Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, might seem like a small city that might not have much to do for anyone who visits it. But for a city that is very old in Australia, the second oldest to be precise, has many things to do. If you are adventurous, Hobart City has the best things to do especially for tours, activities or visiting the attractions in the city or its surroundings that are classified as world heritage or wilderness. Below are some of the best things to do in Hobart, Australia.
Tip from tour guide
While in Hobart, don't miss out on enjoying the most gorgeous sunrise on the beach. It's the perfect chance to relish crisp visuals, fresh mountainous air, and a diverse landscape in golden-orange hues. The locals are also friendly and ready to guide and support you during your trip.
1. Elizabeth Street Mall
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Elizabeth Street Mall is a bustling street shopping area situated along Elizabeth Street, between Liverpool Street and Collins Street. The beautiful tree-lined venue in Hobart’s center boasts lots of seating areas, eateries, and shops selling apparel, mobile accessories, and more. Street performers such as violin players and dancers frequent the place, and you can kick back in one of the eateries’ outdoor patios and savor local delicacies while enjoying the street shows. Plus, the prices of goods and foods here are reasonable.
Elizabeth Street Mall
Address: 50 Elizabeth St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Website: Elizabeth Street Mall
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 9am - 5:30pm; Thu: 9am - 9pm; Fri: 9am - 5:30pm; Sat: 9am - 5pm; Sun: 11am - 5pm
2. Constitution Dock
Constitution Dock covers a part of Port of Hobart, and it’s set on the Derwent River. Aside from the gorgeous private yachts and fishing boats that frequent this place, it’s famous for being the finish line of the 630-mile (1014-kilometer) Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, held December 26, yearly. Here, you will find numerous historic buildings and ships from the area’s past commercial activities and many seafood restaurants with outdoor seating to dine and enjoy water views. However, you may want to park somewhere and walk to the spot as the parking fee may be high. There are also cafes and shopping centers on site, like Salamanca Place.
Constitution Dock
Address: 1 Franklin Whrf, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
3. Kelly's Steps
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
History buffs can’t miss these 19th-century steps, built to connect the elevated Battery Point and Salamanca Place. The architectural attraction was named after James Kelly, a whaler and an Australian explorer who hand-carved it from sandstone in 1839. Kelly’s Steps is also surrounded by old houses constructed from the same material. It only takes about 30 seconds to climb. Plus, Salamanca Market, an outdoor shopping area, is nearby.
Kelly's Steps
Address: 5 Kelly St, Battery Point TAS 7004, Australia
Website: Kelly’s Steps
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
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4. Hobart Convict Penitentiary
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Dark Mofo may be over, but the story at the Hobart Convict Penitentiary continues. We reopen for tours tomorrow, Tuesday 26th June.
Posted by Hobart Convict Penitentiary on Sunday, June 24, 2018
Hobart Convict Penitentiary was built in the 1830s in the shape of a cruciform to house the increasing number of convicts traveling into the then-new colony. The 2-acre (0.8-hectare) barracks, fenced by a towering stone wall, accommodated more than 50,000 prisoners. The construction features a church and 36 cells, and the smallest ones closed in 1847 as they were labeled inhuman. You can tour this location and listen to tales of punishment and crimes of those days. Plus, you can join the ghosts tours held Thursday to Saturday or the Convict Experience held daily.
Hobart Convict Penitentiary
Address: Campbell St &, Brisbane St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Website: Hobart Convict Penitentiary
Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 10am - 3pm (closed from Mon - Fri)
Hobart Tour Guide
Ben Andrews
Hello, You found me. First of all i am a father of three healthy adventurous boys and a happy wife. The love and passion for adventuring was installed in me by my patients. They gave me a diverse experience all over the world, from extensive bushwalking adventures, cultural immersion, education and relationships . This has taken me to many explorations amongst the tourism industry, outdoor ... Read more
Tours by Ben
5. Segway Tasmania
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Segway Tasmania on Thursday, January 3, 2019
Segway Tasmania allows you to explore some of the most beautiful sights in the city with a segway, a battery-powered, eco-friendly transporter. The device is easy to learn and master. The establishment offers various tours to enjoy alone, with friends or family. Some of their favorite trips include Clarence Foreshore Trail and Hobart Waterfront tours, covering the magnificent Hobart’s waterfront areas. Plus, nature lovers will love gliding along Kingston Beach and Oyster Cove, highlighting vistas of the countryside, farmlands, and water.
