Tasmania has quietly become Australia's most interesting place to sleep. A locally written round-up of the island's 50 best places to stay — spanning wilderness lodges, design hotels and heavily booked Airbnbs — makes a strong case that the hardest part of a Tassie trip is choosing where to check in.

At the top end, Pumphouse Point remains the island's most photographed hotel: a former hydro station reached by a long jetty over Lake St Clair, with rooms either on the water or facing it. Saffire Freycinet, on the East Coast, is the state's priciest property and its only fully all-inclusive lodge — champagne on arrival, a full restaurant programme and a bottomless mini-bar included in the rate. Freycinet Lodge, also on the East Coast, has picked up design awards for its low-profile cabins near Wineglass Bay.

The list also shines a light on small, hard-to-book rentals. Captain's Rest, a tiny cabin in a quiet seaside neighbourhood near Strahan on the wild west coast, has become one of the most popular Airbnbs in Australia — think total isolation, no neighbours to stumble upon you. Whale Song Shack at Falmouth on the north-east coast, with an outdoor tub and a big fire pit, books out months ahead. Thalia Haven on Great Oyster Bay is a sprawling Italian-style villa with the state's most photographed bathtub, ideal for groups since bedrooms are scattered across the property. And Satellite Island — a whole private island off the East Coast — is described as the most sought-after stay in Tasmania; snagging a night apparently feels like winning the lottery, so booking up to a year out is wise.

Further north, Kittawa Lodge brings five-star luxury to King Island, famous for its beef and dairy. Opened by a Sydney couple who relocated to the island, it offers accommodation-only rates or a gastronomic package that comes highly recommended. In the seaside town of Stanley, the Ship Inn is the new luxury option — stay two nights, as the north-west coast's rain is part of the charm.

Hobart and Launceston hold their own. MONA, the museum that put Tasmania on the art map, has riverside pavilions you can actually sleep in, with sweeping views over the Derwent. The Henry Jones Art Hotel sits on the waterfront with a much-loved bar downstairs; MACq 01 is steps from the wharf and Salamanca. The Islington, in leafy West Hobart, wins points for its homely feel, house history, standout breakfasts and honour bar by an open fire. In Launceston, Stillwater Seven stacks seven suites above one of the city's oldest restaurants, with Tamar River views and in-room breakfast cooked by the chefs downstairs. Outside town, Quamby Estate in Hagley and The Granary at Richmond Hill deliver country-luxe in the Northern Midlands, while Woodbridge on the Derwent is a discreet five-star pick for couples.

Why it matters: Tasmania rewards travellers who book early — the best rentals are gone months in advance, and Satellite Island needs a year's lead time. If you want winter cosiness over summer crowds, stone cottages at Piermont Retreat near Swansea or the moody north coast make a compelling off-season case.