hobart tourism office

• Lord Mayor's Welcome
• Our vision, mission and values
• Public Interest Disclosures
• Council administrative structure
• Council Policies
• Future of Local Government Review
• Hobart Coat of Arms
• Local Government Elections
• Lord Mayoral reception
• State of the City
• Our current vacancies
• What the City of Hobart can offer you
• Want to work with us?
• Our Strategic Vision
• Get in touch
• Annual Business Survey
• Annual Community Satisfaction Survey
• Minutes and Agendas
• Live recordings of Council meetings
• Meeting schedule for Council and Committee meetings
• Committee membership and terms of reference
• Annual General Meeting
• Presenting a petition
• Public question time
• Risk and Audit Panel
• Responses to Questions Without Notice
• Portfolio Committees
• Current Elected Members
• Former Elected Members and Commissioners
• Elected Member Code of Conduct
• Elected Member Allowances and Expenses
• End of Term Report 2018-2022
• Fees and charges
• Other forms
• Permit applications
• Our Antarctic Gateway
• Sister Cities
• Official visits gallery
• Right to Information Act 2009
• Privacy statement
• Make a payment
• Hobart News
• Media centre
• City of Hobart submissions
• City of Hobart publications listing
• City of Hobart 2023-24 Budget
• Annual Plan
• Annual Report
• Capital City Strategic Plan 2023
• Hobart: A community vision for our island capital
• Inner Hobart Transport Network Operations Plan
• 2024 State Election Priorities
• How can I pay my rates?
• How can I update my postal address?
• When are my rates due?
• Rates and charges
• Rate notices
• Pensioner discounts
• Where do my rates go?
• How rates are calculated
• Rate rebate scheme for native vegetation
• Financial Hardship Rates Relief
• Rating and valuation strategy review
• Supplementary rates
• Bin collection
• FOGO and compost
• Reuse, recycle and dispose A-Z
• Recycling and disposal facilities
• Waste reduction resources
• Towards zero waste - City's Waste Management Strategy 2015 - 2030
• Cloth Nappy and Reusable Sanitary Product Rebate
• Lost or stray animals
• Pests and vermin
• Poultry and livestock
• Animal problems and concerns
• Bees and wasps
• Noise from heat pumps, compressors and fixed equipment
• Noise from public events
• Lodging a noise concern
• Prohibited hours of equipment use
• Residential noise
• Intrusive lighting
• Backyard burning
• Residential parking
• My neighbourhood
• Action on homelessness
• Community Christmas Carols
• Gift wrapping
• Christmas to New Year operating hours
• Free parking at the Regatta Grounds
• Myer Hobart Christmas Pageant
• Community engagement
• Aboriginal Programs
• Busking and Street Performance
• Community gardens
• Community safety
• Equal access
• Hobart Community Awards
• Hobart Respects All
• Hobart Welcomes All
• Inclusion and equity
• LGBTIQA+ communities
• Positive Ageing
• Resilient Hobart
• Speakers' Corner
• Young people
• Volunteering
• Children's Lord Mayor
• Creative Hobart programs
• Creative Hobart projects
• Funding, opportunities, equipment and venues
• Hobart Current
• Publications, guides and e-news
• Opening hours
• Memberships
• Health and fitness
• Learn to Swim
• Facilities and bookings
• Floods and storms
• Emergency evacuation
• Pets in emergencies
• Information for businesses
• Upcoming events
• Healthy Hobart
• Bush Adventures
• CityTalks Hobart
• Busking and street performance
• Running your own event
• Business Grants
• Christmas Grants
• Community Grants
• Creative Hobart Grants
• Event Grants
• Heritage Grants
• Urban Sustainability Grants
• Sponsorship
• Grant recipients
• Resources for grant applicants
• Resources for grant recipients
• Funding review
• Snow on kunanyi/Mt Wellington
• Pinnacle Road - current road status
• kunanyi/Mt Wellington webcams
• Stay safe on the mountain
• Explore kunanyi/Mt Wellington
• Natural values
• Find a park or reserve
• Sportsgrounds
• Bushland reserves
• Tracks and trails
• BBQ and park bookings
• Map of parks, sportsgrounds and reserves
• COVID-19 information and updates
• Food safety
• Notifiable diseases
• Recreational water
• Smoke-free Hobart
• Unhealthy housing
• Immunisations
• Information and resources
• Application to occupy a caravan on private land
• Lead in Drinking Water Fountains
• Street Teams Project
• Salamanca Market
• How to pay for parking
• Motorcycle parking
• Parking fines
• Parking rules and signs
• Parking permits and schemes
• Banners and signage
• Festive lighting
• Halls and venues
• Public spaces bookings
• Biodiversity
• Backyard Bandicoots
• Environmental weeds
• Ducks of Hobart
• Hobart Bird Walks
• Pollution control
• Protecting our wild heart
• Threatened species
• Water Refill Program
• Help protect our platypuses
• Grassy Woodlands Restoration Project
• Climate Ready Hobart
• Hobart - a sustainable capital city
• Preparing for climate impacts
• Sustainable communities
• Sustainable homes
• Hobart Rivulet CBD access
• Issues and investigations
• Understanding flood risk
• Urban waterway environment
• Working near open waterways
• Nature strips
• Overgrown vegetation
• Weed control program
• No Spray Register
• Orange hawkweed control program
• Hobart regional nursery
• Roads and footpaths
• Retaining walls and boundary fences
• New vehicle crossings
• Bicycle parking
• Hire-and-ride e-scooters
• Road safety
• Sustainable transport planning
• Temporary road closures
• Towaway zones
• Traffic management

Visitor Services

Public toilets.

• Franklin Square wi-fi
• Hello Hobart
• Start-up support
• Further information and support
• City Economy Strategy
• Invest Hobart
• Sustainability and circular economy
• Food and beverage businesses
• Tattooing and piercing businesses
• Filming in Hobart
• Permits for parks or reserves
• Permits for public spaces
• Permits for public streets
• Place of assembly licences
• Upcoming business opportunities
• Recently awarded business
• Code for Tenders and Contracts
• Public Interest Disclosures for contractors
• Greywater reuse
• Onsite waste water disposal
• Access and parking
• Certification
• Construction management plans
• Soil and water management plans
• Representations
• Other development permits and approvals
• Bushfire prone areas
• Election signage
• Heritage places and precincts
• Restricted plants
• Significant trees
• Standard engineering drawings
• Storm surge and flood prone land
• Visitor accommodation
• Water sensitive urban design
• Planning scheme amendments
• Reports and studies
• Tasmanian Planning Scheme
• Tolmans Hill local area plan
• Preparing an application
• Property information requests
• kunanyi/Mt Wellington Cable Car proposal
• Major planning applications
• Stratas and subdivisions
• Urban Design Advisory Panel
• Central Hobart Plan
• Hobart City Deal
• University of Tasmania relationship
• Argyle and Campbell Street bicycle connections
• CBD pedestrian only phase crossings
• Collins Court Stage 2
• Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre redevelopment
• Elizabeth Street (Midtown) retail precinct upgrade
• Midtown expanded outdoor dining
• Neighbourhood Plans
• New Town retail precinct upgrade
• North Hobart Precinct Place Vision, Access and Parking Plan
• Parking sensor replacement
• Pinnacle Road guardrail
• Salamanca Place Precinct Upgrade
• Sharing Bicentennial Park's track and trails
• South Hobart retail precinct upgrade
• New Town Rivulet Outlet Renewal Project
• Street-side Dining
• Domain Athletics Centre: Improving the Playing Field
• Huon Road safety improvements for mountain cyclists
• Collins Street bikeway
• Clare Street Oval change rooms
• Elizabeth and Patrick Streets intersection upgrade
• Domain roundabout
• Hamilton Street footpath upgrade
• Molle Street traffic lights installation
• Long Beach toilets
• Riding the Mountain: Stage 1
• Swan Street Park
• Tolmans Hill Park upgrade
• Zig Zag Track Restoration Project
• Roadworks General Information
• Expanding City: underutilised sites

In this section

• Venues, banners and signage
• Environment
• Sustainable Hobart
• Stormwater and urban waterways
• Street cleaning
• Vegetation management programs
• Road and footpath assets
• Transport and traffic management
• Public Wi-Fi

Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre

The Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre provides detailed local knowledge and information, offers personalised travel suggestions and assists in planning itineraries.

The travel centre employs over 20 enthusiastic, multilingual and knowledgeable staff to help visitors plan their Tasmanian stay and locals to explore more of Tasmania. In addition to skilled travel advisors, the travel centre has over 100 dedicated volunteers to greet visitors arriving from cruise ships and at Hobart Airport on selected days.

For more information about where to stay, what to see and do and to make a booking, visit the Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre website .

The Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre is proudly owned and operated by the City of Hobart.

Exploring Hobart

Hobart is home to beautiful parks, bushland reserves and playgrounds that can be accessed on foot or by car. Or you can explore an extensive network of walking and mountain bike tracks and enjoy the great views of Hobart from kunanyi / Mt Wellington .

Access self-guided walking maps and take yourself on a tour of Hobart's public art.

Check out the Hello Hobart self-guided tours to explore our local retail and hospitality scene (please note these tours can be accessed via mobile device only).

A visit to Hobart is incomplete without a trip to the famous Salamanca Market home to 300 stalls showcasing Tasmanian producers and artisans. Salamanca Market operates every Saturday from 8.30 am to 3.00 pm and you can find the market located between Salamanca Lawns and the historic warehouses of Salamanca Place, a five-minute walk from the city centre.

The City of Hobart has a number of interactive online maps of the Hobart local government area that can help with parking, finding playgrounds and dog exercise locations.

Hobart has a large network of public toilets .

Shopping and business hours

Most multinational chain stores, department stores and supermarkets are open 7 days a week. Many independent shops trade 6 days a week or reduced daily hours.

Hello Hobart provides information about the range of shops and eateries in the Hobart city centre.

Banks and post offices are generally open Monday to Friday.

Accessibility

The City of Hobart CBD mobility map (PDF, 2MB) provides information about disabled access parking zones and toilets, steep gradients and rest spots around Hobart.

Public transport

Metro runs the public bus system in Hobart.

Taxi services and Uber operate in Tasmania.

