Hobart
Heritage charm, wilderness, and world-class art
About Hobart
Hobart is Australia's second-oldest capital city, nestled between the towering kunanyi/Mount Wellington and the Derwent River on the island state of Tasmania. This compact, walkable city punches well above its weight with MONA — one of the most provocative art museums on earth — a flourishing food and whisky scene, and a gateway to Tasmania's extraordinary wilderness. Hobart offers a slower pace of life with world-class experiences at every turn.
Quick Facts
- Population: 240,000
- Founded: 1804
- Airport: Hobart (HBA)
- Time Zone: AEST (UTC+10)
- Known for: MONA, Salamanca Market, whisky, wilderness
Top Highlights
MONA
The Museum of Old and New Art is a subterranean world of ancient antiquities and provocative contemporary art, built into a peninsula on the Derwent River. Reach it by a 25-minute ferry ride from the Hobart waterfront.
Salamanca Market
Tasmania's most visited attraction, this iconic Saturday market fills the historic Salamanca Place with over 300 stalls of handmade crafts, fresh produce, and local delicacies against a backdrop of 1830s sandstone warehouses.
kunanyi/Mount Wellington
Rising 1,271 metres above the city, the summit offers panoramic views spanning from Hobart's harbour to the Tasman Peninsula. Drive, hike, or mountain bike through sub-alpine terrain and ancient rainforest.
Battery Point
Hobart's oldest residential neighbourhood, dating to the 1830s, features narrow lanes lined with colonial cottages, art galleries, and cosy cafes. Wander through Arthur Circus and Kelly's Steps to Salamanca Place.
Food & Whisky
Hobart has emerged as one of Australia's most exciting food destinations. The waterfront is home to the iconic Brooke Street Larder and floating fish punt for the freshest seafood. Tasmania is Australia's whisky capital, with distilleries like Lark, Sullivans Cove (World's Best Single Malt 2014), and Overeem offering tastings. Don't miss the Farm Gate Market on Sundays for local produce, or the burgeoning restaurant scene along the waterfront and in North Hobart.
Day Trips & Nature
Hobart is the gateway to some of Australia's most pristine wilderness. The Tasman Peninsula, an hour away, features the historic convict site of Port Arthur, dramatic sea cliffs, and the Three Capes Track. Bruny Island, reached by a short ferry, offers incredible coastal walks, fresh oysters from Get Shucked, and encounters with white wallabies. The Huon Valley to the south is renowned for its orchards, cider, and the ancient Huon Pine forests.
Heritage & History
As Australia's second-oldest capital (founded 1804), Hobart's history is written into its streetscape. Cascade Brewery, established in 1824, is Australia's oldest brewery and offers daily tours. The Penitentiary Chapel, the Theatre Royal (1837), and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery reflect the city's convict and colonial past. The annual Dark Mofo festival, MONA's winter celebration, transforms the city with provocative art installations and feasts.