is such a delightful driving destination. For a day trip I think I would go up the valley, visit the delightful Salmon Ponds, walk around Russell Falls in Mt Field National Park, visit the Tall Trees Reserve, do a downhill run at Maydena Bike Park, and call in at any number of vineyards, distilleries or the cider house as I wandered.
Yes, that would be a great day out.
Guests should not forget to pack their….
Tasmanian weather is mercurial. Three seasons in a day is a local joke, but not an uncommon reality. We advise guests to bring lots of light layers that can be added to or removed as the day evolves.
How did you come to offer accommodation in the bush?
In 2002 we came to Tasmania on holidays and stumbled across this glorious 1825 mansion, sad and derelict on the banks of the River Derwent.
For Laurelle it was love at first sight.
Laurelle: “Do you think we could save her?”
John: “But what the bloody hell would we do with it?”
Laurelle: “I don’t know, but I do know that we will never get another chance in our lifetime to restore something as good as this.”
And the rest, as they say, is history!
Book via: https://www.woodbridgenn.com.au/
Instagram: @thewoodbridgetasmania
Facebook: The Woodbridge Tasmania
