Hobart: Things To Do

The city of Hobart is centred around the waterfront and the docks that string along it. It's the first place you should start from to get a picture of the cities position, see Mount Wellington in the background and enjoy the many food, statue and historic architectural highlights. You will find restaurants and cafe's all across the area, particularly seafood places. Brooke Street pier (see below) is worth a look inside. Van Diemens Land ice cream is very popular. You can also find boat tours here, plus the ferry to MONA, Mawson's Huts, Tasmania Museum and Salamanca place.

Every Saturday from 8.30am to 3pm you will find this great market by the wharf in Salamanca Place. The stalls are largely selling locally made or designed crafts, gifts and handmade products. You will find fresh produce, street food stalls, coffee, and lots of locally made food to buy.

Be sure to take a look behind the market in Salamanca square, a well designed mix of old and new with plenty more food options, shops, a fountain and statues.

This modern contemporary art museum is probably the best of it's kind in Australia and one of the best in the world. The exhibits are extraordinary and "controversial", ranging from a 'poop machine' to the 'great wall of vagina'. There are a few experiences that require extra payment, all worth it - try The Divine Comedy. The 'O' is the audio device/app you can use that gives information on the art. The building is a piece of art in itself - starting on the landscaped roof, you go underground and must explore the museum via tunnels. Faro restaurant is fantastic. The ferry (with sheep and tigers), is 25min from Brooke Street pier is $23 extra, or there is a bus for $15.

It's hard to miss Mount Wellington when you're in Hobart as it towers over the city. Consequently, the views from the top are fantastic. There is a road that winds all the way to the top. Up there you will find a short boardwalk, an sheltered viewpoint and toilets.

To get there you will need a car, or take one of shuttle buses that various companies run ($35) or go as part of a tour. Consider including a visit to Cascade brewery (see below) at the same time, since this is on the way

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is the states main museum and Australia's second oldest. It includes well presented exhibits on Tasmanian flora and fauna (including the Tasmanian tiger), Antarctic expeditions, aboriginal culture, dinosaurs, and much more. It's housed in a collection of old buildings and there is an on-site café and shop. It's family friendly too with activities for kids.

Not far from Hobart is this deeply historic place that is known for it's convict history that began in the 1840's. You can explore the ruins of the penal colony, learn about it's history and wander the beautiful landscape. Over 30 historic buildings, a 25min harbour cruise and an introductory walk are included in the ticket. Other tours and events, like the ghost tour or isle of the dead tour, are available at an extra cost.
Get there by driving or on a tour.

In the foothills of Mount Wellington is Australia's oldest operating brewery. You can visit for a tour that takes you inside the historic building to climb up to the top and see how the beer is made and learn about the history of brewing on this site. There is a large pub and restaurant with a lovely garden where you can enjoy the tasting paddle of four beers or ciders that are included in the tour. Book ahead to make sure you get on the tour as it does sell out. There is a public bus that goes directly there, or take an uber or taxi.

Throughout Hobart, but particularly in the CBD and around the waterfront, you can find many historic buildings that show Hobart's age as Australia's second oldest capital city. It has an extensive collection of Georgian and Victorian buildings. Battery Point (see below) is an old residential area beside the CBD that is worth a wander. The Penitentiary Chapel (see below) predates even Port Arthur. Outside the CBD, try the Cascade Brewery, Richmond or the Shot Tower (see below).

MONA host a summer music and arts festival called FOMA (also called MOFO) that usually takes place in January and is billed as Tasmania's largest contemporary music festival. It features a diverse range of acts including music, dance, theatre, performance and new media.
Dark MOFO is it's winter sister festival, taking place in June with things mostly going off at night time. It has musical acts, light installations and celebrates the winter solstice. Some of it's events and performance art often court controversy

This contemporary enclosed pier on the waterfront houses an indoor market of sorts, with stalls selling homemade design products and speciality foods and drinks. There is also a bar, restaurant and it is the departing point for the ferry to MONA. There is often live music that flows out the building, drawing you inward.

Just south of the CBD and accessed via the colonial era Kelly's steps, this charming area is full of old cottages and great for a wander. Hampden road is the main street where you will find cafe's, pastries and a couple of small museum houses - Narryna and Markee (see below). Many of the quaint houses are available as accommodation.

These replica huts are a fascinating look at what it was like to live in Antarctica in 1911, just a couple hundred meters from where Mawson departed for his voyage. Your cost of entry goes towards preserving the real huts in Antarctica that this replica copies perfectly.

The river Derwent is well protected from the ocean so provides a nice place to get out on the water and take in the great views of Hobart and Mount Wellington whilst you relax. Longer tours can take you down to Bruny island or to Wineglass bay (see below for more).
Options include - Hobart historic cruises, Peppermint Bay cruises, Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, and the Lady Nelson.