Segway Tasmania
Address: Morrison Street Pier, Murray St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Website: Segway Tasmania
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
6. Mawson's Huts Replica Museum
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Mawson's Huts Replica Museum on Saturday, December 19, 2020
Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum was founded in 1996 by Mawson’s Huts Foundation to help preserve the original huts at Cape Denison in North Antarctica. The cabins were used by Australasian Antarctic Expedition’s 18-men team, headed by Sir Douglas Mawson’s during a 2-year exploration between 1911 and 1914. It provided a warm abode in the area’s extreme weather. The structures look precisely the same as the original and contain actual objects used by the explorers to see, including an ice ax and a sled. The museum is also aimed at educating the public about Australia’s rich Antarctic heritage.
Mawson's Huts Replica Museum
Address: Morrison St & Argyle Street, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Website: Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 3pm (daily)
7. Boutique Wine Tours Tasmania
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
If you hurry down to Tasmania now, you still have a chance to see the beautiful colours of Autumn....Before you know it...
Posted by Boutique Wine Tours Tasmania on Tuesday, May 7, 2019
If you love wine tasting, this tour should be at the top of your itinerary. Boutique Wine Tours offers trips to some of the best vineyards in southern Tasmania and Coal Valley in a 13-passenger, luxurious bus. The region’s cold environment allows a variety of wine grapes to thrive. You will have the opportunity to taste some of these premium collections, such as Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir while taking in the natural scenery of the farms and countryside. They also offer personalized tours. You can check their official website for more information.
Boutique Wine Tours Tasmania
Address: Davey St & Elizabeth St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Website: Boutique Wine Tours Tasmania
Price: From 22 USD
Attractions
8. Paranormal Investigation Experience
Port Arthur is a place that has a few hundred years to it and this is where the paranormal investigation tour is done. If you have always been intrigued by the paranormal, this is the tour to take. Come in contact with the supernatural while using the best technology there is in the world to tour and investigate the ruins of Port Arthur Historic Site, which include the Magistrates House, the Prison, the Commandants Cottage and the site which is termed as the most haunted one in the country, Personage.
Paranormal Investigation Experience
Address: Port Arthur Historic Site, Arthur Highway, Port Arthur, TAS
Website: Paranormal Investigation Experience
9. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Since being a child, I personally wanted to see the Tasmanian Devils after reading a book on them. My child brain was fascinated about them at that time and I made a promise to one day see them in person, a promise I fulfilled when I visited Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, home to other animals such as koalas and kangaroos. When visiting this sanctuary, you will see the love and care the staff have for the animals, more so for animals that have been orphaned or injured. If you are traveling with your kids, cultivate a loving heart in them as they feed and pet the animals. Opt for either a day tour or a night tour for the amazing nocturnal animals rising up for their nighttime activities.
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Address: 593 Briggs Rd, Brighton, TAS
Website: Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
10. Tahune Airwalk (from USD 113.0)
Soar high above the treetops and be one with the trees while suspended over Huon River at Tahune Forest Airwalk, which extends up to 597 meters (1959 feet) on top of the forest’s canopy. Choose between two trails with breathtaking views, the 45 minute Swinging Trail and the 20 minute Huon Pine Walk.
Tahune Airwalk
Address: Arve Rd, Geeveston, TAS
Website: Tahune Airwalk
Tahune Airwalk Active Day Tour from Hobart with Hastings Caves
Duration: 10 hours
Tours
11. Port Arthur Tour
If the nighttime paranormal chills are not your thing, opt for a day tour of Port Arthur and take in its unbridled past, which attracts many to the site. To sum it up, the Port was a prison area used by the British to isolate criminals from the mainland. But the Port was more than just a prison, it had buildings that served as mining, shipping and milling locations. Open up to learn quite a lot of history during this tour.