Australia Recommends 2024

Come and Say G'day

G'day, the short film

Discover your Australia

Travel videos

Deals and offers

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

South Australia

Western Australia

External Territories

The Whitsundays

Mornington Peninsula

Port Douglas

Ningaloo Reef

Airlie Beach

Kangaroo Island

Rottnest Island

Hamilton Island

Lord Howe Island

Tiwi Islands

Phillip Island

Bruny Island

Margaret River

Barossa Valley

The Grampians

Hunter Valley

McLaren Vale

Glass House Mountains

Alice Springs

Uluru and Kata Tjuta

The Kimberley

Flinders Ranges

Kakadu National Park

Eyre Peninsula

Karijini National Park

Great Barrier Reef

Blue Mountains

Daintree Rainforest

Great Ocean Road

Purnululu National Park

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Litchfield National Park

Aboriginal experiences

Arts and culture

Festivals and events

Food and drink

Adventure and sports

Walks and hikes

Road trips and drives

Beaches and islands

Nature and national parks

Eco-friendly travel

Health and wellness

Family travel

Family destinations

Family road trips

Backpacking

Work and holiday

Beginner's guide

Accessible travel

Planning tips

Trip planner

Australian budget guide

Itinerary planner

Find a travel agent

Find accommodation

Find transport

Visitor information centres

Deals and travel packages

Visa and entry requirements FAQ

Customs and biosecurity

Working Holiday Maker visas

Facts about Australia

Experiences that will make you feel like an Aussie

People and culture

Health and safety FAQ

Cities, states & territories

Iconic places and attractions

When is the best time to visit Australia?

Seasonal travel

Events and festivals

School holidays

Public holidays

How to get to Australia's most iconic cities

How long do I need for my trip to Australia?

How to travel around Australia

Guide to driving in Australia

How to hire a car or campervan

How to plan a family road trip

How to plan an outback road trip

Hobart, Tasmania

Guide to Hobart

Aboriginal name: nipaluna (pronounced nip-ah-loona)

• Share Share on Facebook Share on Messenger Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Copy Link
• Getting to Hobart
• When to visit
• Accessibility

In Hobart, you can see world-renowned art, eat freshly caught seafood and climb a mountain all in one day.

The Tasmanian capital of Hobart is a dynamic city that surpasses expectations at every turn. Australia’s southernmost capital is brimming with history and bursting with creativity (hello MONA). It boasts an incredible food and wine scene with local produce making the short journey from farm to table, and is fringed by scenic wilderness.

Long before Hobart was called Hobart, the local muwinina and palawa peoples called this area of Tasmania ‘nipaluna.’ No capital letters are used in palawa kani (the traditional language), including place names.

To learn more about Hobart’s First Nations history, take the takara nipaluna – ‘Walking Hobart’ Aboriginal tour. Run by palawa/warlpiri woman Nunami Sculthorpe-Green, this special tour will give you a rich understanding of the palawa experience. 

• Traditional name: nipaluna (pronounced nip-ah-loona)
• Indigenous Peoples: muwinina and palawa peoples
• Traditional languages: palawa kani
• How to say g’day in palawa kani: ya

The easiest way to reach Hobart is by air. Flights arrive daily from several Australian cities.

• Hobart Airport (HBA) is 18km (11mi) from the city and services international and domestic arrivals
• Hire cars, rideshare services and taxis are available from passenger terminals
• The SkyBus shuttle service to Hobart's city centre departs every 30 minutes

Hobart is a relatively small city, so making your way around is easy. There is a clean and safe public bus network as well as a private ferry to take you to waterfront art museum MONA. You can easily walk to many attractions, and car hire is available for driving further afield on a road trip . Find more information about getting around Hobart .

Hobart has four distinct seasons and each is uniquely beautiful. Luckily for travellers, Hobart’s weather is relatively predictable, making it easy to plan. Overall, expect cooler temperatures year-round when compared with Australia's other capital cities.

• High season: Summer (December to February) and winter (June to August)
• Low season: Spring (September to November)
• Don’t miss:  Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race  (December)

There are great accessible options for accommodation and attractions throughout Hobart. 

• Arrival: Staff and facilities are available at Hobart Airport to provide accessibility assistance , including for travellers with hidden disabilities .
• Getting around: All public buses are wheelchair accessible in central Hobart. Use the ‘Wheelchair accessible routes only’ option on the Trip Planner tool for buses outside of the city.
• Accessible experience highlights: The popular kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus is wheelchair accessible , and the Museum of Old and New Art  has a range of accessible facilities , including an app that supports voice-over and screen reader functionality.
• Helpful resources: Travellers who are blind or have low vision can access a range of immersive audio guides to Hobart via the Vacayit app . The City of Hobart’s handy mobility map is a great tool for those with limited mobility.

15 places to Come and Say G'day in 2024

Best restaurants in hobart.

Must-try restaurants

Cheap eats in Hobart

Top coffee shops

Discover hobart.

Where to stay

Weather in Hobart

Getting around

Places to visit near Hobart

The Tasman Peninsula

Cradle Mountain

Launceston, Devonport and Burnie

Tasmania's west coast

Hobart travel itineraries.

3 days in Hobart

5 days of Instagram worthy sights in Tasmania

5 days road tripping Tasmania's Great Eastern Drive

Circle Tasmania road trip

6-day journey through Tasmania's western wilds

A 10-day taste of gourmet Tasmania

Explore another city.

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.  Find out more . By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

• New Zealand (English)
• United States (English)
• Canada (English)
• United Kingdom (English)
• India (English)
• Malaysia (English)
• Singapore (English)
• Indonesia (Bahasa Indonesia)
• Deutschland (Deutsch)
• France (Français)
• Italia (Italiano)
• 中国大陆 (简体中文)

*Product Disclaimer:  Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services. Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through its websites such as australia.com. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.

Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre

Top ways to experience Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.02 mi) SOHO Vibes on Davey
• (0.10 mi) Quest Waterfront
• (0.11 mi) Somerset on the Pier Hobart
• (0.13 mi) Mövenpick Hotel Hobart
• (0.14 mi) The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart
• (0.02 mi) O Grill North Hobart
• (0.02 mi) LARK Cellar Door, Hobart
• (0.06 mi) Frank Restaurant and Bar
• (0.10 mi) Fish Frenzy
• (0.10 mi) T42 Hobart

The ultimate travel guide to Hobart

• Eat & Drink
• More of Tasmania

Combining heritage charm with modern luxuries, Hobart, nestled at the foothills of kunyanyi / Mount Wellington, truly is one of Australia’s most beautiful cities. Tasmania’s capital, and the second oldest capital in Australia after Sydney, offers a unique combination of vibrant cosmopolitan experiences and a plentiful supply of outdoor attractions.

With its commitment to produce-driven dining, weekly markets and food experiences , you can expect a long and varied list of top places to eat in Hobart . Coffee fiends won’t be disappointed, Hobart is a mecca when it comes to cafes . And our second-favourite beverage is in high supply at one of the many Hobart bars and boundary-pushing distilleries scattered throughout the city.

Whether you’re here for a long stay, a three-day weekend , or you’ve got kids in tow , there is an accommodation option to suit . Our Hobart travel guide below is your one-stop shop for planning the ultimate escape to the Apple Isle’s capital city.

Top things to do in Hobart

Incredible things to do in Hobart

This pretty little city has a glut of great sights and attractions – from culinary tours to kooky museums; here are th...

With so much to see and do , you’ll want to stay for weeks in this picturesque city (even in the summer months ). Whether it’s walking around Battery Point to see the historic houses dating from the first European settlement, heading up to the summit of Mount Wellington to enjoy the spectacular views of the city and harbour, or simply strolling around the art galleries (like the weird and wonderful Museum of Old and New Art) or weekly markets and stopping into the fabulous restaurants for a bite (or three), you’ll be kept busy from dawn until dusk. We’ve also put together a handful of cheat guides on where to play, stay and eat in Hobart , a family itinerary , and a 72-hour guide , or keep reading for more things to do.

A Queen Mary Scandi-inspired tour of Tasmania

Tasmania offers everything you need to have a Scandi-inspired holiday, fit for a royal. Tasmanian-born Mary Donaldson has officia...

Dark Mofo 2024 cancelled

After a successful festival this year, Dark Mofo has been called off for 2024. Dark Mofo is one of Tasmania’s biggest drawcards...

A guide to the best markets in Hobart

Tasmania is a hotbed of unique pieces and incredible finds – and nowhere more so than its thriving market scene. Here are some o...

A 72-hour Hobart city guide

The Tasmanian capital has transformed over the last decade; today you’ll find a unique fusion of creativity, heritage, wildernes...

10 awesome things to do in Hobart with kids

From museums devoted to all things brown and sticky, to swashbuckling pirate experiences on deserted islands and close encounters ...

The perfect 4-day Hobart itinerary for families

Learn all about the island state's colonial and Indigenous history, see some truly mind-boggling art and get out in nature over fo...

A family guide to where to eat, stay & play in Hobart

Your go-to guide to Hobart’s best places to eat, sleep and top things to do with kids. EAT | STAY | PLAY Where to eat in Hobar...

Where to eat, stay and play in Hobart, Tasmania

Head to the Tassie capital for cafes serving farm-fresh fare, hotels steeped in history and underground art that’ll absorb you f...

9 outdoor adventures to have in and around Hobart

From bushwalking trails and abseils at the kunanyi/Mt Wellington summit to eco-cruising the rugged coast of southern Tasmania, buc...

10 best things to do in Hobart this summer

If you've often overlooked Hobart in summer for more obvious destinations, it's time you reconsidered. Sure, it’s alarmingly cl...

6 of the best things to do in Hobart’s MidTown

From Mona to North Hobart, Tasmania’s capital has definitely found its cool in recent years. Now this central pocket of town has...

Top Hobart accommodation

featured post

A handy guide for where to stay in Hobart

Trying to wade through all the options of where to stay in Hobart? Check out this list of the city’s best places to st...

From luxury hotels to elegant manor houses, Hobart has an eclectic mix of accommodation options , with many of them emphasising one of Hobart’s best qualities: art. Take the Henry Jones Art Hotel for starters, it is a beautiful collision of art and history – and is set in the hustle and bustle with galleries, restaurants, bars and cafes at the doorstep. Sticking to the art theme, you can’t go past a stay at MONA Pavilions. While The Islington Hotel , set in an old Regency house, has magnificent views of Mount Wellington, gorgeous gardens and, again, more art and artefacts.

There’s also no shortage of hotel options in Hobart. From the budget-friendly options right through to the five-star chains, there’s a choice for every wallet. One standout example is Macq01 from the team at The Henry Jones. It’s well-positioned and celebrates Tasmania’s history, from the indigenous population right through to the colourful characters that have made the city home. Keep reading for more great accommodation options below.

Hotel review: Islington Hotel, Hobart

Boasting a world-class art collection and wow-factor mountain views, the Islington Hotel is one of Hobart’s most elegant – and...

Inside the Henry Jones Art Hotel: where history and art collide

What do you get when you combine Hobart's iconic history, art and style? Well, as it turns out, you get the Henry Jones Art Hotel....

