NEVER have I been so tempted to give my check-in name as Hercule Poirot.
But Agatha Christie's shuffling Belgian detective could not have traversed the crunching stone driveway leading to the door of Woodbridge, a grand riverside Georgian mansion near Hobart.
And besides, I can't do the accent.
Built by convicts in 1825 the property sits on the banks of the Derwent River at New Norfolk, about a 30-minute drive from the capital city, and is the state's only listing with Small Luxury Hotels of the World. It boasts a five-star rating.
Rolling gardens and lush lawns meet the gently burbling river in front of the eight-guestroom Woodbridge, where some visitors arrive by seaplane.
This property encompasses all that is typical of the magnificent residences so often showcased in British television whodunit mysteries.
Inside the property are tastefully furnished sitting rooms and a ballroom complete with pianola.
Sink into a deep armchair in front of a roaring open fire and sip sherry while gazing out at faraway lights which fade as fog lowers for the night.
While retaining its old-world charm and quirks - including the keep where convicts lived during construction - Woodbridge offers all the mod cons.
Each room - personalised for guests with an elegant name tag on the door - offers a spacious ensuite and there is a hot tub and sauna on premises.
Venture out through the high steel gates and there's an array of nearby attractions.
For fans of the outdoors there's kayaking on the river, fishing and Mt Field National Park is just a short drive away, offering stunning wilderness trails and waterfalls.
If fine and rich fare is more the fancy, there's a choice of cellar doors, cooking schools even a boutique brewery.
This is also truffle country. So rather than sniffing out a crime a la Poirot, let a truffle dog do the work.
STAYING THERE:
Rooms at Woodbridge on the Derwent start at $495 a night. For more, visit www.woodbridgenn.com.au
* Writer was a guest of Woodbridge on the Derwent.
AAP