We were contemplating where to travel for the end of 2018, and after looking at a list of unusual…read morebut fun hotels to stay at, we thought that The Pavilions at MONA were a great spot (and it dovetailed with our ambition to get back to Australia). It can be a little confusing when you initially arrive at the entrance to MONA as to where you are supposed to go, but after wandering around (and calling the front desk out of confusion, along with jet lag), we realized that the Ether building (i.e. the tallest one on the property) was where we needed to go to check in. The lady at the front was helpful in explaining everything, along with the inclusions of staying (free entrance to the museum - definitely worth utilizing; we only made it through half the museum and now have an excuse to come back) and breakfast at The Source each morning (also a must-do, as the food is delicious). The setup of the pavilions - each uniquely designed with their own layout and alongside the river, a bit off from the main museum grounds - means that you're generally shielded from the crowds that come to visit, although given that the parking lots are close by, you can have folks inadvertently wander up to your entrance (that happened to us a couple times). Mostly, though, the folks staying here can simply relax in peace. Couple that with a guaranteed parking spot (which usually seems to be respected, at least for us), and you have the makings of a successful stay.
What makes any of the pavilions so great to stay at is how they are furnished and set up. Each are unique; each are named for someone of regional importance (ours was named Esmond, after an architect of local renown). Since each is different, the exact layout won't apply to each one, but suffice to say that we thoroughly enjoyed the Esmond. It's a one bedroom 'pavilion' that has massively high ceilings, a large TV hanging on the wall, and a sound system controlled by wall panel that really lets you turn up the tunes if you so desire. All the pavilions face the river (some with clearer views than others - the Esmond's is what I would call a partially obstructed view) and have a porch where one can sit and idly enjoy the serenity of the Tasmanian countryside. You have a full kitchen that one can utilize (stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, even a wine cellar stocked with wine from the vineyard on premises) that is quite useful. The fridge has plenty of local treats; we ended up enjoying the local cheeses and salami that were stocked there on Christmas Day, given the lack of open options around. There's a washer/dryer combo next to the bathroom that took us a little time to figure out how to use but came in quite helpful. The bathroom is gorgeously appointed, with a rainfall showerhead in the shower and a large bathtub, replete with Aesop amenities. The bedroom is relatively straightforward, but what I liked most were the blinds that completely blocked out light - it made it very easy to get a good night's rest and provide complete privacy from the nearby walkway. There is a gym in the middle of the row of pavilions that has a small pool and a few exercise machines; it isn't the most complete set of workout equipment by any stretch, but it should get the job done (I stuck to running on a nearby path by the river).
The pavilions themselves are gorgeous, but the included items (breakfast, museum entry) plus access to the grounds at all times, even before and after the museum opens / closes, is really nice; we had a great time wandering around the outside exhibits on Christmas Day all alone. At a very reasonable price for what I feel is a near top-of-the-line luxury experience, this is one of those remarkable lodgings that one should make a point of staying at if they make it to Australia. I would absolutely come back again, even if it was purely just to stay on the MONA grounds and disconnect from everything else. Top-notch amenities and top-notch hospitality...you cannot ask for me.