Top Hobart restaurants, bars and cafes

A hit-list of best places to eat in Hobart

With a handful of strong new players arriving on the Hobart scene to mix things up and champion all things Tasmanian, th...

Famed for its culinary scene, it’s not hard to find excellent places to eat and drink in Hobart . For those who want to indulge in flavours from around the world, head to Elizabeth Street in North Hobart. Historic Salamanca also has an abundance of options to satisfy all taste buds. When it comes to cafes (and the best coffee in Hobart ), you can pretty much walk into any and be satisfied. There’s a Hobart bar for every occasion (and palate). From unique distilleries and ritzy hotel bars with all the trimmings to laidback craft beer bars in historic buildings and speakeasy cocktail bars hidden down laneways. Then you’ve got a long list of memorable foodie experiences and the weekly markets to really take eating and drinking in Hobart to the next level. Find all this and more below.

6 distilleries you must try in Hobart

Drink a dram of estate-grown rye on the very farm where it was grown and made, or try a nip of multi-award winning sheep’s whey ...

16 best cafes in Hobart for coffee

From holes in the wall to places to linger over coffee and brunch to a spot up the mountain. Just like everything else that has c...

The foodie’s guide to Hobart

There’s a lot to love about Hobart. The small-town vibe, the culture, the people, but above all else, you’ve got to love the f...

With a handful of strong new players arriving on the Hobart scene to mix things up and champion all things Tasmanian, there’s ne...

11 of the best bars in Hobart

From ritzy hotel bars with all the trimmings to laidback craft beer bars in historic buildings and speakeasy cocktail bars hidden ...

Review: Aloft, Hobart

In a pier-end attic space, Elspeth Callender finds new Hobart perspectives both outside the window and on the plate. Brooke Stree...

Explore more of Tasmania

• East Coast Tasmania
• Bay of Fires
• South Tasmania
• Bruny Island
• Cradle Mountain

© Australian Traveller Media 2024. All rights reserved.

• South Africa
• Afghanistan
• North Korea
• Adventure + Outdoors
• Amusement Parks
• Backpacking Trips
• Boating + Cruises
• Budget Travel
• Bus + Train Travel
• Coasts + Islands
• Country Trips
• Fall Vacations
• Family Vacations
• Green Travel
• Heritage + History
• Honeymoons + Romance
• Inspiration + Guide
• Landmarks + Attractions
• LGBT Travel
• Markets + Bazaars
• National Parks + Reserves
• Nature + Wildlife
• Parks + Gardens
• Pets + Animals
• Photography
• Airlines + Airports
• Budgeting + Currency
• Business Travel
• Celebrity Travel
• Customs + Immigration
• Deals + Rewards
• Family Travel
• Hotels + Resorts
• Luggage + Packing Tips
• Offbeat News
• Photography Tips
• Responsible Travel
• Solo Travel
• Tech + Gear
• Travel Etiquette
• Travel Warnings
• Bars + Clubs
• Celebrity Chefs
• Restaurants + Cafés
• Wine + Vineyards
• Beach Hotels
• Boutique Hotels
• Hotel Openings
• Hotel Reviews
• Luxury Hotels
• Mountain + Ski Resorts
• Spa Resorts
• Vacation Rentals
• Asia Cruises
• European Cruises
• Festivals + Events
• Museums + Galleries
• Style + Design
• Travel’s Best
• Hotel with Agoda.com
• Hotel with Booking.com

How to prepare for trekking in Nepal? — 10+ Nepal trekking…

Where to go & what to do in Varanasi? — 15+…

What to buy in Indonesia 2024? — Top +9 famous gifts,…

What to buy in Kyoto 2024? — 31+ must-buy Kyoto souvenirs,…

What to buy in India 2024? — 29+ best gifts from…

India trip tips — 9+ things to know before going to…

All about tips in Nepal — How much to tip in…

Cambodia travel tips — 15+ what to know & things to…

Must eat in Hong Kong — 7+ must eat & must…

Must eat in Georgetown — 10+ famous, must-eat & best street…

Must eat in Melaka — 10+ famous Malacca street food &…

Hong Kong Soya sauce Chicken Rice and Noodles — The first…

Top hotels in Siem Reap — 8+ best places to stay…

Top hotels in shanghai — 15+ best hotels in Shanghai

Top hotels in Malacca — 10+ good & best hotels in…

Top places to stay in Bali — Top 10 best areas…

10 must-know things for your best first time European river cruise

Top 3 best luxury cruises in Halong Bay, Vietnam

Cherry blossom festival Korea 2024 — Top 5 cherry blossom festivals…

Ghibli museum blog — The fullest Ghibli museum guide for first-timers

Kyoto festival — Top 10 best events & most famous festivals…

National Palace Museum Taipei blog — What to see in National…

Japanese waterfall — Top 10 most beautiful waterfalls in Japan in…

19+ most beautiful towns in Europe every tourist need to visit…

Georgia travel photos — 20+ captivating photos show Georgia is heaven…

Explore Damnoen Floating Market — The oldest floating market of Thailand

Visiting Fenghuang Ancient Town — One of the most charming ancient…

Mekong Delta travel blog — Beyond rivers of Southwestern Vietnam

14 reasons why you should travel when you are young

Shigaraki Tanuki – An animal symbol of good luck in Japan

Living in the charms of cave houses in Andalucia, Southern Spain

20+ jaw-dropping tiny homes around the world

Hobart travel blog — the fullest hobart travel guide for a great budget trip to hobart for first-timers.

Located on the island of Tasmania , the farthest state to the southern of Australia, Hobart was once a notorious colonial city – where the Australian’s most dangerous prisoners are kept. But today’s Hobart has really removed all the chains of the past, rising, developing and became a dream tourist destination of the world. So, what to do and how to plan a perfect trip to Hobart? – the historical coastal city of Australia for the first-time? Let’s check out our hobart travel blog with the fullest Hobart travel guide (Hobart guide, Hobart tourist guide) from how to get, best time to visit, where to stay, best places to visit and top things to do to find out the answer!

• Where to go in Tasmania? — 12 must see & best places to visit in Tasmania, Australia
• Tasmania travel blog — The fullest Tasmania travel guide for a great budget trip for first-timers
• What to buy in Australia 2024? — 21+ top gifts & best things to buy in Australia
• Boracay travel blog — The fullest Boracay travel guide for first-timers
• Coron travel blog — The fullest Coron travel guide for first-timers

Arriving in Hobart after an hour and a half flying from Sydney, I felt immediately at home, the other world going away. Located between Mount Wellington, and the banks of the River Derwent, Hobart is an eclectic, relaxing seaside city, a wonderful mix of art, history, natural landscapes – where I love the most.

Hobart city is located on the mouth of the Derwent River, in southeastern of Tasmania Island, located 240km to the south of the continent between Victoria and Antarctica. In addition, this place is also the capital of the state of Tasmania , which is Australia’s only peninsula.

Hobart travel guide: Overview of Hobart

With a population of about 250,000 (2020) and an area of ​​1,696 km², this is the second capital with least populous of the “beautiful land of kangaroo”. Established in 1804 as a criminal colony, Hobart is Australia’s second oldest city after Sydney, the city of Hobart has been thriving as the administrative center of a rich agricultural region with outstanding industry and business activities.

With inherent natural beauty, Hobart is extremely ideal destination for those who love nature and outdoor activities. However, thanks to the world-class museum MONA opened in 2011 that marked a new era for this city.

Hobart tourist guide: When to go?

Hobart city climate is temperate ocean, with four distinct seasons and the second driest city in Australia. December, January, February and March are the hottest months with average temperatures around 21 degree Celsius. In winter, the island receives southern winds blowing from Antarctica and has the coldest temperatures in Australia. However, the weather here is still considered quite mild, so you can travel at any time of the year.

Hobart has festivals all year-round, with the MONA FOMA annual music and arts festival held at the MONA museum, the distinctive Dark Mofo Winter Feast Festival that takes place in June attracting more people. In the summer, especially near the New Year, Hobart gets excited to welcome the yachts from Sydney to Hobart and the Summer Festival with plays, jazz, food and wine.

Hobart guide: How to get to Hobart?

There are two ways to go to Hobart in particular and Tasmania in general: By air and ferry (ferry but it’s as big as a ship).

Australian domestic flight tickets are usually quite cheap, if you plan to book early, it will be cheaper, I booked tickets quite close to departure date at $114/round-trip, if lucky you can hunt for a discount ticket at only $19/one-way. I flew with Tigerair, I usually see Tigerair has the cheapest tickets, in addition to Jetstar, but when I check the ticket price on Skyscanner or Google Flights, Tigerair is still the cheapest. Flying from Melbourne to Hobart takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Note: Flyging with low-cost airlines, it’s often delay (I was delayed with my both flights).

Getting from airport to city center

Hobart airport is about 17km from the city center. The traveling time to city center about 20 minutes.

There are many options and you should book in advance before you arrive.

• Airporter City Hotels Shuttle: 1300 385 511
• Hobart Maxi Connect: 0457 900 433.
• Taxi from CBD to Airport: About $40.
• Airporter Shuttle Bus: Take the Hobart Taxi Connect: Single trip is $11-14 / 1 person, 1 private car is $79 / car. This is the brand we chose. Note that you must ask carefully where the driver will pick you up after booking service. http://www.hobartmaxiconnect.com.au/
• Airporter City Hotels Shuttle costs $32/one-way to the Hobart city. https://www.discovertasmania.com.au/travel-information/getting-here/airport-shuttles

Hobart International Airport (HBA) Express Bus Transfers by SkyBus

Tasmania Redline Shuttle buses serve all flights. One-way ticket price at AU$ 17 (adult), AU$ 13. While round-trip ticket at AU$ 30 (adult), AU$ 23 (child). (children 3-15 years old).

Tip: You should buy Urban Fare card and find a Metro Greencard Daily Travel Cap to saving more. See more and buy ticket here .

The ferry ticket can be booked here https://spiritoftasmania.com.au , It is usually more expensive than the plane ticket (if I remember correctly, the last time I checked it was almost $200/one-way). If you take a ferry, it will take about 8 hours, in addition the ferry will depart from Port Melbourne to Devonport which takes about 5 hours to reach Hobart.

Hobart travel guide: Transportation in the city of Hobart

Habart is small so you can easily reach many places on foot. If you prefer to ride, Metro buses have available connect the north, east and south of Hobart.

You can travel by private means of transport like renting a car because there are many public parking lots or you can also take a bus, in Hobart city there is a free shuttle bus HobartHopper on Saturdays when the streets restrict vehicles. HobartHopper bus stops at points in the city center, Salamanca Square and the coast, every 10 minutes with a trip, continuously from 8:30am to 4pm daily.

