There’s something about staying in an old building that makes a trip feel a little more special. The history, the little details, the feeling that the walls have stories of their own. And if you love heritage buildings as much as I do, Haven on High in Campbell Town is one worth adding to your Tasmanian travel list.
We spent some time exploring Campbell Town in spring, and between the beautiful old buildings, little shops, good food and the most adorable baby waterbirds, it turned out to be such a lovely place to spend a few days.
Staying at Haven on High
Haven on High is not your usual holiday accommodation. The property includes a beautifully restored heritage church and an adjoining mudbrick cottage, both right in the heart of Campbell Town on High Street. The church was built in 1879 and is known as the former Brickhill Memorial Church, named after Joseph Brickhill, a convict turned businessman who helped fund its construction. Over the years, it has had quite a few different lives, including as a wool museum, cafe, art gallery, co working space and private residence. Now, thanks to an extensive restoration, it has been given a new lease on life as boutique accommodation.
What I love about projects like this is that the history hasn’t simply been stripped away to make room for something modern. The restoration celebrates what makes the building special, from its beautiful stained glass windows and exposed timber beams to the original timber floors, decorative mouldings and heritage details.
The church’s exterior is built from locally sourced bluestone, while the adjoining cottage is made from mudbrick added in the 70's to compliment the church. The cottage has its own character, with exposed timber beams, stained glass, a spiral staircase and a lovely sunroom overlooking the garden.
The restoration took around two years, and you can see the care that’s gone into bringing these buildings back to life while making them comfortable for modern travellers.It’s a wonderful example of how historic Tasmanian buildings can be given a new purpose rather than being left behind.
All the comforts of home
Despite the heritage setting, you aren’t sacrificing the modern comforts you’d want from a holiday stay.
Depending on which accommodation you book, you’ll find a fully equipped kitchen, a Nespresso coffee machine, WiFi, a smart TV with Netflix, a washing machine and dryer, fresh linen and towels, books, board games and records (which we particularly enjoyed. There are fireplaces, too, which are fully stocked with everything you need to easily start which we took full advantage of. The church also has a courtyard with a firepit and outdoor seating, while the cottage has its own garden and outdoor space. The church accommodates up to five guests, while the cottage can sleep up to six, making the property an option for couples, families or groups travelling together.
The location is hard to beat. You’re right in the middle of town, with shops, cafes, restaurants and parks all within easy walking distance. The IGA is practically next door, which is incredibly handy if you prefer to cook a few meals during your stay.
Dinner at the pub
One of the best parts of exploring a country town is finding a great country pub to eat at. We headed to the pub for dinner and ordered a parmi and a cottage pie. Both were absolutley delicious, I'm a sucker for a safe meal and feel like you cant go wrong with a parmi but found myself stealing fork fulls of Petes cottage pie because it was one of he best I've had! it was exactly the sort of hearty pub meal you want after a day out exploring. It’s one of those simple travel pleasures that can make a trip memorable. Good food, a welcoming country pub and nowhere in particular you need to rush off to afterwards.
Browse the local shops on High Street
Campbell Town is the kind of place where it’s worth putting aside a couple of hours just to wander along the main street. There are plenty of little shops to duck into, and some lovely places to find locally made products and take home a piece of Tasmania.
The Tasmania Shop
If you enjoy bringing home local goodies, make sure you pop into The Tasmania Shop. It’s packed with Tasmanian products, including jams, honey, body products, cheese and alcohol. I always love finding shops that bring together products from local makers, especially when travelling. It’s a great place to pick up a few treats for yourself or gifts for people back home.
A Little Piece of Heaven
And then there’s the lolly shop, which is always going to get my attention. There’s a great selection of chocolates and lollies, along with ice cream and a range of English and American soft drinks. I have a particular weakness for Dr Pepper. It’s a little thing, but these are the sorts of stops that make exploring a town fun.
Coffee stops
There are several places around Campbell Town to grab a coffee, whether you want to sit down for a proper cafe visit or pick something up while exploring. Sweetbrew Coffee House, JJ’s Cafe and Tasmanian Handcrafts on High are worth looking into during your visit as you can also combine a coffee stop with a browse through the local crafts and gifts.
