Hobart

Tasmania’s capital has been pressed into shape by nature.

Hobart is framed by the rugged figure of Kunanyi / Mount Wellington (accessible via Wellington Park) and the wide, flowing River Derwent, with wilderness lingering nearby – just beyond the mountain.

Aside from Hobart’s cool mountain-and-river combo, the cultural and dining experiences are really what set Australia's second-oldest city apart. The underground Museum of Old and New Art, aka Mona, looms large in global art circles and on the itineraries of scores of travellers.

The famed Salamanca Market has been a Saturday tradition for more than 50 years, and the city’s food scene is dynamic, with cafes, restaurants and bars transforming Tasmania’s famously fresh produce into refined expressions of place and season.

See Hobart from the water, or on foot around the waterfront, or even from the saddle of a bike on a mountain descent. Taste wine at urban wineries, and when the day is almost done, sip a whisky beside a dinosaur fossil, or settle into a cosy bar inside the walls of a 19th-century hospital.

Insider tips

• Adventure lives here. Draw a circle 20km around the city and you can find mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling and surfing within it.
• There’s more to Hobart art than Mona. Check out the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), and a collection of private galleries sprinkled through Salamanca and the city centre.
• Download the Discover Tasmania app, your personalised Tasmanian travel guide. The app has all the info you need for a top Tasmanian holiday – great things to eat, drink, see and do, plus real-time tips and updates tailored to your location. You won’t miss a thing.

Places to stay

Browse through a wealth of accommodation options in Hobart – ideal for deep immersion in Tasmania’s vibrant waterfront capital.