There’s a whole lot of reasons to head to Hobart, Tasmania on your next holiday.
Historical architecture and sites. Delicious food and drink that’s been grown, produced, and distributed right on Tassie soil. Lively events and markets where you get a true taste of this incredible island community. Mind-blowing scenic spots, from striking cliff faces to charming beaches. Unique and fun ways to get active. It's all here!
Image Credit: Salamanca Market - Tourism Australia
You can reach Hobart by sky or sea. If you’re camping and need to bring your vehicle, you’ll be jumping on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry (leaving mainland Australia from Geelong, Victoria) then driving down to southern Tasmania. Otherwise, you can fly into Hobart International Airport, located a convenient 20-minute commute from the CBD. Once you’ve got both feet on the Apple Isle, it’s time to enjoy all the best bits of Tasmania's capital city.
Image Credit: Evolve Spirits Bar - Evolve Spirits Bar and Adam Gibson
G’day Parks has two parks to sort out your stay while visiting Hobart, whether you’re looking for powered sites or cabin accommodation. Read on for 30 of our favourite places, travel suggestions, and fun things to do for the whole family around Hobart, then book your preferred accommodation on the G’day Parks app or online.
HISTORY AND CULTURE
Port Arthur Historic Site
Image Credit: Port Arthur Historic Site - Dearna Bond, Tourism Tasmania
On the Tasman Peninsula, Port Arthur Historic Site claims the title of Australia’s largest and most intact World Heritage-listed convict site, with more than 30 historic buildings, ruins, immersive museums, exhibitions, guided tours, gardens, walking trails, and eateries. Don’t miss their incredible tours, like the Escape From Port Arthur experience or sunset Ghost Tour.
MONA
Image Credit: Bit Fall by Julius Popp at Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) - Joe McNally/Tourism Australia
MONA – which stands for ‘Museum of Old and New Art – has a collection unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Part bizarre, part provocative, the museum is open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5pm with plenty of places to eat and drink. Make sure you catch the ferry across for the full experience.
Richmond Bridge
Image Credit: Richmond Bridge - Alastair Bett, Tourism Tasmania
Lovers of history and architecture will enjoy exploring Richmond, best known for its heritage-listed arch bridge. This is Australia’s oldest stone bridge, still in operation 200 years after it was built by convicts. Around town, you’ll spot landmarks like the country’s oldest intact jail and oldest remaining Catholic church.
Constitution Dock and the Hobart Waterfront
Image Credit: Constitution Dock - Tourism Australia
When people think of Hobart, they often think of the famous waterfront. Constitution Dock is a symbol of the town’s fishing history, plus it’s the port for the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Taste fresh seafood from nearby stalls and restaurants or simply stroll past the historic buildings. Nearby, you can also check out Elizabeth Street Pier and the working fishing harbour of Victoria Dock.
Battery Point
Image Credit: Cycling along Hampden Road, Battery Point - Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett
Battery Point, Hobart’s first suburb, is dripping in character. Arrive via the steps from Salamanca Place, and walk past heritage homes, a sculpture trail, and shops. You can also enter Narryna, a historic merchant’s house, for $10 admission per adult.
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Image Credit: Tasmania Museum and Art Gallery - Tourism Australia
The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is Hobart's home of art and culture, with a range of visiting and long-term exhibitions. They also host regular events and tours. Keen for even more of a museum fix? The Maritime Museum of Tasmania is around the corner, and the Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum is a few minutes’ walk down Argyle Street.
Street Art
Hobart is an emerging destination for street art, with murals and painted signal boxes dotted throughout the city. Keep your eyes on the walls and duck your head into laneways like Bidencopes Lane to make sure you don’t miss any of the creative flair.
FOOD AND DRINK
Cascade Brewery
Image Credit: Cascade Brewery - Luke O'Brien Photography, Tourism Tasmania
Another piece of Hobart’s history, Cascade Brewery is the country’s oldest operating brewery (founded in 1824), nestled at the base of Mount Wellington. Whether you’re booking a tour or table, you’ve got to try your favourite beer on tap, from their signature pale ale to a refreshing stout.
Wineries
Image Credit: Frogmore Creek - Tourism Australia
Vino fans rejoice! The Coal River Valley is home to many cellar doors, such as Pooley Wines, Every Man and His Dog Vineyard, Nocton Vineyard, Frogmore Creek Winery, and Puddleduck Vineyard. There’s also the Derwent Valley wine region, which includes must-visit wineries like Moorilla Estate (at MONA), Laurel Bank Vineyard, and Stefano Lubiana Wines. (P.S. Don’t worry if you’re not a beer or wine drinker, because Hobart also has a wide selection of distilleries and bars.)
Salamanca Market
Image Credit: Salamanca Market - Tourism Australia
The Salamanca Market is held every Saturday from 8.30am to 3.00pm at Salamanca Place. Packed with more than 300 stallholders, live music, and a vibrant atmosphere, these might be the most famous weekend markets in all of Australia, and that’s saying something. Be there or be square!