However, it is important to note that, during peak hours in the morning and evening, you should not use public transport between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. afternoon because it will be easy to get stuck in traffic. In addition, the public transport network is also quite limited in the evenings and on weekends.

In terms of costs for vehicles traveling within Hobart City: 1 liter of gas costs around AU$ 1.44, monthly train or bus tickets cost around AU$ 79 and taxi fare for 8km it will be AU$ 21.

Visitors can also take a water taxi on the MONA River from the boat dock.

Self-driving

So, if you have an international driver’s license and are in good health, you can rent a car right at the ferry terminal to drive back to Hobart. Of course you should rent a car in advance via some rental companies such as:

• Rentalcars.com : The largest car rental service in the world, this website compares all the big brands like Hertz, Avis, Alamo, Enterprise, Europcar and Thrifty.
• Juicy is a campervans rental company that very popular in Australia and New Zealand, these cars are often painted in blue, in summer on the beaches you will see a lot of people using Campervans.
• The other websites you should consider: Gumtree.com.au ; CarSales.com.au ; CarPoint.com.au ; AutoTrader.com.au ; CarsGuide.com.au ; TradingPost.com.au

Hobart travel guide: What to do and where to go?

Coming to Hobart city, a place you definitely must-visit is Salamanca Square, right next to the river, between Parliament Square and Princes Park and located in the heart of the city.

Since the 1830s, all life here has revolved around industry with warehouses to store grain, wool, whale oil and imports, but today this beautiful pebble area is the destination for food, arts, shopping and music. Hobart’s long historical and cultural life converged in this Salamanca Square.

You can look for small to luxury stores selling jewelry and clothing or wander through the underground bookstores and don’t forget to enjoy a meal or snacks under the rock arches where the sailors Whale hunters and workers once arrived.

Here you can also sit by the fountain and leisurely watch the flow of people passby. The neatly manicured lawns in the heart of Hobart’s Salamanca Square area are a great spot to relax after a long lunch.

Read more: Tasmania travel blog — The fullest Tasmania travel guide for a great budget trip for first-timers.

Salamanca Market

The famous market of this Hobart city has presented here for more than 30 years (Since 1972), until now it still maintains its unique traditional culture. This is the place to selling of more than 300 stalls with a variety of products such as crafts, arts, home appliances, food (butter, jam, beer, snacks …).

Coming to the Salamanca market, visitors will surely have to amaze the works of artists, artisans and immerse themselves in the festivals held all year round here.

Salamanca Market is open from 8:30 am to 3 pm every Saturday, especially you can also taste it before you buy. Do not forget to visit the Cascade brewery to taste the best beer in the world. Besides, you should also take the time to choose to buy local products as gifts, or a wool scarf to prevent the cold winds during your Australian trip.

Address: Salamanca Pl, Hobart TAS 7001, Australia Hours: Saturday: 8:30AM–3PM

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

This is Australia’s second oldest museum with a large space. It houses an interesting art collection, from traditional to contemporary, featuring a variety of images that recreate the city’s aboriginal and colonial style and discipline. You will surely be excited to learn about southern wildlife and those who have sought to conquer it.

Address: Dunn Pl, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia Hours: 10AM–4PM/Monday: Closed

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)

It’s also recommended place by Tripadvisor. Located on a pretty peninsula, MONA is Australia’s largest private museum and thanks to its boldness and rebelliousness, MONA has become one of the most talked about museums in the world. Not following the usual design and instructions, visitors were given a small touch screen like an iPhone with a headset, stop any spot the screen showed up at that point and provided information on that artifact/painting.

Combining traditional and contemporary arts, MONA’s works always invite visitors to ponder, admire, or even become part of the work. In other words, each work at MONA is an experience, not just an artifact. The exhibitions are so shocking and daring, so MONA is also known as “Disney for adults”.

Address: 655 Main Rd, Berriedale TAS 7011, Australia

Constitution Dock

Constitution Dock is located at the top of southeastern of Franklin Wharf, in Sullivan Bay and a 5-minute walk from Hobart city center. Here, you can enjoy fresh seafood, dining at one of the restaurants on the water or choose some catches of the day by local fishermen and enjoy it right on boat is not bad at all.

Address: 1 Franklin Whrf, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia

And to make your Hobart trip more dynamic and complete, you can experience the sea by yourself on a Kayak and explore the natural beauty along the coast of Tasmania with more than 300 large and small islands.

Mount Wellington

From the observatory at the windy summit of Wellington, you can get panoramic views of Hobart city, Bruny Island, South Arm and Tasman Peninsula. Mount Wellington is 1,270 meters above sea level, but it only takes about 20 minutes to easily getting from the city center.

Here, you can participate in exciting activities such as: Walking through the runnels along the historic Pipeline trail, horseback riding or mountain biking across the Wellington Range, Sphinx rock climbing and admire the tallest Octopus Tree in the forest or climb up the dangerous Dolerite Organ Pipe Tower.

Battery Point – Experience life in Hobart’s oldest suburb

When you have the opportunity to travel to Hobart, you can experience living in a guesthouse next to the old castle or in the simple wooden houses of Battery Point fishermen – this place is named after guns was placed on this land in 1818. Although these guns were dismantled long ago, the Battery Point land still retains some of this unique feature.

Here, visitors can visit ancient architectural works such as Arthur Circus Cottages, Anglican Church of St. Joseph. George and Van Diemen Folk Museum – a building built in the architecture of King George’s time, located on land with very beautiful scenery.

Visit Richmond and Kettering

You will have the opportunity to cross the oldest bridge in Australia and stand in the cell of the oldest prison in the beautiful city of Richmond, just about 30 minutes from the northeast of Hobart by car. Exploring the cobblestone streets in the dim light of lanterns or going for a picnic by the Coal River will also be experiences that you should not miss.

In addition, there are also many local handicrafts that place in galleries and cafes. On the way back to Hobart you can stop at one of the many wineries in the Coal Valley. And from the south of Hobart you will find the peaceful coastal towns of Kettering. Better yet, you can also have lunch while watching the wonderful yachts or fishing boats bobbing on the harbor.

Some other outstanding Hobart places you should visit

• Princes Park
• Tasman Bridge
• Walking from the Tasman Bridge across the Derwent River
• St. David’s Park (on foot)
• St. David’s Cathedral (church)
• Parliament House
• Sullivan’s Cove: Hobart’s first ferry (15 minutes walk from Parliament House)
• St. George’s Church
• South Hobart at the foot of Mt. Wellington
• Cascade Brewery (by bus)
• Treasury Building and Franklin Square
• GPO and Hobart Town Hall
• Penitentiary Chapel and Court
• Hobart Aquatic Center
• Queen’s Domain and Government House (by bus)
• Visit Cascade Gardens (5 minutes walk from Cascade Brewery)
• Visit Rosny Hill with views overlooking Hobart, Sandy Bay, Mt Wellington, The Tasman Bridge and Glenorchy
• Royal Tasmania Botanical: Australia’s second oldest botanical garden. Since the metro lines are no longer active, call the Metro hotline 132.201 to ask for other routes to get there.

Other attractions outside Hobart

Maria island.

Maria Island is located in the east and 4km from Tasmania, becoming a must-visit place when coming to Australia’s only island state. Maria Island has a deep and wide bay, majestic cliffs landscape and rich flora and fauna, leaving an indelible mark for visitors. Maria Island has an area of ​​115.50 km2, is a national park, home to many species of animals, birds and marine life. The sandstone cliffs attract anyone with vibrant colors, many beautiful shapes, including Painted Cliffs, which is the island’s distinctive highlight.

Bruny Island

It will take you more than 1 hour by ferry from Hobart to Bruny Island. This is an island with beautiful beaches and fresh seafood. On the island there are very few people living so Bruny is the ideal place if you want to find a place to rest. The most unique feature of Bruny Island is the narrow strip of land call The Neck that connecting the two ends of the island, with two beautiful white sand beaches on the both sides. On this island, visitors can easily find many beautiful places to check-in. There are also restaurants selling delicious fresh oysters, wineries, cheese and a few other spots to visit.

Port Arthur

Port Arthur is a small town and old prison on the Tasman peninsula, Tasmania, Australia. It is one of Australia’s most important heritage sites, as well as an open-air museum and an important archaeological site.

Port Arthur holds historical values not only of Australia but also of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries when empires scrambled and shared the exploitation of remote colonies. That is the result of a policy of sending prisoners to hard exile and making use of their labor to reclaim wasteland, mine and build infrastructure in extreme conditions of extreme poverty. Port Arthur’s exile process ended in 1877. But since the early 20th century, Port Arthur has been a favorite destination for tourists. The coal mine, the hospital, as well as the church or watchtower become ruins. Some have been renovated into attractions. Until now, Port Arthur is by far one of the most famous historic sites in Australia, attracting more than 250,000 visitors a year.

Hobart travel guide: What to eat?

Enjoy delicious seafood and wine.

Enjoy classic temperate wines in the cellars or wineries in the Coal River Valley, Derwent Valley and Huon Valley … will be an experience to make your Hobart trip more excitement. Visitors can enjoy wine with fresh fruits right at a restaurant in the sunlit vineyard. Or savoring freshly shelled oysters at Barilla Bay and fresh fish at Salamanca Market will also be a great choice.

Tasmania Food & Wine Festival: And yet, Hobart also holds visitors by the unique and fun Tasmania Food & Wine Festival. This is a 7-day and 7-night activity, offering international flavors ranging from Persian, Indian to Spanish. Join the festival, you have the opportunity to enjoy the famous dishes made from salmon, oysters, tuna, lamb …

Some delicious dishes that you must try when coming to Hobart are: grilled kangaroo, grilled crocodile, beetroot burger, pavlova cake, bush tucker, abalone …

Hobart travel guide: Where to stay?

The hotel I stayed at the Best Western Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) located in the center, but also about a 10-minute walk from the busy, bustling neighborhood. 4-star hotel but a bit old, not deserve 4-star, next time if I come back, you won’t stay at this hotel. But the room rate is quite cheap, averaging about $55/person/night.