Tasmania's botanical garden showcases trees and plants more suitable to a cooler climate than the other state botanic gardens. It's 14 hectares of landscaped garden includes several smaller gardens and features. The most interesting are the fern house and the Subantarctic house.

This is the most significant location in Australia for female convicts. It was built in 1828 and is part of Australia's convict sites world heritage status.
The site is currently closed for construction of a new interpretation centre. Tours are available.
The location is just out of town and can be accessed by public bus or a short uber drive. It's not far from Cascades brewery, so consider joining the two together.

Richmond is a historic village in the country just north of Hobart. It's a beautiful place with several attractions - the historic bridge, lots of small shops and places to grab lunch, Richmond Gaol, a model village, the Pooseum, Zoodoo, a riverbank walk and many historical buildings.

Hobart is close to nature and stepping out into the wilderness to take in the fresh air and natural landscapes is about as Tasmanian an experience as you can get. Wellington Park has more than just the mountain top - there are many walks (including the Lost World Trail), mountain biking, horse riding and rock climbing. Meehan ranges is great for mountain biking. South of Hobart you have Hastings caves and Tahune adventures. 1.5hr West of Hobart is Mt Field national park and Styx tall trees. Knocklofty reserve is just on the edge of Hobart, if you want a nature walk without going too far. See tips section below for links to these areas / attractions.

One of the best farmers markets in the country is held in Hobart CBD every Sunday from 8.30am to 1pm. It's all local and you can often meet the producers themselves. You will be able to sample the wonderful products and enjoy the street performances.

The food in Tasmania, especially in Hobart, is some of the best in Australia and worth taking into account when deciding how long to visit for. The locally made products, and the chance to visit where they are made, are not to be missed for any keen foodie. In addition to the restaurants and markets, you can discover more by visiting - Coal River farm (chocolate, cheese, fruit and restaurant), vineyards, the Lark whiskey distillery, breweries, Wicked cheese or an oyster farm.

Music, dancing and street food come together on Friday nights from November to April in this CBD park. There are around a dozen food options plus some sweets and alcoholic drinks. It's great fun and, whilst it used to be free, a paid ticketing system is now in place due to social distancing restrictions. Book online.

This relatively large island south of Hobart is sparsely populated but a very popular to visit place. It has plenty of attractions to tempt you to visit, especially the natural ones. Discover the Neck (pictured), the lighthouse, white wallabies, scenic walks, gardens, an old quarantine station, food (oysters, whiskey, cheese, chocolate, etc) and tours. There is accommodation on the island if you want to extend your stay.
To get to the island you need to take a short ferry ride ($32 per car). There is no public transport, so hire a car or you can join a tour from Hobart.

It's a lengthy trip, with an almost 3hr drive to get there, but it is possible to go to Freycinet National Park for the day from Hobart. Drive yourself or take a tour (boat tour also available) and see the main attraction - wineglass bay (pictured) - a perfect crescent of sand surrounded by wilderness and looking rather unreal. Tours depart early and cost around $115+. Alternatively you could hire a car and drive yourself.

Built in the 1830's, this convict building was a chapel, prison and court. Beneath the chapel floor are 36 solitary confinement cells that were later declared as inhumane. Underground tunnels and lots of history are to be found here. Only open on weekends, 10am till 3pm.

Franklin Square park is the most centrally located park in Hobart, is pleasant and has a fountain at it's centre. Look out for the Street Eat events on Friday nights in summer (See above).
St David's Park is larger, used to be a cemetery and dates back to the original settlement of Hobart. It is english in style and includes several memorials.

Hobart is not short of tours to do, most of them taking you out of the city and plenty offering exciting adrenaline filled activities.
You can try rock climbing, kayaking, an old tram bus tour, a wine tour, Kunanyi walks, fishing, riding on a motortrike, going to Maria Island, an 'eat the wild' tour, scenic flights from the harbour, motocross adventure, and photography.

This beautiful historical home, built in the 1830's, is open for you to explore and discover it's history as a house, boarding house, hospital and museum. It tells the story of early colonial life in Hobart and features a collection of furniture, art, clothing and other items of historical social value.

Wandering around this cool little part of Hobart, along Elizabeth street, you will find cafe's, pubs, restaurants and the art house State cinema. The Republic Bar and Cafe is a popular nightlife spot and Contemporary Art Tasmania is an interesting art gallery.

This museum houses a displays a collection that tells the story of Tasmania's nautical history. You will learn about whaling, shipwrecks, migration, and the SV May Queen is on display in Constitution dock. The main permanent displays are currently being renovated, so be sure to check with them for the latest updates before your visit.

Mount Nelson is south of the edge of Hobart and features a lookout at the signal station with a nice view over the water and another between the trees to look back towards Hobart.

This charming transport museum features historical exhibits around trains, trams, buses, fire fighting and more. The steam trains are the highlight and on certain days (check the calendar on their website) you can enjoy short rides on a working steam train.