Tasmania’s capital wears its harbour and history lightly. Every time I roll into Hobart, the mountain is the first thing I check; kunanyi stands over the water like it owns the place. On a clear morning the whole city glows — compact, historic and happily close to wild country.
Beaches sit within an easy half hour of the docks, and that is the trick of this city: markets, museums and a mountain track all fold into the same small map. Base yourself by the water and you can walk to half of this list.
12 Things to Do in Hobart
1. Visit Salamanca Market and Salamanca Place
Visit Salamanca Market and stroll Salamanca Place. The market runs on Saturdays. You will find local food, art, and crafts. Over three hundred stalls line the old sandstone buildings. Try fresh cheese bread and coffee. Meet local makers.
It is lively and colourful. The waterfront is close by, offering views of the Derwent River. Bring a bag and come ready to taste and shop. This morning ritual is a great way to feel Hobart.
I try to be there before nine, coffee in hand, while the stallholders are still setting up and the sandstone is glowing. Go hungry, bring a tote, and give yourself time to double back — the best stalls are never on the first pass.
2. Visit MONA (Museum of Old and New Art)
Go to MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art. Take the ferry or drive across the river. MONA has bold modern art and unusual exhibits. The museum sits in a winery space on the Berriedale peninsula. It is private and large.
You can spend hours exploring galleries and underground spaces. There are cafes and a winery on-site. Expect surprises and strong creative work. Book tickets ahead for busy days. Allow several hours to explore and enjoy the exhibits there.
I still take the ferry over when friends visit, because the approach is half the story: a camouflaged cat sliding up the Derwent to a bunker dug into the riverbank. Give it a full afternoon. MONA rewards slow looking, and the ferry ride back at dusk is the best seat in Hobart.
3. Climb Mount Wellington (kunanyi)
Drive or sit in the bus to Kunanyi Mount Wellington. The summit towers above Hobart with wide views of the city and the Derwent River. Bring warm clothes as the winds can be strong even in summer. Walk short tracks, explore the Organ Pipes rock formations, or ride a bike down the roads.
The drive from the city takes about thirty minutes. Take photos at the lookout and enjoy the changing light over the landscape. Bring water and a camera for views.
I drive up on any clear morning without overthinking the forecast, but I always throw a proper jacket in the car. The summit can be far colder and blowing hard while the city sits in sunshine below. For a short leg-stretch, the Organ Pipes track is my pick.
4. Take a Bruny Island Day Tour
Take a Bruny Island day tour from Hobart for wilderness beaches and local food. The full day trip includes a ferry crossing, a scenic cruise and guided stops. You will taste cheeses, oysters and local chocolate along the way.
Keep an eye out for seals, seabirds and coastal views. Tours include pick up and return to Hobart. This island trip shows Tasmania’s marine life and dramatic cliffs, making it a top day tour. Book ahead on busy summer weekends.
This is the day trip I send every first-timer on. The Neck lookout alone is worth the ferry fare, and I have never once skipped the oyster shed on the way south. Book ahead in summer, and grab a window seat for the channel views.
5. Discover Battery Point’s Charm
Wander Battery Point on a self-guided historic walk. Climb Kelly’s Steps and explore narrow lanes and old cottages. Arthur Circus is a small ring of charming homes worth a view. Visit the Narryna Heritage Museum for colonial displays and local stories.
The cafes on Hampden Road serve good coffee and simple food. This walk can be done in a half day and fits well in a Hobart half day city plan. It feels quiet and old. It is charming.
Battery Point is where I walk visiting friends after dinner. Kelly’s Steps down to Salamanca, then the quiet loop of Arthur Circus — it is the Hobart that has barely changed in a century, and it costs nothing but shoe leather.
6. Meet Wildlife at Bonorong Sanctuary
Visit Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to see Tasmanian devils and native animals. The park cares for injured wildlife and offers close views of wombats, wallabies and birds. You can join a guided feed and learn about rescue work. It is a small sanctuary focused on conservation and education.
The drive from central Hobart takes about thirty minutes. Tickets help fund the wildlife hospital and rescue teams working across Tasmania. Buying a ticket supports rescue work and helps sick, injured animals heal.
Bonorong runs the state’s wildlife rescue network, so the entry fee genuinely goes somewhere useful. I time my visit for a feeding tour; watching a devil feed settles any question about the name. If you can, book the night tour — the animals own the place after dark.
7. Relax in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
Relax at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and see plants from around the world. The gardens sit on the city edge and are easy to walk in. Enjoy themed sections, a water garden and lovely lawns for a picnic. There is a conservatory and a display of native Tasmanian plants.
The gardens welcome visitors year-round and are a calm green space in the city. It is ideal for a slow morning or a quiet half day. Perfect for quiet time.
I come here when I want Hobart at half speed. The subantarctic house is my odd favourite — plants from the southern islands in a chilled room — and the lawns above the river are the city’s best picnic grass. Go early and you will have the paths to yourself.
8. Tour the Cascade Brewery
Take the Cascade Brewery tour to learn local brewing history. The brewery sits under Mount Wellington, and the tour takes in the old buildings, the brewing process and the cellars below.
