BOUTIQUE HOTEL RISBY COVE STRAHAN TASMANIA ENTERS A NEW ERA FOLLOWING MAJOR TRANSFORMATION
Announcement posted by Impressions Marketing Communications 03 Mar 2026
Built in 1999, the property has undergone a multi-million-dollar restoration, elevating into a refined, design-led retreat, on the edge of Tasmania's wilderness.
Twelve reimagined suites are meticulous in detail - featuring curated Tasmanian artworks and rare local timbers, eco fireplaces and private decks with harbour and rainforest outlooks. Guests can choose from cedar hot tub or private infra-red sauna suites, as well as a gold class style cinematic suite, conceived as a contemporary homage to the room's former life as a theatre...
Set on the edge of Tasmania's UNESCO-listed Wilderness World Heritage Area, Risby Cove is entering a bold new era. Long loved for its serene setting on Macquarie Harbour, the hotel now offers a more refined guest experience while staying true to its wild West Coast soul. The renovation celebrates the raw beauty of the landscape through a seamless blend of nature, wellness, and Tasmanian design.
"On my first visit to Risby Cove, I arrived as a guest - a stressed, exhausted executive running on empty. One early morning, tea in hand, I sat on the deck of what is now a Cove Pavilion and watched the sun rise over Macquarie Harbour. As light touched the water and birdsong mixed with gentle waves, something shifted. The anxiety eased, replaced by a deep calm and a powerful sense of connection to this place," explains Tasmanian owner, Jacinta Young.
"When I later learned the ageing property was for sale, I felt instantly that I was meant to be its custodian. Within days, the contract was signed. With my two teenage sons, I began reimagining Risby Cove — not just as a boutique retreat, but as a sanctuary of wellness, tranquillity and connection."
The Wild, Refined
At the heart of Risby Cove's evolution is a commitment to meaningful luxury; a slower, more thoughtful approach to travel that encourages rest, reconnection, and reflection. Each suite has been thoughtfully curated with Tasmanian timber joinery, handpicked furnishings, and original artworks by acclaimed local artists.
Floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows frame cinematic views of rainforest, harbour, and sky, while generous decks and courtyards invite the landscape into every stay.
Nature Meets Nurture: Wellness by the Water
Designed to offer comfort in every season, the redesigned suites now feature:
- Freestanding statement baths or outdoor cedar hot tubs for long, restorative soaks
- Infrared saunas in select suites inviting stillness and pause
- Bioethanol fireplaces that cast a soft, sustainable glow
- King-sized beds and custom artisan light shades
Whether sipping a Tasmania pinot beneath the stars or waking to mist over the harbour, every element has been curated to invite deep relaxation and a connection to place.
RISBY'S RESTAURANT: FLAVOUR, STORY AND PLACE
Risby Cove's restaurant — an award-winning Strahan favourite — remains one of the West Coast's leading dining destinations, reintroduced with renewed depth and refinement. Open for dinner (bookings essential), the menu celebrates Tasmania's freshest seasonal produce in dishes inspired by land, sea and story, paired with harbour views and understated elegance.
Conceived by the owner as an expression of place, Risby's brings food, beverages, art and design together to tell the story of Tasmania's wild west. Expansive windows frame the shifting moods of Macquarie Harbour, while a deep green interior palette intensifies the drama of the surrounding rainforest. Warm fluted timber, brass detailing and softly buoy-inspired lighting add intimacy and refinement.
The site's history is honoured through meaningful design gestures — from a rustic Huon pine bar top salvaged from Strahan's original jetty, to Birdseye Huon pine details referencing the former Risby Brothers' Mill. Custom Tasmanian oak tables, fire-finished and sealed by hand, form the heart of the dining room — tactile works of functional art that quietly echo a story of industry, destruction by fire, resilience and renewal.
Rooted in Story, Culture and Place
This transformation is more than visual; it reflects Risby Cove's deepening relationship with the West Coast. From thoughtful in-room touches to subtle design nods referencing the region's history, flora and fauna, every aspect pays tribute to the stories and spirit of the Tasmanian wilderness.
Its essence remains: a place shaped by nature, grounded in creativity, and dedicated to offering guests a meaningful, memorable escape.
ENDS
IMAGES
FURTHER FACTS
OVERVIEW
On the threshold of Tasmania's World Heritage wilderness, Risby Cove offers more than accommodation - it offers immersion. This is an invitation into the raw, beating soul of the island's wild west.
Here, luxury takes its cues from nature. Buildings and interiors are shaped by local hands, crafted from Huon pine and the deep‑grained timbers of Tasmania's forests. The region's finest produce - from the ocean, the soil and cool‑climate vineyards - becomes food that restores as much as it delights. At Risby Cove, the connection to land and sea is tangible. It's something you taste, touch and carry with you. Wilderness and refinement sit side by side.
Macquarie Harbour's shoreline holds stories older than memory. The ghosts of Sarah Island, the resilience of early settlers, and the grit of piners, miners and fishermen linger in the salt air. Their presence is woven through the character of this coast.
Wrapped in warmth, comfort and quiet indulgence, Risby Cove becomes a sanctuary where time stretches. This is the West Coast experience - reimagined, restored and deeply felt.
OUR GUESTS
Risby Cove guests are drawn to the authenticity and refined elements of this West Coast boutique hotel, where wilderness and comfort meet. Nature lovers explore the region's protected waterways with others come with a curiosity for the stories, history and rugged character of the coast. Many simply seek the chance to slow down. They crave time in the sauna, lingering candle-lit dinners and the simple pleasure of sinking into a cedar hot tub beneath dark Tasmanian skies.
OUR LOCATION
Risby Cove is located in Strahan on Tasmania's West Coast, about 4.5 hours by road from Hobart. Guests may choose to fly with Par Avion or take their time on the road and experience the journey as part of their Risby Cove stay. Curated itineraries are available to help guests travel slowly and well.
Positioned directly on the waterfront, Risby Cove is just 700 meters from the Gordon River Ferry Terminal and Strahan Village and less than one kilometre from Regatta Point Station.
THE 12 SUITES
Cove Pavilions (x 2) - Boatshed & Sawmill suites
Maugean Suites (x 2) - Barge & Jetty suites
Rainforest Suites (x 2) - Raft & Wharf suites
Piners Suite - Coast suite
Panorama Suite - Punt suite
Marina Suite - Beach suite
Skyline Suite - Shack suite
Macquarie Suite - Harbour Suite
The Storyteller's Suite - Theatre Suite
PRICING & INCLUSIONS
Stays are from $695 per night in high season with up to 30% off in low season (1/6 - 31/8) (Lead in Cost) with breakfast included.
RISBY COVE OWNER
Jacinta Young is a local Tasmanian who is the CEO of Allure Tasmania, an expanding eco -resort brand. She became the custodian of Risby Cove in October 2023. She envisaged a place that celebrates all things Tasmanian, from its unsurpassable food and wine, to its magnificent art and design, and ancient timbers upon which the original Risby Brothers' Sawmill was - in every sense—based.