Farm Gate Market
Image Credit: Farm Gate Market - Tourism Australia
Held in the heart of Hobart on Bathurst Street every Sunday from 8.30am to 1.00pm, the Farm Gate Market is the best way to nourish your adventures with fresh produce, artisan foods, and street food vendors. Enjoy wandering between stalls, collecting everything from pillowy bread to juicy fruit, with a barista-roasted coffee in hand for foodie bliss.
Coal River Farm
Image Credit: Coal River Farm - Alastair Bett, Tourism Tasmania
Coal River Farm is a favourite with food lovers, home of chocolate, cheese, and produce. Meet their farm animals, pick fresh fruit or flowers (depending on the season), and savour a long lunch at their restaurant.
NATURE AND SCENIC SIGHTS
Bruny Island
Image Credit: Bruny Island - Tourism Australia
Bruny Island has something for everyone. Climb the 300 steps to the Truganini Lookout for the iconic view of The Neck, connecting the island’s northern and southern sections. Visit Cape Bruny Lighthouse, relax on peaceful beaches, or take a cruise tour along the rugged coastline. Sample gourmet treats from famous producers like Bruny Island Cheese, Bruny Island Honey, Bruny Island Chocolate, and the Bruny Baker (selling their fresh-baked treats out of a roadside vintage fridge!). To get there, drive half an hour to the port and take the 20-minute ferry ride over the water.
Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
Image Credit: Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens - Tourism Australia
North of the city beside the Tasman Bridge, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are perfect for a family-friendly excursion. Features include a substantial collection of Tasmanian flora, a subantarctic plant house, Japanese garden, and lily pond.
Beaches
Image Credit: Nutgrove Beach - Sandy Bay - Tourism Tasmania & Kathryn Leahy
From the summer sun to moody winters, Hobart's beaches are beautiful in all seasons. Explore bays like Seven Mile Beach, Nutgrove Beach, Sandy Bay, Kingston Beach, Long Beach, and Bellerive Beach.
Sail the Derwent
When you're so close to the famous finish line of the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, it just makes sense to go sailing in Hobart. Book a three-hour cruise in this stunning harbour at the gateway to the Southern Ocean, admiring the Hobart scenery from the sea’s perspective. Complimentary beverages are included.
Tasman Peninsula
Image Credit: Three Capes Track, Tasman Peninsula - Tourism Australia
The Tasman Peninsula is about an hour and a half’s drive from the Hobart CBD, with jaw-dropping sea cliff faces, gorgeous beaches, and amazing hiking trails like the Three Capes Track. Leaving from Port Arthur, a Cape Raoul Wilderness Cruise gets you out on the water to visit Cape Raoul’s dolerite columns while you spot seabirds and marine life.
Glimpse the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis)
Image Credit: Aurora Australis, Goats Bluff - Luke Tscharke, Tourism Tasmania
While sightings are quick and rare, it is possible to see the Southern Lights/Aurora Australis from Tasmania! If you’re travelling to Hobart in the cooler months (May to September) when the nights are longer and darker, you may be able to spot this natural phenomenon at places like the South Arm Peninsula, Bruny Island, and even Kunanyi/Mount Wellington.
Scenic Flight over Wineglass Bay
Image Credit: Wineglass Bay - Tourism Australia
The white sands, lapping blue waves, and crescent moon shape of Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park are almost too good to be true for nature lovers. Imagine seeing them in person from above! While it takes two and a half hours to drive to this stunner on the East Coast, you can take a scenic flight from Hobart paired with a walking tour of Maria Island National Park, wildlife experiences, and a delicious seafood picnic.
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Image Credit: Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary - Tourism Australia
Get to know the island’s most famous creature – the iconic Tasmanian devil – at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Daily guided tours are included in your admission fee, where keepers will share their impressive knowledge about the many animals (including Tassie devils!), or you can book an up-close animal encounter for only $30. For more wildlife adventures, check out the Hobart Zoo and Aquarium.
Salmon Ponds
Image Credit: Salmon Ponds & the Museum of Trout Fishing - Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett
As the oldest trout hatchery in the Southern Hemisphere, anglers will find the heritage of Salmon Ponds irresistible. Stroll through the gardens, feed the fish, and browse the Museum of Trout Fishing and Angling Hall of Fame.
Mount Nelson Signal Station
Image Credit: Mt Nelson Signal Station - Tourism Tasmania & David Huting
Mount Nelson Signal Station is an incredible vantage point in the Hobart hills, watching over the city and River Derwent. On a you-beaut day, you might even see all the way out to Bruny Island! There’s a café that's located a short walk from the carpark, or BBQ and picnic facilities at the Mount Nelson lookout.
