Nestled beneath towering Mt Wellington and occupying a pristine waterfront location along the Derwent River, Hobart – Australia’s southernmost and second-oldest city – bustles with restless energy.
Closer to the Antarctic coast than to Perth in Western Australia, Hobart’s historic waterfront – once an 1830s whaling base – bustles with natural charm, attracting sailors from around the world as well as locals out for a good time.
Explore picturesque Salamanca Place, home to colonial-era sandstone warehouses now crammed with a mix of traditional style pubs, hip bars, trendy cafes and fashionable art galleries.
Stretch your legs with a stroll along Franklin Wharf, Hobart’s bustling waterfront, then climb Kelly’s Steps to explore the narrow lanes of historical Battery Point, still lined with colonial-era stone cottages.
Learn about Hobart’s whaling history at the Maritime Museum and the island’s history and wildlife at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery; while there, don’t miss the gallery’s collection of fine paintings, especially Benjamin Duttereau’s The Concilliation.
Explore the Cascade Brewery – Australia’s oldest brewery – to see how one of the Tasmania’s finest beers – Cascade Premium – is brewed, then drive or hike up to the rugged Pinnacle atop Mount Wellington (1270m) for panoramic views over Hobart and much of Tasmania.
After dark, tempt lady luck at the Wrest Point Casino, Australia’s first legal gambling club or take in a play at the Theatre Royal, Australia's oldest theatre.
Savour fresh seafood at one of the numerous restaurants located around Hobart’s waterfront streets and piers, and enjoy traditional music or cool jazz at a trendy harbourside bar.
Take control from the driver’s seat and discover a range of exciting weekend getaways just a short drive from Hobart.
Witness spectacular mountain scenery, discover historic mining and seaside fishing villages and savour delicious local produce washed down by memorable wines.
Journey through the West Coast wilderness and explore the two World Heritage areas of Cradle Mountain and the wild rivers of the Franklin and lower Gordon, an easy drive from Hobart, and easier still from Devonport (just one hour 15 minutes away) or Launceston (two hours).
More about Cradle Mountain…
Escape to the world-famous Freycinet National Park, just a leisurely 2.5-hour drive east of Hobart.
Explore its sea cliffs and forests, tracks and beaches: stroll the white sandy beaches of Wineglass Bay, perfect for sea kayaking and swimming; or head to the Hazard Range for climbing, abseiling and mountain walking.
More about Freycinet National Park…
At Australia’s southern-most point discover a tiny seaside settlement nestled among the tranquil coves of Recherche Bay on the edge of Tasmania’s Southwest National Park.
Explore pristine beaches and natural wilderness along many excellent trails. Take a short stroll around the foreshore to a whale sculpture and interpretation sign that explains the bay’s whaling history. Continue on to the Fishers Point Navigation Light and Pilot Station ruins or take the track to South East Cape for stunning cliff-top views of the Southern Ocean and Maatsuyker Island.
Within the town you can explore Aboriginal sites, abandoned tramways, gravestones and ruins.
Cockle Creek is the entry point to the Southwest National Park and the South Coast Track – one of Tasmania’s great bushwalks.
Read more about Cockle Creek…
Spend a day exploring the island’s fascinating history of sealers, whalers and explorers, all the while looking out for wildlife.
Stroll through the gentle countryside of rolling farmlands and tall trees, along the wild coastline past quiet beaches and roaring surf, and see wildflowers and rare bird life.
Head to the Bruny Island Lighthouse, located on a wild and windswept cape overlooking the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean. Stroll along one of many spectacular cliff-top walks in South Bruny National Park and look out for short-tailed shearwaters and little penguins (also known as fairy penguins) at The Neck Game Reserve.
Climb up from the dunes to the Neck Lookout, offering stunning 360-degree views. Here you’ll find a memorial to the indigenous Nuenonne people who lived on Lunnawannalonna (Bruny Island) before European settlement.