Below we recommend more best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• MACq 01 Hotel , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $211/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).
• The Henry Jones Art Hotel , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $137/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).
• Grand Chancellor Hotel Hobart , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $161/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).
• Salamanca Inn , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $149/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

You can find more hotels in this city on Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Tasmania you can refer to

• Tasman Island Experience
• Bruny Island Day Tour from Hobart
• Wild West Coast Tour
• 3D Tasmanian Highlight Tour: Hobart, Port Arthur, & Bruny Island
• iVenture Tasmania Flexi Attractions Pass
• 2D Best of Tasmania Sightseeing Tour: Hobart & Bruny Island
• Wineglass Bay and Wildlife Aeroplane Tour from Hobart
• Port Arthur Historic Site Two-Day Ticket in Tasmania
• Five of Hobart’s Best Sightseeing Day Tour
• Hobart City Scenic Aeroplane Flight Experience
• Wineglass Bay and Surrounding Areas Day Tour from Hobart
• Hobart City Kayaking Tour

Are you looking for more top things to do in Hobart: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here . And Tasmania travel blog — The fullest Tasmania travel guide for a great budget trip for first-timers.

Related articles

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Where to go & what to do in varanasi — 15+ places to visit & best things to do in varanasi, what to buy in indonesia 2024 — top +9 famous gifts, souvenirs & best things to buy in indonesia, what to buy in kyoto 2024 — 31+ must-buy kyoto souvenirs, gifts & best things to buy in kyoto, what to buy in india 2024 — 29+ best gifts from india & best things to buy in india.

What to buy in Korea 2024? — Top +23 cheap, famous & best things to buy in Korea

What to buy in USA 2024? — 17+ must buy in USA & best things to buy in USA

What to buy in Italy 2024? — 19+ top souvenirs & best things to buy in Italy

What to buy in Guangzhou 2024? — 11+ best things to buy in Guangzhou & best shopping places in Guangzhou

What to buy in Tibet 2024? — Top 9+ tibet souvenirs, gifts & best things to buy in Tibet

Editor picks.

How to prepare for trekking in Nepal? — 10+ Nepal trekking...

Where to go & what to do in Varanasi? — 15+...

What to buy in Indonesia 2024? — Top +9 famous gifts,...

Popular posts.

What to buy in USA 2024? — 17+ must buy in...

Must buy souvenir in Taiwan — Top 17+ most famous, cheap...

What to buy in Korea 2024? — Top +23 cheap, famous...

Popular category.

• Inspiration + Guide 1462
• Trip Inspiration 468
• Thailand 209
• Food + Drink 208
• Coasts + Islands 193
• South Korea 168
• Vietnam 166
• Travel Photos 144
• Work for Us
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

Home » Travel Guides » Australia » 25 Best Things to Do in Hobart (Australia)

25 Best Things to Do in Hobart (Australia)

Tasmania’s state capital is the second oldest in Australia and began life at the start of the 19th century as a penal colony.

Some of Australia’s oldest institutions are based in Hobart, and there are exciting remnants from Australia’s earliest days, at a UNESCO-listed female workhouse and a historic penitentiary.

Around the harbour and the older neighbourhoods like Battery Point you can still find lots of architecture from this period.

One street lined with Georgian dock buildings is Salamanca Place, the setting for a sensational market on Saturdays.

Always in the background is the peak of Mount Wellington, which grants you a dumbfounding view that reaches across the region and far beyond the city.

1. Mount Wellington

Part of the Hobart skyline as much as any building, Mount Wellington climbs 1,271 metres just a few kilometres inland from the city.

The peak and slopes are protected by the 18,000-hectare Wellington Park, and you can conquer the mountain by car, with a tour group or on foot if you know what you’re doing! Pinnacle Road wriggles up through glacial rock formations and sub-alpine vegetation to the top, ending at the Pinnacle Observation Shelter.

There you’ll be confronted by a view that can only be described as epic, encompassing Hobart, the Derwent River, Bruny Island and Tasmania’s South West Wilderness in one humungous sweep.

It’s all part of the fun, but worth remembering that temperatures on the summit can be between 10 and 15°C cooler than down in Hobart’s city centre.

In winter sub-zero conditions are the norm up here.

Book online: Mt Wellington Explorer Bus Pass

2. Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Resting in the Queens Domain, an area of hilly bushland bordering Hobart’s city centre, you’ll discover Australia’s second-oldest botanical garden.

It’s amazing to think that the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens were planted more than 200 years ago, and the combination of historic specimens and a stirring waterfront location make this attraction essential.

There’s an Antarctic plant house, a fuchsia house, a cactus collection, serene Japanese garden and traditional herb garden.

The ingenious Arthur Wall is internally heated, allowing exotic plants to grow in Tasmania’s cool climate, and out on the garden’s winding paths you’ll be in the shade of the largest public collection of conifers in the Southern Hemisphere.

Don’t leave without a peek at the shop, selling honey made in the garden’s apiary, as well as botanical gin.

3. Salamanca Place

Possibly the best market in Australia sets up shop on this street tracking the south side of the harbour at Sullivans Cove.

Outside market day, Salamanca Place is still obligatory for its long terrace of Georgian houses and dock buildings constructed from honey-coloured local sandstone.

Facing off against them are giant plane trees, while down the sides are lanes, alleys and little squares that haven’t changed a great deal since Hobart’s whaling days in the early and mid-19th century.

Fair to say that there’s new tenants, as today this area is brimming with restaurants, bars, cafes, galleries, theatres, bookshops and boutiques.

A bit newer is Salamanca Square, a plaza laid out in the 1990s, with shops and lawns around a fountain.

4. Salamanca Market

Every Saturday from 08:30 to 15:00 more than 300 stalls set up on Salamanca Place for one of Tasmania’s most famous spectacles.

This is the Salamanca Market, dating back to 1972 and often touted as Australia’s best market.

Many different things come into play, from the diversity of craftspeople, artisans and producers who trade here, to the picture-perfect backdrop of Georgian facades and Mount Wellington rising in the west.

Browse for super-fresh local ingredients, collectibles, homewares, art, handmade jewellery and a wealth of other arts and crafts.

Food-wise you’ll get lots of chances to try before you buy, and as with all the best farmers’ markets the traders will be happy to share facts and tips about their wares.

5. Sullivans Cove

The initial landing site, and then the location of Hobart’s first permanent European settlement, still serves as the city’s main dock area.

This is a great place for a wander.

On the north side of this recess in the coastline was Hunter Island, now joined to the city by reclaimed land along Hunter Street.

The sequence of piers along the waterfront took shape during the 19th and early 20th century, the oldest being Elizabeth Street Pier from 1866. Along the esplanade there’s a great deal of stately 19th century architecture still intact.

You can study the information boards and inspect the tall ships and pleasure yachts of all sizes moored at the port.

Many of Hobart’s big attractions are right here, accompanied by cafes and art galleries.

You won’t have to search long for restaurant with ultra-fresh fish and seafood, from sushi to oysters to fish and chips.

The Museum of Old and New Art opened in 2011 on the Berriedale Peninsula, upriver from Hobart’s city centre.

The museum draws on the $110m collection of David Walsh, the colourful professional gambler who owns this estate, and took the place of a museum of antiquities that opened in 2001. At one storey tall, MONA looks pretty unassuming from the outside, but the interior sinks into the ground on three levels that are carved into the side of cliffs in a maze of galleries.

Walsh has built up a collection of more than 1,900 works, from Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi to Sidney Nolan’s Snake mural and Chris Ofili’s The Holy Virgin Mary.

But the architecture and the museum’s use of technology are also at the heart of the experience, with a handheld device using GPS to communicate information about each piece.

The museum is about 15 minutes by road, but the favourite way to get there is by ferry up the Derwent from the new dock at Brooke Street Pier.

Suggested tour : Hobart City Sightseeing Tour including MONA Ticket

7. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

Australia’s second-oldest museum is a product of the Royal Society of Tasmania, the oldest Royal Society to be founded outside the UK.

The museum was established in 1848, with collections that had been put together much earlier.

These span a whole host of fields, from fine art to Tasmanian decorative arts, botany, zoology, geology and the island’s history as a stepping stone for Antarctic exploration.

The current home, completed in 1862, was purpose-built, designed by Henry Hunter (1832-1892), who also built Hobart Town Hall.

A necessary permanent exhibition is “Our Land: Parrawa, Parrawa! Go Away!”, which looks at Tasmanian history from an Aboriginal perspective and is worth combining with the Ningina Tunapri Tasmanian Aboriginal Gallery.

8. Brooke Street Pier

The shed-like structure impossible to miss on the south side of Sullivans Cove at Franklin Wharf is in fact Australia’s longest floating pontoon, completed in 2015. Eighty metres long and twenty metres across, the Brooke Street Pier combines a high-tech ferry terminal with a market space for Tasmanian produce, specialty foods, artisan alcohol, design, cosmetics and design.

Past the stalls at the far end is the Glass House bar and the Brooke Street Larder cafe, and in between you can shop for goodies like Tasman truffle oil, saffron, posh fudge, teas, Tasmanian whisky, luxury soaps, Tasmanian wine and Australian opal jewellery.

9. Cascades Female Factory

This workhouse and penal colony for female convicts lasted from 1828 to 1856, and is one of 11 locations that contribute to the UNESCO-listed Australian Convict Sites.

The Cascades Female Factory is in a deep valley on the Hobart Rivulet, about four kilometres southwest of the CBD.

This remote location is no coincidence, and was chosen to keep the women away from Hobart’s temptations, and to protect Hobart from what was believed to be the women’s corrupting influence.

With three of its original five yards intact, the Cascades Female Factory is the only facility of its kind remaining, so offers a rare insight into early Australian life for women.

When you come there will be a choice of guided tours: In 2020, “The Proud and the Punished” was a 45-minute dramatised tour focussing on a petty criminal coping with forced labour, pregnancy and punishment.

10. Hobart Convict Penitentiary (Campbell Street Gaol)

Right in the middle of Hobart’s CBD is a prison complex where you can dip into the darker side of Tasmania’s early period.

The Georgian prison building (1821) was designed by the prolific local architect John Lee Archer and served as a place of custody for the next 140 years.

Around 40,000 male convicts passed through these gates until convict transportation was ended in 1853, and one of the more notorious inmates from that time was the serial killer and cannibal Thomas Jeffries (executed 1826). When the prison closed in the 1960 much of the complex was demolished, save for a stretch of the gaol wall and the two court buildings that were adapted from the original chapel.

On a guided tour you can discover the grisly reality of this place, explore the tunnels that linked the courts and cell block, visit a solitary confinement cell and see the rebuilt gallows.

11. Constitution Dock

The section of Sullivans Cove opposite the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is Constitution Dock.

This is one of the most lovable parts of the harbour, with a huddle of seafood restaurants beside a rock-walled marina.

One of those eateries is Mures, a Hobart mainstay since 1973, with an “Upper Deck” for à la carte dining and a “Lower Deck” for good old fish and chips.

There you can watch the comings and goings at the working Victoria Dock.

Constitution Dock is famously the rallying point and event venue for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which departs Sydney on Boxing Day, with the winner arriving at Hobart between one and two and a half days later.

