6 Things to see and do in Hobart

Many Tasmania tours start or finish in Hobart, meaning you get the chance to explore this pretty city and everything it has to offer. Your tour itinerary will advise you of the tours and optional excursions you can take, and you might also get free time to discover the charismatic capital under your own steam. Here are some things to see and do during your stay in Hobart.

Salamanca Place

With warehouses filled with arts and crafts and locally made produce spilling from boutique shopfronts, Salamanca Place is a pulsating heart of culture and creativity. Saturdays see over 300 stallholders make up the famous Salamanca Markets where your every desire for trinket-buying and palate-feeding can be satisfied. Admire the timberwork, hand-crafted jewellery, locally-designed clothing and a plethora of foodie produce.

Battery Point

On the edge of the city centre, lies another throwback to Tasmania’s seafaring past – Battery Point. Established in the early 19^th century as a protective base for the penal colony that settled within its defensive reach, stroll the time-worn streets to step back in time. Now a cluster of tight-knit old cottages and a maze of quaint laneways, there is a certain cosiness spawned from the snug cafes and cute bookshops tucked away amidst the sandstone buildings.

Waterfront Precinct

Originally a port town, the harbour is still an epicentre of activity in Hobart. The waterfront precinct is abuzz with modern restaurants popping up between the old pubs, and intriguing museums and artisan shops scattered along the waterfront. Brooke St Pier was floated in its current form in 2015 and is a four-story hub for boutique traders, built with its maritime heritage and architecture in mind. Meander the waterfront getting a taste of Tasmania’s history and produce, and maybe stop by Constitution Dock to indulge in some fresh seafood.

Botanic Gardens

Awash with colourful blooms and boasting 6,500 varieties of plants, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are a haven to explore. Sprawled over 14 hectares you can get pleasantly lost among the stunning exhibitions, including the largest public conifer collection in the southern hemisphere. Relax in the peaceful Japanese garden, let the refreshing scents of the traditional herb garden entice you, and if you get hungry you can make a pit stop at the onsite restaurant or café.

The Mountains

The topography around Hobart offers stunning vantage points to drink in views of the city. Mount Wellington, just a 20-minute drive from Hobart, presents a towering peak to admire the eclectic urban sprawl from a different perspective. Wellington Park is a reserve full of natural beauty, with cascading waterfalls and bubbling forest springs – you will feel a world away from the city nearby. Prefer to stay a little closer? Mount Nelson, just a 10-minute drive from the city, has a lookout that makes a perfect alternative to watch the city abuzz below.

MONA

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is Australia’s largest private museum and is a true juxtaposition of old and new. Housing everything from Ancient Egypt mummies to stirring psychoacoustic journeys and jarring modern art exhibitions, MONA is a culmination of roughly 300 evocative displays. There is a winery and vineyard on site and options to wine and dine after your immersion into the surreal. Make it a day trip with a picturesque ferry ride from the city direct to the MONA wharf.

Take a look at the tours from Hobart and start your trip on a high with some of these experiences.