Port Arthur
Address: Port Arthur Historic Site, Arthur Highway, Port Arthur, TAS
Website: Port Arthur
12. Mount Wellington Tour
Talk about Hobart and the first thing that comes to mind is Mount Wellington. With its magnificent view, both from far and on top, many have sung praise of its spectacle. Your eyes are in for a sight as its snow dusted peaks give a beautiful contrast to its green slopes.
Mount Wellington
Address: Pinnacle Road, Hobart, TAS
Website: Mount Wellington
13. Paddle in the waters with Hobart City Kayaking Day Tour
https://www.experienceoz.com.au/hobart-city-kayaking-day-tour - Golden Ticket #44125 was first found and posted by...
Posted by Experience Oz and NZ on Tuesday, 16 June 2015
Enjoy the Tasmanian waterfront from the sea. Your two and a half hour guided tour starts at Sandy Bay and goes through all the seaside stop points. Make a stop at Battery Point, Hobart Docks and other areas along the route. Take a break at the harbor for some lunch before embarking on your tour. The tour is conducive for children too.
Hobart City Kayaking Day Tour
Address: Hobart, TAS
Website: Hobart City Kayaking Day Tour
Culture
14. Tasmanian Museum of Art
Do not let a gloomy, rainy day imprison you in your hotel room. You can have a free cultural experience at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. There is no moment you will have your mood dampened when walking through the many displays and art exhibitions that explore Hobart’s history. This is a wonderful family experience, the children will learn more and have their creative minds tickled while the adults will enjoy the deep historical setting. Learn about the Tasmanian history, from the Tasmanian Aboriginal people, to its convict days as a penal colony. The museum also houses the Tasmanian natural history, from the extinct to the present.
Tasmanian Museum of Art
Address: Dunn Pl, Hobart, TAS
Website: Tasmanian Museum of Art
15. Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
The natural affinity of Tasmania has put it in a league of its own. That entire natural splendor is showcased at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, which has been wowing many for almost 200 years. Take a walk here and take it all in; the history and the tranquility.
Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
Address: Lower Domain Rd, Hobart, TAS
Website: Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
16. Museum of Old and New Art
Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is a must-do when visiting Hobart. It is known worldwide for its very enlightened exhibitions that have been termed as controversial and progressive. This museum is an eclectic mix of well-known artists and up-and-coming artists. You will not want to miss out on all the fuss, so make a point to go and visit MONA.
Museum of Old and New Art
Address: 655 Main Rd, Berriedale, TAS
Website: Museum of Old and New Art
Activities
17. Horse Riding Tasmania
See the inviting beauty of Hobart in a different way by enlisting the help of Horse Riding Tasmania. Choose riding options such as coastal trails, beachfront trials, rainforest trails, mountain trails or bushland trails.
Horse Riding Tasmania
Address: White Hill Rd | Lot 1, Wattle Hill, TAS
Website: Horse Riding Tasmania
18. Par Avion Flights
Have breathtaking sky views in one go and book a flight with Par Avion Flights, where you will fly over Hobart’s many attractions such as Cradle Mountain, Bruny Island and Wineglass Bay.
Par Avion Flights
Address: 115 Kennedy Drive, Cambridge, TAS
Website: Par Avion Flights
Breweries and distilleries
19. Cascade Brewery
This brewery has history written all over it as it is 150 years old and the oldest brewery running in Hobart. The architectural nerds will love its whole old time colonial structure, while nature lovers will be taken in by its surroundings and pristine gardens.
Cascade Brewery
Address: 131 Cascade Rd, South Hobart, TAS
Website: Cascade Brewery
20. Lark Distillery
Enjoy the finest Tasmanian whiskey produced by Lark Distillery, a firm favorite of the locals and it will be yours too after visiting the distillery and tasting it.
Lark Distillery
Address: 14 Davey St, Hobart, TAS
Website: Lark Distillery
Nature and culture combine
Hobart City, Tasmania is the perfect blend of nature and culture. It has one of the best modern museums in the world, renowned for its controversial exhibits. After a day or two in the city, head out to the beautiful nature that surrounds it. Come back to a relaxing drink at the distillery or brewery. Your whole itinerary is set here in Hobart.
History
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