Around the way, Constitution Dock’s water-level entrance is guarded by a sturdy bascule bridge, which opens periodically and sits beside a preserved steam crane, built by the Appleby Brothers in England in 1899. There’s another, smaller historic crane at Constitution Dock, by the Mures restaurant and dating back to before 1885.

12. Maritime Museum of Tasmania

As an island 240 kilometres off the coast of mainland Australia, seafaring has been in Tasmania’s veins since long before the arrival of the British in 1803. At this museum, set in Sullivans Cove at the handsome Carnegie Building (1903-07), you’ll learn about the role of the sea on the lives of Tasmanians, going back to the indigenous population who forged strong ties between neighbouring islands.

There’s information about Aboriginal vessels, early European explorers, 19th-century maritime industries like whaling and the development of steamships that drove Tasmanian trade in apples, timber and minerals.

You can check out boat-builders’ tools, navigational instruments, paintings, models and numerous finds from shipwrecks to show just how perilous the waters around Tasmania can be.

13. Battery Point Sculpture Trail

Beginning at Salamanca Place is a two-kilometre walking trail along the lower Derwent Estuary, around Battery Point and ending at Short Beach on Sandy Bay.

Waiting for you on the route are nine different numerical sculptures.

These represent a date, time, distance, quantity, weight or other measure linked to a compelling story about Hobart’s past.

Around historic Battery Point you’ll pass some of Hobart’s oldest Georgian cottages and the sites of the city’s first factories, and there will be constant views up to the port and over to the hilly east bank of the estuary.

The sculptures are always surprising too, cut from a hedge, glowing in the dark or literally floating in the estuary.

14. Sandy Bay

This upmarket southern suburb of Hobart is minutes from the CBD but has a quaint, small town feel.

Sandy Bay is pedestrian friendly, and although it’s one of the poshest areas in Hobart, also has a young atmosphere thanks to the Hobart Campus of the University of Tasmania.

Some of the priciest real estate on the island rests on the slopes of Mount Nelson, and on quiet residential roads there are lots of houses that have been standing since the 19th century.

Walkers can amble next to yachts, follow steep winding roads to beautiful viewpoints and take a break at an international selection of restaurants and cafes.

Beaches line the shore, and the two open to the public are Long Beach and Nutgrove Beach.

Sandy Bay boasts the Wrest Point Casino, the first legal casino in Australia when it opened in 1973.

15. Mount Nelson Lookout

Not as heavily trafficked as Mount Wellington but spectacular all the same, is the Mount Nelson Lookout, eight kilometres south of the CBD.

From 1811 this was the site of a signal station relaying messages, normally about escapees, to Port Arthur, around 100 kilometres southeast.

A convict at that time had little chance of getting away, as a signal could be communicated in less than 15 minutes.

The station closed with the arrival of the telegraph in 1880, and today Mount Nelson is somewhere to linger over breathtaking panoramas of Hobart and the Derwent Estuary.

There’s a picnic area and a restaurant for light bites.

You could also go on a hike into the Trugani Reserve, 130 hectares of preserved native bushland.

Within is the Trugani Memorial, dedicated to Tasmania’s Aboriginal people.

One looping track traces the course of Cartwright Creek through woods littered with wildflowers and inhabited by birds like the endangered swift parrot.

16. Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum

Facing Constitution Dock on Argyle Street is a small but well-presented museum that documents Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-14. Their ship, the SY Aurora set sail from Hobart close to this location, at the start of an adventure that would last more than three years.

In this time Mawson and his team navigated more than 1,800 miles of uncharted coastline, collect vital geological and biological samples and take oceanographic and meteorological measurements.

The museum offers a glimpse of the daily routine for the explorers, making clear just how inhospitable the conditions were in the “windiest place on earth”. All proceeds go towards the conservation of the original wooden huts still standing at Mawson’s base in Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica.

17. Three-Hour Hobart City Sightseeing Tour

Hobart has such a heady mix of history, knockout sights and natural splendour that it’s a good idea to let an expert show you everything if you don’t have much time.

On this three-hour coach tour through GetYourGuide.com you’ll discover all of Hobart’s highlights, like Salamanca Place, Battery Point, Sandy Bay, St David’s Park, the Cascades Female Factory and many more spots that aren’t on this list.

You’ll ride around in a converted tram, making four stops and listening to fascinating insights about Hobart’s history, culture and lifestyle from your clued-up guide.

18. Cascade Brewery

Hobart claims Australia’s oldest brewery, established in 1924 and set on a pretty estate at the foot of Mount Wellington.

Cascade Brewery produces lagers, a draught beer, pale ale, a stout and a blonde beer, as well as a variety of seasonal beers.

These are all made using hops and barley grown in Tasmania and water from a mountain stream.

Cascade Pale Ale is officially Australia’ longest continuously brewed beer, dating back to 1832. Cascade Premium Light meanwhile is the country’s bestselling light beer.

The grand old brewhouse towers over the brewery’s gardens and the visitors’ centre is in the old manager’s house.

Ninety-minute Brewery Tours set off from here every day of the week, during which you’ll find out about Cascade’s ingredients and the intricacies of the brewing process, from malting to bottling.

This is available only to over 16s, but there is a 45-minute all-ages experience called the Cascade Story Tour.

19. St David’s Park

At the west end of Salamanca Place is a park that from 1804 to 1872 was Hobart’s first cemetery and the burial place for at least 900 people.

Harking back to this time are the old headstones embedded into the park’s walls.

St David’s Park was re-landscaped in the 1920s, and among the memorials surviving from the 19th century is David Collins (1756-1810), the founding Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemens Land and founder of Hobart.

On a walk you can peruse those headstones, which bear the names and details of the island’s earliest European settlers, and check out the temple-like bandstand.

The lions flanking the entrance were carved in 1884 and restored and moved here in 1888 to mark Australia’s Bicentenary.

20. Parliament House

The Parliament of Tasmania sits at the former customs house on Salamanca Place.

This solemn Georgian building was ready in 1840, and within a year took on a joint role, housing parliament while also serving its intended purpose as a customs house until 1904. Parliament House was built from local honey-coloured sandstone using mainly convict labour, and was designed by John Lee Archer, responsible for all Tasmanian government buildings in the period.

If you fancy a look inside there are public tours at 09:30 and 14:30 on the days that parliament isn’t sitting.

Or if you’re intrigued by the inner-workings of Tasmanian democracy you could always take a seat when the House of Assembly or Legislative Council are sitting.

21. Lark Distillery

This boutique distillery opened in Hobart in 1992, more than 150 years after the previous licensed Tasmanian distillery shut down.

The island has all you need to make great whisky, from its highland peat bogs to its fields of barley and pure waters.

In the same block as Mawson’s Huts and the tourist information centre, you can find out all of the knowhow, skill and science that goes into Tasmania’s first single malt whisky.

Tours take place 10:30-13:00 Friday to Sunday, but there’s also a whisky bar open every day of the week, pouring more than 250 domestic and international whiskies, as well as Tasmanian beer, cider and wine.

22. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Follow the Derwent upriver and in half an hour or so you’ll arrive at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can get up close to endemic Tasmanian species.

In spacious paddocks and enclosures amid idyllic parkland you’ll meet Forester kangaroos, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, quolls, echidnas, wombats and a whole variety of bird species.

The Forester kangaroos can go where they please, and are very sociable, often approaching you for attention.

A bag of kangaroo feed is included in the entry fee, and on regular guided tours you’ll find out some facts about the devils, wombats and koalas you might not otherwise know.

23. Farm Gate Market

On Sundays there’s another destination market in Hobart, often eclipsed by Salamanca Market and so off the tourist radar.

Farm Gate Market is heralded by the peal of a big brass bell at 08:30, and presents the best Tasmania has to offer along an avenue of tent-covered trestle tables.

Straight from the producer you can pick up heirloom fruit and vegetables, endemic plants, herbs, artisan cheese, olive oil, Tasmanian wine, spirits made at boutique distilleries, locally roasted coffee, tea, mustard, jams and preserves.

You can’t leave without some sort of food to-go, whether it’s a wallaby burrito, custom-made laksa, grilled octopus, sourdough donut or wood-fired pizza.

24. Bruny Island: Full-Day Food, Lighthouse & Sightseeing Tour

Beyond the Derwent Estuary is an island that stands out for its dazzling natural beauty and the exceptional quality of its produce.

So it makes sense that a round trip to Bruny Island should blend sightseeing with great food.

You’ll head to majestic vantage points at Adventure Bay, The Neck Lookout and Cape Bruny.

At the latter you can take a tour of Cape Bruny Lighthouse, the second-oldest extant lighthouse tower in Australia.

On short guided walks you’ll get the chance dip your toes in the cool Tasman Sea, and spot wildlife like echidnas, a wealth of seabirds and white wallabies, as well as rare wildflowers.

The trip will make regular stops so you can try local chocolate, cheese, honey, cider, fudge and more, and at lunch you can choose from ocean-fresh fish or beef or lamb reared on the island.

This experience is listed on GetYourGuide.com .

25. Wineglass Bay & Freycinet National Park Multi Day Trip

An image that leaps to the fore when you talk about Tasmania is this sublime, sheltered bay with white sands and turquoise sea.

Winesglass Bay lies among the wooded granite hills of the Freycinet National Park.

You can get there on an 11-hour day tour via GetYourGuide.com , pausing at the sweet coastal towns of Orford, Triabunna and Swansea along the way.

Lunch will be oysters or abalone right from the sea before you move on to Wineglass Bay.

There you’ll climb to the Wineglass Bay Lookout, atop granite boulders to behold Tasmania’s most photographed view.

After that you can visit the other exquisite bays in the national park and observe the rocky islands and outcrops from the wooden boardwalk at Cape Tourville, before heading back to Hobart in a happy daze.

25 Best Things to Do in Hobart (Australia):

• Mount Wellington
• Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
• Salamanca Place
• Salamanca Market
• Sullivans Cove
• Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
• Brooke Street Pier
• Cascades Female Factory
• Hobart Convict Penitentiary (Campbell Street Gaol)
• Constitution Dock
• Maritime Museum of Tasmania
• Battery Point Sculpture Trail
• Mount Nelson Lookout
• Mawson's Huts Replica Museum
• Three-Hour Hobart City Sightseeing Tour
• Cascade Brewery
• St David's Park
• Parliament House
• Lark Distillery
• Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
• Farm Gate Market
• Bruny Island: Full-Day Food, Lighthouse & Sightseeing Tour
• Wineglass Bay & Freycinet National Park Multi Day Trip

Local Weather

03 6238 4222

Email a Friend

Book your Tasmanian journey here

• You are here:  

Ahh! Hobart. Where do we start? This is our home town and we could go on about if for a little while, so bear with us!