More about Bruny Island…
Mount Field National Park, located just an hour’s drive north-west of Hobart, is best explored on a number of easy-to-follow bushwalks. Discover the three-tiered, 45m-high Russell Falls, one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Australia, easily reached on a 20-minute circuit track from the Visitors Centre.
Or try the four- to eight-hour hike to the stunning Tarn Shelf overlooking Lake Dobson, which in April and May is ablaze with the gold, red and orange foliage of Australia's only winter deciduous tree, the endemic fagus.
Explore the evocative Port Arthur Historic site, Australia’s most intact convict site, which was home to approximately 12,500 convicts from 1830 until its closure in 1877.
Join a 40-minute guided walking tour around more than 30 buildings, ruins and restored homes then cruise to the Isle of the Dead for a guided tour of Port Arthur’s island burial ground.
Later, discover scenic views from Eaglehawk Neck over Pirates Bay and visit the impressive coastal rock formations including the Devils Kitchen, Tasman Arch and the Blowhole.
Hobart offers an excellent choice of hotel accommodation to suit all budgets, including the following hotels…
Islington Hotel
Location: 321 Davey Street, Hobart
Rating: 5-star
Ave nightly price: AUD545 per room
Description: Offering lovely views towards Mount Wellington, the 1847 Islington Hotel offers luxurious accommodation with original artwork and precious antiques. Just 5 minutes’ drive from Sullivans Cove, it features a restaurant and landscaped gardens with an infinity-edge pond. You can read by the fireplace in the library, or enjoy a meal in the glass pavilion with barbecue facilities. Massage services and airport limousine transfers are available upon request. All rooms feature free Wi-Fi and exclusive fabrics designed by Jim Thompson. The marble bathroom includes a bathtub and a separate rainshower. The minibar is free. The Islington Restaurant serves creative cuisine based on fresh local produce. Seasonal menu items include seared duck breast with braised figs, and slow-cooked abalone with wild forest mushrooms. The wine cellar offers a wide selection of wines. Hotel Islington is 2 km from Hobart CBD (Central Business District) and the popular Salamanca Markets. Hobart International Airport is a 30-minute drive away.
The Henry Jones Art Hotel
Location: 22 Hunter Street, Hobart
Rating: 5-star
Ave nightly price: AUD420 per room
Description: Sitting alongside Hobart's waterfront, the historic Henry Jones Art Hotel offers luxurious rooms offering water or courtyard views. The hotel is set in a row of renovated 1820s warehouses and a former IXL jam factory. It offers a bar and boasts a variety of original artworks throughout the property. Each of the air conditioned guest rooms offers a king-size bed, a flat-screen TV and a DVD player. Each includes a private bathroom featuring European stainless steel fittings and glass and sandstone walls. Some bathrooms also offer a free-standing spa bath. Guests can enjoy a drink at The IXL Long Bar. Facilities include 24-hour room service, free on-site parking and a tour desk. Henry Jones Art Hotel is situated beside Victoria Dock, offering views of Mount Wellington and Fisherman's Wharf. It is 2 minutes' from Salamanca Place and Hobart CBD (Central Business District).
Salamanca Wharf Hotel
Location: 17A Castray Esplanade, Hobart
Rating: 5-star
Ave nightly price: AUD295 per room
Description: Located in the cultural and historic heart of Hobart CBD, Salamanca Wharf Hotel a 5-minute walk from Hobart’s waterfront. It offers an in-house restaurant, free WiFi and free parking. Guests enjoy an in-room fridge stocked with premium Tasmanian wine, beer and cheese. The self-contained apartments boasts timber floors, luxurious carpets, a kitchen with Smeg appliances and granite bench tops. All apartment has a mosaic-tiled bathroom with a shower. Your lounge area has a 42-inch flat screen TV with free cable movie and sport channels. Each room features photography by Antarctic adventurer Lauent Dick. The Salamanca Wharf Café features a seasonal menu made with fresh local ingredients. Guests can enjoy breakfast and lunch here. Hotel Salamanca Wharf is a minute’s walk from Salamanca Place and the picturesque Princes Park. It is a 15-minute drive from MONA (the Museum of Old and New Art). Hobart Airport is a 25-minute drive away.
