High on a hill in picturesque Queenstown sits Penghana, a charming period homestead. Once inside we were welcomed by the most delightful hosts and stunning accommodation with superb attention to detail. Karen and Steve were so kind and thoughtful and made us feel truly at home. The rooms are beautifully fitted out and the beds wonderfully comfortable. Penghana is the perfect base to explore the west of Tasmania. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write your thoughts on your stay with us. It is greatly appreciated and gives future guests a 'genuine' snapshot of what they can expect when staying at Penghana. Comfy beds ae critical at a B&B as is attention to detail and anticipating every guest's individual needs. We look forward to welcoming you back next time!!
We had an extended stay in Queenstown for business and we stayed at Penghana for a couple of months. The hosts, Steve and Karen welcomed us warmly and we immediately felt at home. The house has been thoughtfully and meticulously restored and it's like stepping back in time in this historic 'grand old dame' - the toast of Queenstown! Our suite was sparkling clean and beautifully furnished and the bed was delightful - cozy, comfortable, with beautiful linen and pillows. Bathrobes/dressing gowns and complimentary slippers are another lovely touch. We stayed during the height of winter and we were thankful for the excellent heating in our suite. Thank you for such a unique and lovely stay - Penghana is the place to stay while exploring Tassie's West Coast Wilderness.
Thank you Michelle. We certainly appreciate your feedback after your long stay on the West Coast. We believe its the little things that make the difference when one has a lenghty time away from home. So that's why we focus on quality and comfort when it comes to linen and quality towels, bath robes etc and ensuring after a day moving around in our winter climate you know you can come home to wamth and comfort and all the tools in the kitchen at your finger tips to create your favourite meals.
It's been a delight to get to know you both and thank you for choosing Penghana again.
This two story mansion dates from the 1890´s and was the home of the general managers of the Mt Lyell Mining&Railway Co.Ltd.and it’s subsequent appellations.In the hall is a grand photo portrait of Mr Sticht ,an American who was GM for about 30 years and who introduced pyritic smelting amid much scepticism and thereby ensured the profitabilty of the company in the early 20 th century.His successor,Mr RM Murray, came to Mt Lyell in 1900.His career was a mirror of the way mining changed at Mt Lyell.He died in the house in 1945.
Why the history lesson?Because the house is part of the saga of west coast mining,and I believe knowing something of this history will greatly enhance one’s stay.I recommend reading an early Geoffrey Bainey title,The Peaks of Lyell,to pique one’s interest.The house is hugely atmospheric,aided in this by the Victorian and Edwardian decor.
Our room ,the Owen Room,was of a good size with modern heating,shower and wc.The bed was superbly comfortable.The view over Queenstown and of the peaks beyond,is stupendous from this room.
There is a commodious common room and an adjoining room which has basic cooking facilities.
Breakfasts are terrific,an abundance of choice of the highest quality,cooked cheerfully by Steve.
The house is a ten minute walk down a hill through revegetation and across the Queen river to near the train station,whose cafe is excellent.
The resident caretaker managers (I believe the house is owned by the Tas.government or insrumentality thereof)Steve and Karen,are most pleasant people and make every effort to ensure a great stay.There were several thoughtful small gestures they made which were not essential but well noticed and appreciated by us.Steve and Karen have been here for 6 or 7 years and had successful professional lives in other fields before,and most certainly run it very well.
This is a unique accomodation.I cannot recommend it too highly,it was the highlight of our first but I hope not last visit to Tasmania.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive overview of your stay at Penghana and thank you for your compliments.
Just a couple of corrections - we are in our 9th year here and what guests see, isn't us just as 'caretakers' of this business. We purchased the business back in 2015 and have styled and built it to what it is today.
Yes the property is owned by National Trust Tasmania. We have a commercial lease to operate Penghana as a B&B business. We pay all outgoings as well as rent to NTT with the Landlord being responsible for maintaining the heritage value and upkeep of the structure. This property has been a commercial operation now for 28 years. We are it's 4th owners and now hold the longest ownership record.
Guests who are interested not only in the house's history but that of Queenstown and it dominant reputation globally as a source for copper and gold, can also enjoy the Exhibition we, in collaboration with NTT, brought together to celebrate the house's 125th anniversary in 2023. The originalballroom now houses a permanent photographic display to illustrate the house's evolution but most importantly the purpose was to honour all the 11 General Managers and their families who resided here over a 99 year period. Yes we have gathered some amazing stories from remaining families/family members and uncovered pieces of memorbilia to keep the history alive and give accuracy. It is titled "The hands that shaped the bannisters" .
We are proud of our achievements now with 2 consecutive years of being included inTripadvisor's top 1% of B&B's globally and rated in Ausralia's top 10 B&B's. (2023 at No. 8 and 2024 at No. 7 as well as in the top 25 for the South Pacific Region).
We have stayed in BnBs in various countries,but none have come up to the standard we experienced here. Great room, top breakfast, friendly owners, who give you the history of the place,and what their dreams are for it. Definitely 5 Stars. Will return to it in the future. Thanks to Steven and Karen
We are certainly feeling very humble after your glowing comments. Thank you - the recognition of our efforts is greatly appreciated and certainly gives us the momentum to keep doing what we offer our guests.
Penghana is an extraordinary place with a fascinating history 125 years in the making. Our hosts Karen and Steve were friendly and inclusive offering a warm welcome, pristine accommodation and an array of breakfast options to fit every taste. They even offer to drive you to your evening restaurant of choice and collect you again. They’re both extremely attentive and kind.
The Owen room is outstanding, maintained beautifully as a piece of history but with every modern convenience including a fabulous shower and Netflix if that’s your thing - and let’s not forget the unbelievable view across Queenstown. If you can get a vacancy, take it - it’s well worth it to experience the Penghana effect.
We certainly appreciate your glowing words following your stay with us. Yes this isn't just a place to stay enroute, Penghana and Queenstown have a great history and we are pleased to share it with our guests whilst offering a mix of tradition, 21st century comforts and spoiling you.