Get creative at Harmony on High
If you enjoy art, making things or simply trying something different while travelling, Harmony on High is worth checking out. It’s a gallery, gift shop and creative space that offers art workshops and other creative activities. It’s a lovely way to experience a little more of the local community rather than just passing through as a tourist. I’d recommend checking their current workshop schedule before visiting, especially if there’s a particular activity you’d love to try.
Visit the underground bookshop beneath the Foxhunters Return
This has to be one of the more unique places to visit in Campbell Town. Hidden beneath the historic Foxhunters Return coaching inn is an underground bookshop known as The Book Cellar. The inn dates back to the 1830s, and the bookshop occupies the old convict built cellars beneath the building. With its brick arches and historic setting, it’s a wonderful place to browse if you love old books, interesting buildings or places with a story to tell. I always stop and check out the gardening section and picked up some Tasmanian specific books on foraging and building an apothecary from local plants.
Antique hunting and op shop treasures
And of course, my favourite thing to do in small towns is find the local op shops and antique stores. Of which Campbell Town has three to explore! There’s something about browsing through old furniture, artwork, vintage trinkets and all the little things that have a story to tell. I can happily lose an afternoon poking around antique shops, never knowing what I’ll find tucked away on a shelf or hidden amongst a pile of old treasures.
Wildes Antiques and Last Frontier Vintage are both worth adding to your wander along High Street. Whether you’re hunting for a piece of furniture, something unusual to decorate your home with, vintage collectables or just a little treasure you didn’t know you needed, they’re the sorts of shops where it’s worth taking your time and having a good look around.
And don’t forget to pop into the Anglican op shop, too. I always think op shops are one of the best ways to get a feel for a town, and you never know when you’ll stumble across a bargain or something with a bit of character.
For me, this is half the fun of travelling through Tasmania’s historic towns. It’s not just about ticking off the famous landmarks. It’s about finding those little shops, chatting to locals and discovering things you wouldn’t have found if you’d simply driven through. You could drive straight through Campbell Town on your way between Hobart and Launceston, but you’ll miss out on so much if you don’t take the time to explore.
Just make sure you leave a little room in your bag for whatever you end up bringing home!
A spring picnic at the Red Bridge
One of my favourite things about visiting Campbell Town in spring was spending time around the Red Bridge.
The historic bridge is one of the town’s best known landmarks, but the area around it is just as lovely. Under the willow trees, you can find a spot for a picnic, sit by the water and enjoy the scenery. We are in spring, which means we also got to see baby ducklings and black swan signets out on the water. Honestly, how can you not love that? Just remember to admire the birds from a respectful distance and leave them to enjoy their little patch of the river.
Why Campbell Town deserves more than a quick stop
Campbell Town sits along Tasmania’s Heritage Highway, making it an easy place to stop between Hobart and Launceston. But I’d encourage you not to treat it as somewhere to grab a coffee and keep driving. Between the heritage architecture, independent shops, local produce, art workshops, historic bookshop and lovely spots along the river, there’s plenty to fill a day or two. It’s also well positioned for exploring other parts of Tasmania’s Midlands, with its historic villages and countryside within reach and staying somewhere like Haven on High makes the experience even better. Instead of simply looking at the town’s history from the outside, you get to stay inside a piece of it.
Would we stay again?
Haven on High is a lovely option for anyone who appreciates heritage buildings, thoughtful restoration and accommodation with a bit more personality than a hotel room. I especially love the idea of giving an old building a new purpose while keeping the details that make it unique. The combination of historic character and modern comforts makes it a memorable place to stay, and being right on High Street means you can leave the car parked and explore the town on foot.
Add in a good pub dinner, a can of Dr Pepper, a browse through the local shops and a spring picnic watching the baby ducklings and swan signets, and you’ve got yourself a pretty lovely little Tasmanian getaway.
If you’re planning a trip through the Midlands, put Campbell Town on your list and give yourself time to discover what it’s all about. Sometimes the best places are the ones you almost drive straight past.
Planning your own stay?
You can find more information about the accommodation and booking options on the official Haven on High website.
https://havenonhigh.lodgify.com/
For more ideas on where to stay and what to discover around Tasmania, keep following along as we explore more of the places, people and little treasures that make this island so special.
