Hobart, the capital of isolated Tasmania, is the second oldest city in Australia. Situated between the towering Mt. Wellington and the beautiful Derwent River, Hobart holds a reputation as one of the most picturesque cities in Australia. Even though Hobart is small, with a population of only 160,000 people, the city has a thriving harbour, natural surrounds, a cutting-edge art industry, and true sense of history.
TOURIST ACTIVITIES/DESTINATIONS:
Hobart is a small but wonderful city to visit, full of restaurants, shops, art galleries, museums, and historic sites. Hobart also acts as the gateway to the rest of Tasmania.
Salamanca Place, located on Hobart's beautiful harbour-side, is Tasmania's number one lifestyle precinct. The colonial, sandstone buildings in Salamanca Place were once used for Hobart's trade and commerce industry, dating back to the 1830's. Now the colonial buildings have been tastefully converted into restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries. Salamanca Place is a great place to stroll around, or to stop and have lunch. Another attraction of Salamanca Place is the open-air Salamanca Markets which host a wide range of arts and crafts. The Salamanca Markets are open every Saturday from 8:30am to 3:00.
Mt. Wellington is the beautiful mountain top that towers above Hobart. With a daunting height of 1270 meters, Mt. Wellington is a great place to view Hobart and the surrounding land of Tasmania. You can drive to the top of Mt. Wellington, or you can take a bus to Ferntree and hike to the summit. There are many walking trails over and around Mt. Wellington, but you should only climb to the top if you are physically fit. And remember, it's always cold at the peak of Mt. Wellington, so bring a warm sweater! Another way to explore the beauty of Mt. Wellington is to take an organized bus tour to the top.
The Cascade Brewery is a fun tourist destination for beer lovers and history buffs alike. As Australia's oldest brewery, Cascade Brewery still produces some of the world's finest beers. You can take an organized tour through Cascade Brewery and get an inside look of the workings of the brewery. The brewery also has beautiful gardens to explore and an informational museum about the history of beer-making in Australia. Tastings of the product are included in the Cascade Brewery tour!
The Narryna Heritage Museum is housed in a beautiful colonial mansion in Battery Park, Hobart's original settlement. Narryna's building itself is a historical site and an excellent example of Georgian architecture. The house also boasts beautiful gardens and grounds which you can explore at your leisure. Inside the Narryna Heritage Museum is a fine collection of antique china, furniture, silver, and paintings.
The Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery is housed in Hobart's oldest building, the Commissariat Store, built in 1808. Besides being a historical site, the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery offer a glimpse into the natural world of Tasmania, colonial history, and contemporary art. The Tasmanian Museum features a fantastic Aboriginal display and a myriad of colonial Australian relics. The Art Gallery houses some of Australia's best colonial artworks as well as a fabulous contemporary art section.
The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is a must-see for anyone visiting Hobart. Located only 2 kilometres from central Hobart, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens feature historic plant collections and a large number of significant trees. The Botanical Gardens also has a tropical glasshouse, cactus house, fuchsia house, herb garden and various fountains and water features. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens also contains the Arthur Wall, an internally heated wall built in 1829, and one of only two such walls built in Australia. You can take a morning stroll through the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, or eat lunch at the Garden's restaurant.
The Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts feature some of Australia's finest rare books, antiques, furniture, ceramics, silver and glass, and artworks. Regular exhibitions of 19th century painting and prints are held at the Museum of Fine Arts.
The Glenorchy Sunday Market is held every Sunday from 8:00am to 2:00pm at the Royal Showgrounds in Hobart. As Australia's biggest undercover market, you can find arts and crafts, different kinds of food, second-hand bargains, and much more!
Port Arthur is great day-trip or overnight-trip from Hobart. Located on the Tasman Peninsula, Port Arthur holds great historical significance in Tasmania. In 1930, Port Arthur began as a convict penal colony that used an isolation system. Most of the prisoners spent their whole lives in Port Arthur. When they died, their bodies were buried on the Isle of the Dead. Although some well-behaved prisoners were rewarded with easier jobs and education, most prisoners were treated with cruelty and harshness. When visiting Port Arthur, you can take a tour of the penitentiary, asylum, officers' headquarters, Commandment residence, medical officer's home, Smith O'Brien's Cottage and the notorious Model Prison. Nightly ghost tours are offered on the spooky Isle of the Dead.
HOBART WEATHER:
The best time to visit Hobart is in the autumn (March to May) when the weather is temperate and the leaves are changing colours. However, the winter (June to August) brings cold temperatures and gloomy skies. You will even see snow in the mountains during winter in Hobart. The summer months (December to February) bring sunny skies and high temperatures.
TRANSPORT:
To access Hobart, you either have to take a plane or a boat. You can fly to Hobart from most of the Australian capital cities. You can also fly directly into Hobart from Christchurch, New Zealand. From Melbourne, you can take a ferry to the northern part of Tasmania, and then take a bus to Hobart.
Because of the city's limited public transport, the best way to get around Hobart is to hire a car. There are many rental businesses located around Hobart, so you should have no problem getting a car. Hobart is also one of the few places in the world where hitchhiking is still a fairly safe option. There are a few buses that take you around Tasmania.
ACCOMODATION:
When visiting Hobart, you will have your pick of holiday rental houses, serviced apartments, hotels, motels, and hostels in central Hobart. Bed and breakfast accommodation is also available in and around Hobart. There are also many camping sites around Hobart and the rest of Tasmania.
