Tasmania punches well above its weight as a golf destination, with courses winding through coastal heathland, highland farmland, and rainforest-fringed fairways. From the links-style greens near Strahan to the award-winning courses around Launceston and the scenic East Coast layouts near Bicheno and St Helens, the island offers genuine variety for travelling golfers. This guide covers 13 hotels strategically positioned near Tasmania's top golf courses, comparing price tiers, locations, and practical on-the-ground value so you can make a confident booking decision.
What It's Like Staying in Tasmania as a Golfer
Tasmania is a compact island - roughly 300 km from north to south - yet it packs in an extraordinary range of golf environments, from the coastal East Coast to the World Heritage wilderness of the West. Getting around requires a hire car; public transport between golf destinations is essentially non-existent, so self-driving is the only realistic strategy. Visitor numbers spike sharply between December and February, particularly on the East Coast and around Hobart, but shoulder seasons (March-May and September-November) offer quieter fairways, lower accommodation rates, and often better playing conditions.
The golf scene here is unhurried - most courses operate without the rigid tee-time pressure common on mainland Australia, and several highland and rural properties sit within minutes of courses that rarely see more than a handful of visiting golfers on any given day. Hire car bookings should be secured at least 6 weeks ahead for summer travel, as vehicle availability on the island tightens fast.
Pros:
- Golf courses distributed across the island mean you can build a multi-region road trip itinerary without backtracking
- Many golf-adjacent properties offer free parking and self-contained units - practical for early tee times
- Courses like Ratho Farm (the oldest golf course in Australia) and Barnbougle Dunes offer genuinely world-class playing experiences unavailable elsewhere in the country
Cons:
- A hire car is mandatory - no golf hotel in Tasmania is realistically accessible by public transport
- West Coast accommodation options near Strahan are limited and book out months ahead during summer
- Weather on the West Coast and highlands is unpredictable year-round, and rounds can be interrupted by rapid condition changes
Why Choose Golf Hotels in Tasmania Specifically
Golf hotels in Tasmania range from basic pub-style accommodation attached to small-town hotels - where a round at the local 9-hole is included in the experience - to full resort properties with onsite health clubs, multiple dining options, and direct course access. The price difference between a basic golf-adjacent pub room and a mid-range resort stay is significant: expect to pay around 3 times more per night at a property like Country Club Tasmania compared to a regional pub hotel near a country course. However, the resort tier includes facilities - indoor pools, restaurants, fitness centres - that rural properties simply cannot match.
Room sizes at Tasmania's golf resorts tend to be notably larger than equivalent city hotel rooms, reflecting the property's drive-to destination model. Trade-offs at budget-tier golf hotels include shared bathrooms, limited dining hours, and no onsite recreation facilities beyond the nearby course itself. Golfers spending more than 2 nights in one region will get meaningfully better value from mid-range and resort-tier properties where breakfast, parking, and multiple activities are bundled into the rate.
Pros:
- Resort properties like Country Club Tasmania provide direct access to multiple courses within a short drive, eliminating daily car logistics
- Holiday park options near coastal East Coast courses offer self-contained kitchens - useful for early morning pre-round meal preparation
- Several properties include free parking, saving costs compared to golf hotel stays in mainland Australian cities
Cons:
- Budget-tier pub hotels typically have shared bathrooms and limited evening dining - a real constraint after a full day on the course
- Some properties are far from the nearest supermarket, making self-catered stays logistically complex without advance planning
- West Coast golf properties near Strahan are remote - the nearest major supermarket is over an hour's drive away
Practical Booking & Area Strategy for Golf Travel in Tasmania
For golfers, Tasmania divides neatly into four playing zones: the Launceston and Tamar Valley region (Country Club Tasmania, multiple parkland and river courses), the East Coast (St Helens, Bicheno, with access to Barnbougle Dunes near Bridport), the West Coast (Strahan and surrounds, with the historic Strahan Golf Club), and the Central Highlands (Bothwell, home to Ratho Farm - reputedly the oldest golf course in Australia, established around 1822). Positioning your base correctly saves significant daily driving time; covering the East Coast from a Launceston base, for example, adds around 3 hours of round-trip driving per day.
The Hobart Airport corridor (served by Mantra Hobart Airport) functions best as a transit base for fly-in golfers combining a Hobart round with onward East Coast travel rather than as a dedicated golf base. Book East Coast holiday parks and the Strahan area at least 10 weeks ahead for December-February, as family and golf travellers compete for the same limited stock. For the Central Highlands and Bothwell area, last-minute availability is more common outside of school holiday periods. Key golf attractions near these hotels include Barnbougle Dunes (ranked consistently in the world's top 100 courses), the Strahan Golf Club set against Macquarie Harbour, and the Launceston Golf Club - all within practical driving range of the properties in this guide.
Best Value Golf Stays
These properties offer practical, no-frills bases near Tasmanian golf courses, with free parking and essential amenities at accessible price points - suited to golfers prioritising course time over resort facilities.
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1. St Marys Hotel
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Rooms filling fast – secure the best rate!
fromUS$ 50
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2. Comfort Inn The Pier
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Just a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 74
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3. Somerset Hotel
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Hurry – almost gone at this price!
fromUS$ 59
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4. The Wharf Hotel
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Best price guarantee
fromUS$ 68
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5. Bicheno East Coast Holiday Park
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Best price guarantee
fromUS$ 83
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6. Big4 Tassie Getaway Park Ulverstone
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Hurry – almost gone at this price!
fromUS$ 128
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7. Big4 Tassie Getaway Parks St Helens
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Best price guarantee
fromUS$ 148
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8. Mantra Hobart Airport
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Rooms filling fast – secure the best rate!
fromUS$ 121
Best Mid-Range & Premium Golf Stays
These properties offer the strongest combination of golf proximity, onsite facilities, and overnight comfort - suited to golfers who want more than a bed after a full day on the course.
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1. Orford Blue Waters Hotel
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Best price guarantee
fromUS$ 115
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2. Comfort Hotel Bayside
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Best price guarantee
fromUS$ 84
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3. Ratho Farm
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Hurry – almost gone at this price!
fromUS$ 149
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12. Franklin Manor
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Just a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 164
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5. Country Club Tasmania
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Just a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 143
Smart Travel & Timing Advice for Golf in Tasmania
Tasmania's golf season runs year-round, but the optimal playing window is March to May and September to November - shoulder periods when course conditions are firm and consistent, accommodation prices are lower than peak summer rates, and tee times are easier to secure. December to February sees prices at East Coast properties rise sharply, driven by domestic family holiday demand that competes directly with golf travellers for the same limited stock at Bicheno, St Helens, and Orford. The Central Highlands (Bothwell/Ratho Farm) and the West Coast (Strahan/Franklin Manor) are less affected by summer demand spikes and offer better last-minute availability.
For Barnbougle Dunes - Tasmania's most internationally recognised golf destination - tee times and adjacent accommodation should be secured at least 8 weeks ahead regardless of season, as demand consistently outpaces supply. A realistic Tasmania golf road trip covering the major regions (North, East Coast, West Coast, and Highlands) requires a minimum of 7 nights; attempting to compress this into less time results in excessive daily driving distances. Fly-in golfers using Hobart Airport should allocate the first night to Mantra Hobart Airport and depart early the following morning to maximise driving time to the East Coast or Highlands without losing a playing day.