ACTIVE ADVENTURES
Reach the Summit of Kunanyi/Mount Wellington
Image Credit: Kunanyi/Mount Wellington, Wellington Park Reserve - Tourism Australia
At 1271 metres, Kunanyi/Mount Wellington is the ultimate vantage point over Hobart. It’s accessible via car or you can hike up to the observation shelter. Wellington Park also has a network of great walking tracks, like the Cascade Walking Track and Organ Pipes Circuit, and it’s a top spot for mountain biking, from the North South Track into McRobies Gully in South Hobart.
Tahune Airwalk
Image Credit: Tahune Airwalk - Tourism Australia
Tahune Adventures is about 90 minutes’ drive away, but it’s more than worth it. Walk 30 metres above the forest floor on the Tahune Airwalk, with incredible views over the canopy leading to a 50-metre-high platform above the Huon River. For extra thrills, you can also add an experience on the Eagle Hang Glider while you’re there (weather permitting).
Railtrack Riders
Image Credit: Railtrack Riders, Maydena - Tourism Australia
Pedal your way through the rainforest at Railtrack Riders. Take the pedal railway from Maydena to Florentine (5km return) or Pig & Whistle (8km return). The carts are suitable for up to two adults and two children.
Day Trips to National Parks
Image Credit: Hartz Mountains National Park - Andrew Wilson, Tourism Tasmania
On the outskirts of Hobart, you’ll find heaps of brilliant national parks. In the Huon Valley, 80 minutes away, Hartz Mountains National Park is a rugged wilderness full of mountain peaks, glacial lakes, and waterfalls. Alternately, travel for an hour and a half to reach The Needles walk in Southwest National Park, the Tolkien Track in Styx Tall Trees Conservation Area, or the three-tiered Russell Falls (Tassie’s most-photographed waterfall) in Mount Field National Park.
Maydena Bike Park
Image Credit: Maydena Bike Park - Places We Go, Tourism Tasmania
Once you’ve had your fair share of rides on Hobart’s inner-city mountain biking trails, hit the road for Maydena Bike Park (a 90-minute drive from the city centre) in the Derwent Valley. This gravity-focused mountain bike park has two uplift services, up to 820m vertical elevation, and more than 85 world-class trails.
Jet Boating in the Huon Valley
Image Credit: Rotorlift - Heli Jet Boating Thrill Tour - Tourism Australia
Tear up the white water with a jet boating experience you’ll never forget on the Huon River. An easy 35-minute drive from Hobart, Huon Jet Boats will take you up the river at thrilling speeds with spectacular scenery. Complete your visit with coffee and cake at the Boatshed Café.
Events
Image Credit: Taste of Summer - Alastair Bett, Tourism Tasmania
If you’re the kind of traveller who likes to time their holiday with an iconic event, Hobart has you covered. Taste of Summer – Tasmania’s Food and Culture Festival – kicks off annually around the new year. Then, in the depths of winter, the spellbinding Dark Mofo takes over.
Horse Riding
Take a beachside horse ride along Seven Mile Beach in Cambridge, with the Tasman Peninsula in the distance. Beginner riders are welcome, and at the end of your trip, you’ll get the chance to hand feed your new animal buddy.
WHERE TO STAY?
G'day Parks has two parks up our sleeve in Hobart ...
Discovery Parks - Hobart
Campers, caravanners, and holidaymakers all love Discovery Parks - Hobart. The park offers powered sites (ensuites available) as well as a wide range of accommodation. Whether you’re travelling on a budget, with a pet in tow, or seeking a slice of luxury, they’ve got a cabin for you. An easy 25-minute drive over the River Derwent will take you into the city and its many attractions, while in park, kids are well catered for with a bouncing pillow, playground, sports facilities, and mini golf. As for main meals, there’s a hotel and bar next door, or you can cook up a storm at camp kitchen or the BBQs.
Discovery Parks - Mornington Hobart
Nestled in the heart of Hobart’s suburbia, Discovery Parks - Mornington Hobart offers convenient cabin accommodation just 10 minutes from the city. It’s also handy from a transport perspective, only 10 minutes from the airport, with bus stops less than 100m away to carry you straight into town. The park has a range of self-contained cabins to suit all budgets and group sizes, from studios to spa cottages. Cook dinner on the park’s BBQs, or head to the inn next door for your favourite pub grub (hot tip: check out their huge schnitzel and parmigiana menu).
Eager to sink your teeth into Hobart’s rich history, culture, food, and adventures?
Image Credit: Hobart Waterfront and Kunanyi/Mt Wellington - Tourism Tasmania & Tony Crehan
From Australia's oldest brewery to UNESCO World Heritage sites, this small city in Tasmania's south packs a punch! Book your accommodation in Hobart via the G’day Parks app or online, organise your flight or ferry trip, and leave plenty of room in your luggage to bring back your favourite Tassie products.