Lenna Of Hobart
Location: 20 Runnymede Street, Hobart
Rating: 4.5-star
Ave nightly price: AUD288 per room
Description: Just 2 minutes' walk from Sullivan's Cove and Salamanca Place, this restored mansion in Hobart offers modern accommodation with flat-screen cable TV and panoramic views of the harbour, mountain, city or park. Free off-street parking is available for guests. Offering refurbished rooms and suites, Lenna Of Hobart is decorated in contemporary furnishings and colors. Each unit is equipped with a minibar and tea and coffee making facilities. Lenna of Hobart offers breakfast daily in Alexander's. Guests are also able to enjoy our Chandelier Lounge Bar during the day, and meals are offered during 17:00 - 21:00 hrs. Room service is also available at Lenna of Hobart. Located in the heart of Battery Point Village, Lenna of Hobart is less than 5 minutes’ drive from Salamanca Market. Hobart CBD (Central Business District) and The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery are each a 10-minute walk away.
Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
Location: 1 Davey Street, Hobart
Rating: 4.5-star
Ave nightly price: AUD269 per room
Description: Located on the waterfront in Hobart CBD (Central Business District), Hotel Grand Chancellor offers majestic views over the Derwent River and the side of Mount Wellington, plus a fully equipped fitness centre and indoor heated pool. The spacious guest rooms at the Grand Chancellor are finished with Tasmanian timbers, polished granite and local artworks. Each en suite marble bathroom includes a bathtub. There is a hair salon and an art gallery in the hotel's lobby. Restaurant Tasman offers a breakfast buffet and à la carte dining using local seasonal produce. The Atrium Lounge Bar is the perfect place to unwind while enjoying the waterfront views. There are also a number of restaurants within a 5-minute walk. Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart is a 5-minute walk from Salamanca Place, and is perfectly located for half-day trips to Mt Wellington, Cascade Brewery or the Cadbury Chocolate Factory.
Wrest Point
Location: 410 Sandy Bay Road, Hobart
Rating: 4.5-star
Ave nightly price: AUD169 per room
Description: At Wrest Point, guests can enjoy spectacular views of the River Derwent, Mount Wellington and Hobart CBD (Central Business District). Free in-room WiFi is provided. You can work-out in the indoor health club, which offers exercise equipment, a sauna, a spa and heated pool. Facilities also include mini golf, free undercover parking and 24-hour reception. All 4.5 star, air-conditioned rooms include a TV, a minibar and tea/coffee making facilities. Some include a bathtub and bathrobes. Rooms with facilities for disabled guests are available on request. Located on the 17th floor, the award-winning Point Revolving Restaurant serves modern Australian cuisine with French influences, while Pier One features tapas and fine wines. The Birdcage Bar offers live music and premium cocktails. Wrest Point is within 6 minutes’ drive of Sullivans Cove and the famous Salamanca Market in the city.
Anytime. However, the best time of year to visit Hobart for warm-weather activities is during January and February.
Australia’s most southerly region sees the coldest temperatures in the country. Hobart receives an average high of 21°C (69°F) in summer and an average low of 5°C (41°F) in winter.
More about Hobart weather…
Hobart is the capital and largest city in the Australian island state of Tasmania. It is located in the state's south-east on the Derwent River, making it the most southern of Australia's capital cities.
The most convenient route to Hobart is by air to Hobart Airport (HBA), located about 18km (11mi) northeast of the city centre. There are no international flights to Hobart Airport.
From international destinations this requires flying into either Melbourne Airport or Sydney Airport, followed by a connecting flight to Hobart Airport.
More about how to get to Hobart…
Latest update: Hobart sights & attractions: 12 July, 2024
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