Our Tasmanian itinerary boasted a range of incredible accessible accommodation that impressed the whole family and our first stop, Hotel Verge, was no exception. We were off to a strong start with excellent accessible accommodation in a central location.
Hotel Verge review, Launceston,Tasmania
Hotel Verge’s design is reflective of the area’s early industrial heritage but with a contemporary twist. The hotel offers all the necessary elements for a comfortable stay, including spacious, well-appointed rooms.
On arrival at Hotel Verge we noted two other wheelchair users making their way to the lobby so it appeared word was already spreading about the accessibility of the hotel.
Book accessible accommodation at Hotel Verge in Launceston here.
For our family, the bigger the accessible room the better and we were impressed by the oversized accommodation at Hotel Verge.
The twin-bedded accessible room offers plenty of circulation space and room for transferring to the bed.
Bedroom facts – entry door to the bedroom 86cm, bed height 51cm and under bed clearance 12cm.
A large accessible bathroom, accessed via an easy sliding door, offers plenty of room for wheelchair users to transfer to the toilet (fitted with backrest) or to the shower bench.
Towels are located at a lower level, as are the towel rails and other features in the room. A shower bench and height adjustable shower are provided in the bathroom. Depending on how long your arms are, the shower gel, shampoo and conditioner may be out of reach once seated.
Bathroom facts – bathroom entry door 83cm, shower bench height 43cm, toilet height to pan 41cm, toilet height to seat 43cm and wash basin/sink 75cm.
The layout of the room allows for additional seating in the room without interfering with the general circulation space. Braeden was happy he could cast all his favourite shows to the large television and watch from bed.
Air conditioner controls, light switches and hanging rails in the wardrobe are all lowered. If you need an iron and ironing board to press your clothes before hitting the town, they are provided and also at a good height for all to access.
A mini fridge is handy for storing snacks and drinks and the tea and coffee making facilities were my best friend every morning.
While staying at Hotel Verge we were offered the opportunity to inspect a room which offers a height adjustable bed so of course we jumped at the chance. The layout of the room is identical to the accessible room we stayed in except one of the twin beds is an electric bed. This is a fantastic inclusion that is all too rare to find in accessible. A real win for those that are looking for accessible Launceston accommodation.
Book accessible accommodation at Hotel Verge, Launceston here.
Diverge Restaurant
When we travel, breakfast is my favourite meal of the day. I love a cooked breakfast and felt thoroughly spoilt with smashed avocado on sourdough toast with mushrooms, eggs and fetta cheese. Although everything on the Diverge Restaurant menu looked good, I simply couldn’t go past having this on repeat. While the eggs were a standout, the staff serving us were the highlight every day. After the restaurant staff saw our needs on the first morning, each day the same table was prepared for us with a seat removed and ready for Braeden to roll up in his wheelchair. Braeden also had a special order on the first morning and on the following mornings, his order was prepped and brought to us with no fuss. That’s what makes a hotel stay extra special for me. Staff using initiative and making us feel welcomed. Mariano and Mary-anne were exceptional hosts each morning.
We were also lucky enough to be hosted for a divine dinner, in fact, hubby declared his meal to be the pick of the trip. Diverge Restaurant offers a seasonal menu using local produce and is a lovely treat if you are looking for a special dinner during your stay.
Reservations for breakfast and dinner are recommended.
Although this was the first stop on our itinerary, with three nights at the hotel I took the opportunity to keep on top of the washing by using the guest laundry. Laundry powder is free and provided for guests but there is a small fee to use the washing machines and dryers.
Undercover accessible parking is available at the hotel. On the weekend the hotel was extremely busy and the accessible spot was hard to get but hotel staff allowed us to park conveniently in front of reception in an unmarked space.
We were hosted for our stay at Hotel Verge but as always our review is reflective of a wonderful stay.
Nearby Hotel Verge
We loved the location of Hotel Verge as it was particularly lovely to be able to wander across the road to City Park.
Wide level paths make exploring City Park easy for all.
With beautiful blooms, shady trees to relax under and monkeys (yes, you read right), City Park is perfect for a short visit or a spot to leave any hustle and bustle behind for a little longer.
As it happens, Amelia and I didn’t need to travel to Japan to see entertaining Japanese Macaque Monkeys. They are right in the heart of Launceston, just minus the snow that we experienced in Japan.
An accessible boardwalk and glass panels allow visitors excellent viewing of the usual monkey business that goes on when you put a troop of monkeys together. Braeden was engaged and amused by their antics and with this under five minutes away from the hotel we visited a couple of times.
Harvest Market
Conveniently located right next door to Hotel Verge is the weekly Harvest Launceston Community Farmers’ Market which is on every Saturday. With 50 or so stalls, there is produce and freshly cooked food to tempt and delight visitors. Everything is bursting with flavour and many of the produced grown without sprays.
Can you imagine, one stallholder boasts growing 250 varieties of tomato without using any pesticides. My fingers were twitching to buy up big but unfortunately we visited on the second last day of our stay as the market only occurs on a Saturday and we had arrived in Tassie on a Sunday. We did buy blueberries (best berries ever) and apples to bring home. It’s legal to take fruit from Tasmania to New South Wales (not vice versa though). But, be careful if you are travelling to other states where there are restrictions. It would be devastating to think you were taking home some fresh Tassie produce only to have to ditch it in a biosecurity bin at the airport.
The market is held in an open air car park with good access throughout. Visit the Harvest Market website for more information.
Book accessible accommodation at Hotel Verge, Launceston here.
