There are many blogs about what to see and do in nipaluna/Hobart, but these are our authentic recommendations as locals who live here.

Hobart is our home, and we share it with just over 200,000 other Tasmanians. Our tours start and finish in Hobart, and we certainly encourage guests to arrive early or stay longer after our tours to explore Hobart. On our 6, 7 and 10 day tours of Tasmania we also stay in the city overnight and ensure guests get an A-grade experience on kunanyi/Mount Wellington.  

We love Hobart, because within an hour from the city centre (or less!) you can be at a pristine beach, in a rainforest, on top of a mountain or in the countryside. Hobart offers a deeply satisfying blend of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. There are some top places to dine (as good as anywhere in Australia), some great local pubs, and terrific local produce markets. We have some fantastic festivals each year and attract some top musicians.

In no order, these are the things we’d encourage visiting friends, family or anyone to experience. Like our tours, our suggestions are a bit active, so put on some comfy shoes, bring a day-pack, and get walking.

Explore TMAG

Locally known as “T-Mag”, fuel your curiosity about Tasmania here. Find two or more hours to spend at Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). It’s located by the waterfront and will help to set the scene for understanding a bit Tasmania’s history and landscape. The palawa and pakana exhibition is a must as it shines a light on Tasmania’s aboriginal people, our traditional and ongoing custodians of lutruwita / Tasmania. Be sure to listen to a recording made in 1903 which contains the only spoken record of any one of the original Tasmanian Aboriginal languages, as spoken and sung by Fanny Cochrane Smith – the last surviving fluent speaker of those languages. This recording is so significant that it is escribed in the UNESCO World Heritage register. Don’t miss the exquisite maireneer (rainbow kelp shell) necklaces on display – shell necklace making is the oldest continuing cultural heritage practice in Tasmania today. See fascinating but heart-breaking video footage from the 1930’s of the last known surviving thylacine (Tasmanian tiger). You can also see one as taxidermy and imagine what camping overnight in the bush might have felt like back in the early 1900’s before a bounty was collected for their pelts. There are other local birds, mammals and reptiles on display as well. Next, check out the fabulous Antarctic display (given our southern locality, Tasmania plays a significant role in Antarctic polar expeditions and research), and before you go, do a loop of the upper gallery to see paintings from the 1800s where you’ll see old Hobart town with tall ships in the harbour.

Visit the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Enjoy a picnic or a walk through Australia’s second oldest Botanical Garden. Established in 1818, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens offers 14 hectares of gardens. Spend two hours or more if you have time. Each season offers a different experience. Of course, there are impressive examples of flora from other parts of the world, but our native section is a must-see, including examples of Huon pine and a subantarctic plant house. As a tip – don’t miss the Community Food Garden where you can see what is possible to grow in your veggie patch in Tasmania at this time of year.   

Browse the Markets

Salamanca Markets are on each Saturday. Located in the historic Salamanca Place, these bustling markets are a feast for the senses. There are over 300 stalls brimming with local produce, handmade crafts (Hobart considers itself quite an ‘artsy’ place, and unique souvenirs lined the cobbled streets.  Make sure you’re hungry and eat and drink to your heart’s content. In summer, buy up the local berries such as raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.  

Sundays – head to Bathurst Street for our local Farmer’s Market. Grab a coffee and an egg and bacon roll and check out what the local farmers are selling.

Discover kunanyi/Mount Wellington

Many visitors think that if you’ve driven to the summit of kunanyi at 1271m and checked out the view, you’ve ticked that box. Our guides know the mountain well, so even if there’s no view due to cloud, we explore other parts of kunanyi’s diverse forests, boulder fields, fern gullies or lookouts. She’s a beautiful mountain, loved by locals who walk her tracks, climb the dolerite columns known as the Organ Pipes, ride the Pipeline Trail, or for those lucky enough to have a view from home, just like to look at her out the window as the sun sets or the seasons change, especially when she’s covered in snow. Join us on our 6 day Explorer 6 tour, 7 day Super 7 tour or our 10 day Ultimate tour of Tasmania and we’ll show you our favourite places on kunanyi.

Open your mind at MONA

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) dares to be different. This avant-garde museum is unlike any other, with its provocative and eclectic collection that challenges the boundaries of contemporary art. From the surreal to the sublime, each exhibit at MONA sparked conversation and contemplation. Even if the art is not for everyone, it’s nearly unanimous that visitors say they are pleased they went, if anything for the incredible architecture of iron and tunnels carved into the sandstone earth, not to mention the surrounding vineyard. The MONA ferry is super-fun as well, departing from Brook St Pier to take you upriver to MONA and back. There’s often live music at MONA over summer.

Stroll through Battery Point

Historic Battery Point is quite simply, delightful and charming. The small streets are lined with quaint cottages and beautiful gardens, transporting you back in time. There are antique shops and cozy cafes. Pop into Jackman and McRoss bakery for a delicious pie or pastry. You can easily walk from here to/from Salamanca via Kelly Steps or Arthur Circus. Both are worth a meander.

Wander along Hobart’s Waterfront

Wander along the docks filled with fishing boats, yachts, and historic vessels like the wooden May Queen built in the 1800’s. Have an ice cream at Van Dieman Land’s Ice creamery (lines can be a bit long but worth it to try unique flavours with ingredients like leatherwood honey, mountain pepper berry, and lavender. Grab some fresh seafood or takeaway seafood at the local fish punts. It’s hard to go past Mures, an iconic Waterfront seafood restaurant.  

Feel like a local on Hobart’s Rivulet Track

This is a hidden gem kind of a walk. Some people use it as a way to commute to work from home, for exercise, or just to connect with nature. The trail starts at Hamlet Café (definitely stop here for breakfast, lunch or just a coffee and support their great work for people living with disability). You can walk as far as Cascade Brewery, passing through the lovely Cascade Gardens and its beautiful massive trees. The walk itself is rich in history and natural beauty, while the rivulet is home to some elusive platypus. Check out the video on the Platypus Guardian for a heart-warming story of conservation in action at this very location.

We hope this helps you find a few things to enjoy in Hobart 🙂

If you are interested in joining one of our Tasmania tours around the island, please contact us. We operate all year round.