You will hear stories of founders and the town that grew around the beer trade. Many tours end with a tasting paddle in the garden bar. It is a short cultural stop that pairs well with South Hobart cafes and walks. Tours run most days here.
The garden bar is the real prize on a sunny afternoon, with the mountain filling the sky behind the old building. Afterwards I walk the Hobart Rivulet track back towards the city — an easy, leafy wander most visitors drive straight past.
9. Stroll Constitution Dock and Try Fresh Seafood
Stroll the waterfront at Constitution Dock and eat fresh seafood. The dock is a working marina and hosts local fishing boats and events. Taste oyster fish and chips or grab a seafood roll to eat by the water. In summer, stroll along the wharves and watch yachts and ferries pass.
The area links to Salamanca Place and Battery Point, so you can make a full harbour walk. The Sydney to Hobart race finishes here each year. Plan a seafood snack.
I judge the dock by where the fishing boats are unloading. Grab whatever came off the boats that morning and eat it on the wharf with the gulls watching. In late December the whole harbour turns into a festival when the Sydney to Hobart fleet sails in.
10. Visit Richmond Historic Village
Take a short trip to Richmond for history and colonial buildings. The town sits about thirty minutes from Hobart in the Coal River Valley. See Australia’s oldest stone arch bridge and visit the old gaol and local shops.
Richmond also has cafes and small producers selling local jams, cheeses and wines. The village is a peaceful escape and makes a great half day or afternoon outing from Hobart.
Richmond is my default Sunday drive out of the city. The bridge is the postcard shot, but I come for the quiet gaol cells and a pie from the bakery. Leave after breakfast and you will be back in Hobart by mid-afternoon with valley wine in the boot.
11. Go on a Hobart Harbour Cruise or Seafood Boat
Book a Hobart harbour cruise or seafood boat for views from the water. Small boat trips leave from the docks and show the city’s coast and river. Some cruises focus on seafood and include tastings or a cooked meal on board.
Others offer wildlife spotting like seals, dolphins and seabirds. A short cruise gives a fresh view of Hobart and links to other tours. It is easy to fit a cruise into a Hobart half day plan. Check the weather first.
A short harbour run is the easiest win on a first visit: the city reads completely differently from the water, with the mountain stacked behind it. I book the late-afternoon sailing when I can — the light on the eastern shore makes the whole trip.
12. Enjoy the Best Beaches in the Hobart Region
Visit the best beaches in Hobart region for sand and sun. Try Seven Mile Beach for wide sand and surf, or Kingston Beach for calm, family-friendly swims. Sandy Bay sits close to the city with easy access and cafes nearby.
For a longer drive, head to Clifton or Opossum Bay to find quieter shores. Bring a towel and check local winds and tides. Beach time pairs well with afternoon coffee and sunsets over the water. Stay for the sunset.
Seven Mile Beach is where I send anyone who wants a proper walk on sand; Kingston is the calmer family swim. On a warm evening I finish at Sandy Bay with fish and chips on the grass, watching the last light come off the river.
How I Plan a Slow Day in Hobart
My ideal slow day in Hobart starts on the wharf with a coffee and no plan at all. I watch the fishing boats unload, wander up towards Salamanca before the crowds build, and let the weather decide the rest. This city rewards anyone who leaves gaps in the day.
From there I take the long way through Battery Point, past the old cottages and down Kelly’s Steps, and finish with a slow loop of the botanical gardens. If the sky stays clear, the afternoon is for the mountain — the drive up kunanyi and an hour sitting above the whole harbour.
I always leave the evening open for the docks. Fresh fish straight off a boat, a drink somewhere warm, and the lights coming on across the river — after years of visiting, that is still the Hobart I come back for.
Conclusion
Hobart may be a small capital, but it packs in more than cities twice its size. Pick two big anchors, say MONA and kunanyi, then let the markets, gardens and harbour walks fill in around them. A first visit here does not need to be rushed to feel full.
Mix one full day trip with slow half-day plans and you will leave feeling like you actually know the place. When the sun comes out, finish on the sand; my beaches guide maps the wider coast from Sydney to Hobart. For more information, visit Australia City Guide.
Still plotting the trip? My things to do guides cover the other stops I plan my own road trips around:
- Things to Do in Queenstown
- Things to Do in Daylesford
- Australia’s Most Beautiful Cities
- Hidden Holiday Places in Queensland
- Waterfalls in New South Wales
FAQs
Can I see the main sites in one day?
Yes, you can cover a few main spots on a Hobart half day plan like Salamanca, Battery Point and a waterfront stroll. For MONA or Bruny Island, allow a full day.
Is Salamanca Market open every day?
No, the big Salamanca Market runs on Saturdays only. Plan your visit on a Saturday to see stalls and live music.
Can I do Bruny Island as a day tour?
Yes, many operators run a Bruny Island day tour from Hobart with ferry transport, guided stops and food tastings. Book ahead in the busy season.
Are the beaches safe to swim?
Some beaches, like Kingston Beach, are family-friendly, while others can have surf currents. Check local warnings and choose beaches with calmer water if you are unsure.