Hobart is Tasmania's capital city and home to around 230,000 people, which accounts for approximately 40% of Tasmania’s total population. Hobart was originally known by European explorers as Hobart Town, or Hobarton and was settled in the early 1800s and has been home to the Mouheneener tribe for over 35,000 years.

There are two geographical reference points that every Hobartian (Hobart resident) lives by. When we’re predicting the day's weather, we’ll look to kunanyi/Mt Wellington to check for clues on what to expect (hint: if there's snow up there, it's going to be cold outside). Secondly, the Derwent River runs from Lake St Clair in the Central Highlands, to Storm Bay, Frederick Henry Bay and then out to the Tasman Sea. The Tasman Bridge is an iconic image for Hobartians, spanning the width of the Derwent River and providing a link to the East Coast, Tasman Peninsula and Coal River Valley.

There are so many things to see and do in Hobart that it can be easy to be overwhelmed by the choices. Here is the tip of the iceberg for consideration. If this whets your appetite for more, get in touch and we'll help you sort the chaff from the cheese!

Salamanca Market

Tasmania's Own Market  is open each Saturday from 8.30 am - 3.00 pm.

This new look, interim market features a selection of over 230 Salamanca Market stallholders, representing artisans, designers and producers - it’s as Tasmanian as we can make it!

The Salamanca Market team have been working hard to support our stallholders and to ensure that we deliver a safe event with the same vibrant atmosphere of the original Salamanca Market.

You will find fresh produce from local growers, hot coffee and delicious breakfast and lunch options to enjoy, lots of gift ideas and plenty of handmade products.

To stay up-to-date with all the latest news and activities, visit the Salamanca Market website or the Salamanca Market Facebook page .

In addition, an online store offering products from Salamanca Market stallholders is now operating. Browse a collection of Tasmanian products and be connected directly with our stallholders to purchase.

Whether you have two days, or two weeks, be sure to include the Museum and Old and New Art (Mona) in your itinerary. Not just for art lovers, the museum is often credited with the ‘Mona effect’, projecting Hobart onto a world stage after opening in 2011. The impact of the museum on Hobart's tourism economy cannot be underestimated, with global recognition and press coverage that highlighted our unique environment and diverse culture.

Mona is located in Berriedale, a small suburb around 15 minutes out of Hobart by car, or 20 minutes on one of the Mona ferries. You can also ride a bike to and from Hobart without too much effort; the bike track runs along the Derwent River and is relatively flat.

We recommend you spend at least the afternoon at the museum, taking in the art as well as enjoying the wine bar which serves the house wine and beer (these guys are also the brains behind beverage labels Moorilla , Moo Brew and Domaine A). Alternatively, enjoy fine dining at one of the two on-site restaurants.

Families with sensitive, or younger kids, may decide to skip the art and sit on bean bags on the large lawn, where Mona often hosts music concerts whilst enjoying a picnic and a beverage purchased from the wine bar.

Hobart's Waterfront

Firstly, you can't go to Hobart's waterfront without popping in to see us on your way! Whether it's for a browse for locally handcrafted gifts and artisanal produce, or to book tomorrow's tour, you'll definitely get more than you came for.

The waterfront is a Hobart attraction its own right and famous for water views, fish punts and, of course, the arrival point for the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race, which departs Sydney every year on Boxing Day.

You will find freshly caught seafood at the fish punts, and abalone and crayfish lovers will rejoice in chatting to the fishmonger who will most likely regale you with stories on where and when it was caught (hint - it was this morning!).

Once you've finished browsing the fish punts, pop over to the Louis Bernacchi bronze statue along Franklin Wharf. With the new MACq01 hotel in the background, the bronze seals and penguins make a great Instagram shot - be sure to tag us using the #tassietravel tag!

From here, you can either wander around the historical IXL Jam Factory area, or you can head back towards Salamanca. Brooke Street Pier is also nearby, and is recognisable both by its impressive glass facade, bright pink canon and the Mona Roma ferries often moored alongside the pier. Inside, you'll find a number of restaurants and cafes as well as several small business operators showcasing locally crafted produce, souvenirs and homewares.

Past Brooke Steet, you will stumble into the Salamanca precinct, popular among locals and tourists alike, for a great meal, a drink with friends, or simply some quiet people watching. On Saturdays, this street also plays host to the Salamanca Market as covered above.

Families may want to venture to Princes Park just past Salamanca Place on Castray Esplanade, where the children can play captain on their very own ship with the great boat-shaped playground.

Image credits: City of Hobart and Alastair Bett (Salamanca Market), Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett (Museum of Old and New Art), Alistair Bett (Hobart waterfront at night)

Receive Deals, News and Events!

Subscribe to our Newsletter to receive all of the above and more

TasALERT real-time fire, emergency warnings and information.

• Things to Do

Travel Ideas

Discover Real Life Adventure at Chauncy Vale Wildlife Sanctuary

10 Things to Do Along Tasmania’s Heritage Highway

Explore The Tessellated Pavement at Eaglehawk Neck

HOT LIST – 2024 Winter Events in Hobart and Southern Tasmania

See all blogs, popular destinations.

• Places to Stay

Latest Deals

Wouldn’t you like s’more?

Off Season Campaign – Fox and Hounds

Winter Spirit: Spring Bay’s Whisky & Gin Experiences

View all deals

As you browse the site, add accommodation, tours, events and attractions to your personalised trip by clicking the heart icon. When you’re done, click the heart icon in the menu at the top of the website to view your wishlist.

Review your list, remove any items you no longer need, then select “View your itinerary” to see your trip on a map, or send it to a friend.

• What’s On
• Touring Maps

Welcome to Southern Tasmania

Discover where to eat, sleep and play in tasmania's south.

• Hobart waterfront at sunset. Image Credit: Luke Tscharke

Southern Tasmania is a realm of natural wonders, dark skies, and unforgettable experiences. From the bustling historic streets of Hobart to the serene beauty of the Huon Valley, every corner of Southern Tasmania is a treasure waiting to be uncovered.

EXPLORE SOUTHERN TASMANIA:

Coal river valley, nipaluna / hobart, the heritage highway, central highlands, the far south, bruny island, d’entrecasteaux channel, huon valley, tasman peninsula, derwent valley, autumn in southern tasmania is really something special.

We know our lovely island has a heart of gold, and in autumn, the outside matches the inside!

There’s magic in the air as deciduous trees transform greenery into enchanting displays of glowing golds, rusty reds and vibrant oranges. 

Find Your Inspiration

Southern tasmania featured events:, nude solstice swim, martha wainwright, coaldale walnuts open farm, hobart dark mofo winter feast, southern tasmania featured deals:.

Festival of Voices 2024

Concert packages

Aquila Eco Retreat- Richmond Tasmania

A Steamy Winter Retreat in the Coal River Valley

Arden Retreat

A quintessential Tasmanian winter experience

La Bohème | The Theatre Royal presents Opera Australia

Sparkling and chocolates

Welcome to a place where the uncommon is common. Where you can throw off the shackles and feel everything deeply. It’ll reawaken your spirit.

kunanyi / Mt Wellington. Image Credit: Pete Mellows

Download Southern Tasmania Touring Maps

Stay in touch with what’s happening in Hobart & Beyond

• @hobartandbeyond
• Hobart & Beyond

Sign up for our mailing list

We acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal people and their enduring custodianship of lutruwita / Tasmania. We honour 40,000 years of uninterrupted care, protection and belonging to these islands, before the invasion and colonisation of European settlement.

As a destination that welcomes visitors to these lands, we acknowledge our responsibility to represent to our visitors, Tasmania’s deep and complex history, fully, respectfully and truthfully.

We acknowledge the Aboriginal people who continue to care for this country today. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present. We honour their stories, songs, art, and culture, and their aspirations for the future of their people and these lands. We respectfully ask that tourism be a part of that future.

Talk to an Expert

Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre 16-20 Davey St, Hobart TAS 7000

(03) 6238 4222 [email protected] hobarttravelcentre.com.au

Popular links

Places Things to Do What’s On Blog Deals Touring Maps Newsletter

Visitor information

Visitor Information Contact Us Contribute Images

Hobart & Beyond is managed by Destination Southern Tasmania

Visit our corporate site: southerntasmania.com.au   List your business & events

• Hobart & Beyond 2024
• Terms, Privacy & Disclaimer

Subscribe for updates on what's happening in hobart and beyond

The Complete Hobart Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Where to Eat and What to Do in Hobart

Hobart exceeded all of our expectations on our trip to Tasmania. We really fell in love with this quirky city that’s full of things to do, amazing places to eat, beautiful places to stay and surrounded by the nature of Tasmania.

So whether you’re staying for a few days or just visiting for a quick weekend in Hobart, we’ve put together this complete guide full of tips and recommendations to help you plan what to do in Hobart, Australia.

Where to Eat & drink in Hobart

We had so much fun trying loads of different places to eat and drink in Hobart. I can promise there are so many cool places that you won’t know which one to try first!

Sisterhood is a little out of town in the Sandy Bay area, but the walk there is so worth it and you’ll be rewarded with such a yummy brunch menu. 

The interior is dreamy - think Bali vibes. It’s light and airy and perfect for a breakfast stop before you start your day.

The menu has the staples like avocado on sourdough or eggs benedict, or you can try some of their bigger dishes like lemon soufflé pancakes or breakfast pasta. They also have their own coffee blend!

Born in Brunswick

I was obsessed with this spot! It’s just out of the main downtown area in North Hobart, and the breakfast here was amazing.

I had smashed avo on rye and iced coffee. They have so many unique and yummy dishes like Tasmanian octopus, chorizo and scrambled eggs or Bib Bombe Alaska with peanut butter parfait.

Everything they use is locally sourced, seasonal and sustainable, and they have a beautiful space to enjoy some morning sunshine with your breakfast too.

Room For A Pony

Just down the road from Born in Brunswick is Room For A Pony which is awesome if you’re a foodie and looking for options of places to eat in Hobart.

They’re a cafe and bar and serve everything from brunch to woodfired pizza. They also have a great drink list too. The vibe here is so fun, and they have an outdoor seating space which is perfect to hang out in the summer months.

Also on the same street is Veg Bar which is a must-visit if you’re looking for vegan places to eat in Hobart.

Their plant-based menu has loads of variety and even matches their neon decor, with vibrant pink beetroot burger buns and neon green matcha burger buns.

They have amazing vegan versions of nachos, lasagna, massaman curry and even do a plant-based KFC (Korean Fried Chicken).

Whether you’re vegan or not, Veg Bar is a must-visit if you’re looking for fun things to do in Hobart!

Fish Frenzy

You can’t visit Hobart and not go to the harbour for some fish and chips - they are seriously the best ever! 

Fish Frenzy sometimes has a queue, but this is one of the best places to eat in Hobart so it’s well worth the wait to try the freshly cooked chips and seafood with a view of the boats in the harbour. This is a great, easy place to eat for lunch or dinner, especially if you’ve been out exploring all day or possibly on a day trip out of Hobart. There’s nothing like a good plate of chips to warm you up!

Bear With Me

We spotted this place in South Hobart completely by accident, and it was incredible! So glad we found it because our breakfast there was delish!

They serve great coffee and food all day, so you can stop here for breakfast in Hobart like we did, or come for brunch or lunch and try their yummy pork bao or Korean fried chicken burger.

Machine Laundry Cafe

Another day and another amazing avo toast breakfast. We stopped here on one of the first days of our trip, and it’s located in the cool Salamanca Square in the historic Battery Point area of Hobart.

The vibe here was awesome. We loved the atmosphere and the portion sizes were pretty good too. Definitely a top contender in our Hobart food guide!

Suzie Luck's Canteen & Cocktail Bar

Suzie’s Canteen is also in the Battery Point area and is a really fun spot for dinner in Hobart. 

They have a great range of Asian fusion style food, plus vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. They also have a great cocktail drinks menu and the atmosphere makes it a really fun option for groups eating out together.

Preachers is such a cool spot in Hobart, and it has a huge outdoor area that even has a bus in it! We could easily have chilled out here for hours in the sun.

The bar is also in Battery Point and it’s a great spot if you’re looking for craft beer in Hobart. If you’re not a beer drinker, they have a great drinks selection including cocktails. They also do burgers here, so it’s a super chilled spot to hang out with friends and enjoy on a weekend.

In the Hanging Garden

In the Hanging Garden is a huge bar in the city with a really cool garden-style outdoor area and another area under cover called the Cathedral.

All their food and drink is either locally sourced on the island or on the mainland to promote the best of Tasmanian and Australian produce.

Hobart does cafes and bars so well and In the Hanging Garden is no exception. It’s the perfect spot for enjoying summertime drinks and the chilled vibe means you can easily spend an afternoon here with friends just enjoying the drinks, the decor and the atmosphere.

Salamanca Whiskey Bar

If you’re a whiskey fan, then this one's for you!

The whiskey bar is cozy. With candles, low lighting and comfy sofas, it’s a really decadent experience. The staff are really knowledgeable too if you want to know more about the whiskeys.

If you’re not a whiskey fan, there’s also a great cocktail menu.

Cascade Brewery

Cascade Brewery is a must-visit for beer fans, being the oldest brewery in Tasmania. The site is huge, and they offer tours, tastings and regular events. 

Their beer garden overlooks the main brewery building and is lit by string lights, while the rustic interior has a log burning fire for the colder winter months.

Cascade Brewery brews everything from lagers to pale ales and stouts. They also have cider and local guest ales on tap too as well as a great pub food menu.

Lark Distillery

Another great spot for whiskey lovers located right on Hobart’s waterfront. The old cellar door is now a whiskey bar with over 250 whiskeys to choose from, plus a few beers, wines and spirits if you’re not a whiskey fan!

Pooley Wines

What to Do in Hobart

There is such a range of things to do in Hobart from modern art museums and historic neighbourhoods to street markets and fun wine tours. These are the best things to do in Hobart to help you plan an epic trip.

The Museum of Old and New Art is one of the famous Hobart tourist attractions, and it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best things to do in Hobart. This is not a normal museum. It’s modern and fun and located just outside of Hobart as part of the Moorilla Winery and in a unique building that extends underground.

MONA is full of ancient, modern and contemporary art, there’s an exhibit on the afterlife, a tunnel to nowhere and the Pharos wing. You can tell the museum doesn’t take itself too seriously from its website !

There’s a monorail that runs through the property, music festivals and events, a house of mirrors, as well as four restaurants, a cellar door and two bars. You really could spend an entire day here.

Battery Point

We already loved the Battery Point area for all the amazing cafes and bars, but it’s also the historic neighbourhood in Hobart where settlers originally came in the 1800s. Lots of historic places to see in Hobart are in this neighbourhood.

You can follow the historic walk to learn more about the area’s past. There are also lots of cozy bookstores and antique shops to spend some time exploring.

Make sure to check out the Battery Point Sculpture Trail along the waterfront where there are nine sculptures each representing part of Hobart’s history.

Salamanca Market

The Salamanca Market is one of the must-do things in Hobart, and it runs in Salamanca Place every Saturday.

There are over 220 storeholders, and they’re all local designers, producers and artisans from Tasmania. There’s plenty of food stalls so you can grab breakfast and a coffee while you wander around and check out the handmade products and locally sourced produce.

The market is a great place to buy a gift to take home with you!

Salamanca Square Restaurants and Bars

We’ve already told you how much we loved the cafes, bars and restaurants in Hobart, but if you’re short on time, you can find so many of them in Salamanca Square.

Trying the cafe and bar scene has to be one of the top things to do in Hobart, so check out Machine Laundry Cafe, Suzie’s Canteen and the Salamanca Whiskey Bar all right here in Salamanca Square. 

Mount Wellington

Visiting Mount Wellington has to be on your itinerary of things to see in Hobart!

The views from the top are epic! You can see the whole city, out across the sea and the landscape beyond Hobart too.

The best part is that you don’t need to hike up Mount Wellington. You can just drive up and park at the top then enjoy a walk along the boardwalk and take in the panoramic views from up there.

Day trip from Hobart to Richmond

If you have a bit more time and want to plan some Hobart day trips, a day in Richmond is a great idea. 

Richmond is only about a 30-minute drive from Hobart, but it’s a really cute small town with lots of historic buildings as well as the famous Richmond Bridge, a historic stone bridge built in the early 1800s. It’s beautiful to see if you take a walk along the Richmond Riverbank Park, especially at sunset!

We also visited Pooley Wines in Richmond and their cellar door was so cute, literally like stepping into Italy in their gorgeous stone property set above the vineyard.

A Day Trip to Bruny Island

This has to be one of the best day trips from Hobart. It’s such a scenic drive and is just under 2 hours from Hobart. We loved the beaches, the rock formations and the beautiful views here.

On your way, stop at the Neck Lookout for an awesome view of the peninsula with the water on either side.

The Cape Queen Elizabeth Track on the Bruny Island Neck Game Reserve leads you to a beautiful beach with clear blue water which isn’t that busy. There’s an amazing rock arch here on the beach and the cliffs are so dramatic!

We also stopped at the Bruny Island Cheese Co for a yummy cheeseboard and beers.

We definitely recommend Bruny Island if you’re planning day trips out of Hobart!

Hobart Wine Tour

Australia makes so much amazing wine, and Tasmania is no exception. If you want to plan a fun Hobart day trip, then a wine tour is a perfect option.

There are loads of different wine tours that pick you up in Hobart and will transport you to different wineries for tasting sessions where you meet the makers and take tours. Often they include lunch too.

Southern Tasmanian Wine Tours picks you up at the Hobart harbour front and takes you to five different Tasmanian wineries where you get around five tastings at each winery, meet the owner or have a tour and can buy bottles to take home too.

Coal Valley Wine Tours take you to five wineries in the Richmond area, includes lunch, some history and also a cheese tasting. They pick up twice a week from the Information Centre in Hobart.

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

If you’re planning out what to see in Hobart, the botanical gardens are such a peaceful, chilled part of the city, right by the water. 

The gardens are 34 acres right in the city, and they include everything from a Japanese garden to a sub-Antarctic garden. There’s a Tasmanian area too with loads of information about native plants, plus a visitors centre and cafe on site.

Visiting the botanical gardens is also completely free, but they do accept donations. You can spend a relaxing day here for as long as you like!

Where to stay in Hobart

We stayed in so many beautiful places on our Tasmania trip, so if you want to find the best place to stay in Hobart, hopefully these will give you some inspiration.

Captains Cottage

The Captains Cottage in Hobart is the cutest little heritage cottage built for an actual ship’s captain in the 1800s. The rustic interior is all stone, wood and cozy finishes, making it such a welcoming and homey place to stay.

It’s in the perfect location where you can easily walk to the city, Battery Point or the Salamanca area. There are also loads of great cafes and bars nearby so you’re never far from the action.

The cottage literally has everything you need too, with a fully equipped kitchen, Netflix, wifi, a cute garden and parking all included.

We absolutely adored staying here and highly recommend it if you’re looking for unique places to stay in Hobart.

Grand Old Duke Apartments

You can’t miss the bright orange brick of this historic building located right in the heart of Battery Point so you’re within walking distance to all the cool bars, cafes and restaurants.

The self-contained Grand Old Duke Apartments can sleep 2-7 people and it’s like stepping back in time with dark wood flooring and four-poster beds. This is definitely one of the cool places to stay in Hobart on your trip.

Maylands Lodge

If you’re planning to stay in North Hobart, Maylands Lodge is an absolutely stunning historic property that has been so beautifully restored. It’s a luxury lodge overlooking the city but within easy distance of everything, and it’s the ultimate boutique hotel experience in Hobart.

Their rooms are all luxuriously decorated and spacious, and they also offer studio apartments. The food is all seasonal and sustainably sourced.

Definitely the perfect place to stay in Hobart for a treat or special occasion.

Macq 01 Hotel

This chic 5-star hotel is right on the waterfront, so you’re close to Battery Point and the great food options at the harbour.

The rooms at MACq 01 Hotel are all modern and spacious with balconies overlooking the water or the city. The rooms are also decorated with a nod to the shipping history of the area with lots of blue tones and wood.

Hobart City Apartments

The Hobart City Apartments are right in the business district and just a short walk from the harbour. They’re a great option if you’re looking for a hotel-like stay but on more of a budget. The apartments are modern and fully self-catered so you have a lot more flexibility to eat in or dine out depending on the budget for your trip.

Montacute Boutique Bunkhouse

This bunkhouse looks like such a fun option with a chilled out vibe, and it’s perfect if you’re on a budget but don’t want to stay in a hostel.

They do have hostel-style rooms available but also double rooms which are really cute.

The Montacute is located right in the Battery Point neighbourhood and the space is great for friends travelling together or large family groups. They also have self-catering facilities onsite and free parking.

We absolutely loved the vibe of Hobart and how much there is to do in Hobart. I hope this guide makes you want to visit and gives you plenty of inspiration for your own trip with the best places to eat, the best places to stay, and the best things to do in Hobart.

LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!

Visit A City is having some trouble loading.

Please try again in a couple of minutes or send us an email to [email protected] .