15 Bucket-List Things To Do In Hobart + FREE Map Included
As the capital of Tasmania, Hobart is packed with history, nature, food, and, more importantly, epic spots to check out!
We spent a good chunk of time here during our 2-month lap of Tassie, using Hobart as a base to explore everything within a 1-2 hour drive.
Mount Wellington was hands down our favourite thing to do in Hobart, though. And at the risk of sounding cliché, MONA (Museum of Modern Art) at the top, too.
Itinerary
So here are 15 spots we think should be on your Hobart bucket-list! You can tick off most of these in 2-3 days, and many are walkable or accessible with public transport.
But we’ll also show you what’s worth doing just outside the city, too. Places like Port Arthur, Bruny Island, and the Tasman Peninsula are close enough for day trips and absolutely worth the drive.
There’s even a free map with every spot in this guide, so you can save it to Google Maps and help you plan your trip.
We recognise the traditional owners of the lands we’re exploring, the Muwinina people.
1) MONA
Most lists about “things to do in Hobart” place MONA first and, well, we can’t help but agree. It’s definitely a bucket-list activity.
It’s nothing like a traditional museum. It’s weird, confronting, and controversial at times. And, well, that’s kind of the point!
It’s just north of Hobart, you can take the bus or drive there. But we recommend catching the ferry if you can, the ride itself sets the tone for the visit and feels like part of the experience.
Give yourself at least half a day there. Plus there are bars, cafes, outdoor areas, and plenty of space to slow down between exhibits, so you can easily spend the whole day there.
2) Salamanca Market
This is one of Hobart’s most popular attractions!
It’s a big, lively outdoor market with handmade crafts, local produce, food trucks, buskers, and everything in between. It runs every Saturday from 8:30 AM to 3 PM.
You don’t need more than a couple of hours here unless you’re shopping hard. We’d recommend going early to beat the crowds, and grabbing brekky or a coffee while you wander.
The market itself is not dog-friendly, but you can leave your furry friend in Salamanca Lawns! Volunteers from the RSPCA will look after your pet for a donation. More info here.
3) Mount Wellington
This is one of our favourite places to see in Hobart, with incredible views over the city and the region.
There are heaps of little walking tracks, waterfalls, and hidden nooks all over the mountain, as well. So it’s worth taking your time exploring!
It’s also home to the iconic Disappearing Tarn, a small, vivid blue lake that only shows up after heavy rain or snowmelt, disappearing after a few days.
We’ve been up there in different seasons and every visit has felt completely different.
It’s an easy half-day trip from Hobart and a great way to start or end your time in the city. The views alone make it worth the drive.
Plus, there’s a shuttle bus from Hobart if you don’t want to drive!
4) Cascade Brewery
Cascade is Australia’s oldest operating brewery, set against the foothills of Mount Wellington.
There are two parts to visit: the historic brewery itself (where you can do a guided tour and/or beer tasting), and the Cascade Bar next door, which is the public bar and beer garden!
The beers are excellent of course, with a wide variety to choose from. There’s also great food if you’re keen to grab a bite. You can get there by bus!
5) Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
This is a free public garden on the edge of Hobart, just a few minutes from the CBD.
It’s absolutely beautiful, with themed areas like the Japanese Garden, veggie patches, native plant sections, and the Subantarctic Plant House.
You can easily spend 1-2 hours exploring the area. It’s a great spot for a picnic, or just a slow wander if you need a break from the city.
You can get there by foot (~30 min from CBD), bike, drive, or take the hop-on hop-off bus.
6) Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
This is an excellent option if you want a quieter, more “traditional” museum experience without committing half a day. It covers Tasmania’s natural history, Aboriginal culture, and colonial past.
It’s located right on the Hobart waterfront and is easy to check out while you’re already walking around the docks or Salamanca area.
Plus it’s free to enter! Allow 1.5 hours to check out the exhibits without rushing.
7) Battery Point Sculpture Trail
This is a short, self-guided walk that links Salamanca to historic Battery Point. It’s an easy thing to do before or after the market!
The trail is marked by 9 large numbered sculptures, each sharing a bit of Hobart’s colonial or maritime history.
The route is very easy to follow and goes through spots like Kelly’s Steps, Arthur Circus, and the old slipyards. The full trail is about 2 km and takes 45 min-1hr at a relaxed pace.
8) Nutgrove Beach
This is a small, sheltered beach in Sandy Bay, about 10 minutes from central Hobart. It’s a popular local spot for swimming, walking, and picnics, especially on calm days.
There’s a grassy park area with BBQs, shade, and a playground right next to the sand, so it’s a solid option for families or low-key afternoons.
The water is usually flat and clear, and there are toilets and change rooms nearby. There are also dog-friendly sections depending on the time of day.
Plus access is free and it’s easy to get there by public transport or bike!
9) Seven Mile Beach
This is a massive, open stretch of sand about 20 minutes from Hobart, near the airport. It’s popular for walking, surfing, swimming, and horse riding.
There aren’t usually lifeguards though, but we’re told there are sections with calm waters where the kids can safely swim.
There’s also heapsss of walking trails nearby, and it’s really cool to see the planes fly by!
Some sections are dog-friendly, with designated off-leash and on-leash areas.
10) Rosny Hill Lookout
This lookout gives you some epic views over the area. It’s not as dramatic as Mt Wellington, but it’s much easier to reach and often way less crowded.
It’s a free, low-effort stop, especially at sunset or if you want city views without the mountain weather.
Plus, you can drive almost to the top and walk the last few minutes to the lookout platform! There are some trails nearby as well if you feel like exploring, and it’s dog-friendly (on leash).
Our favourite day trips from Hobart
These spots are easy to visit as full-day trips from Hobart! It’s 100% worth renting a car or booking a tour to check them out:
11) Coal River Valley wineries
This is a small wine region just outside Hobart, known for its cool-climate varieties like pinot noir, riesling, and chardonnay.
It’s a 20-minute drive from the city. All the wineries are close together so it’s easy to visit two or three in one day!
Here are some wineries worth checking out:
- Pooley Wines
- Puddleduck Wines
- Nocton Vineyard
- Every Man & His Dog (dog-friendly of course)
There are also wine-hopping tours like this one if you don’t want to be the designated driver LOL.
Most cellar doors open daily or Thursday to Monday, though. Check opening times if you’re visiting without a tour!
12) Port Arthur
Port Arthur is one of the most important historic sites in Australia.
It was a penal settlement in the 1800s and is now a huge open-air museum with ruins, gardens, and restored buildings.
Sadly, it’s also where the 1996 massacre took place, which led to major gun law reform in Australia.
We spent around half a day walking around, it’s a really big place with heaps to see. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from Hobart, the entry includes a self-guided tour and a harbour cruise.
Tickets are available online or at the visitor centre.
13) Mount Brown
This is a solid half-day return hike south of Port Arthur. If you want to do a nice hike but not as long as the ones to the Capes, this is it!
It’s an 8km return walk (~4 hours) with a steady uphill climb most of the way. It leads to a lookout with views over Cape Raoul, Crescent Bay, and some of the tallest sea cliffs in Australia! It’s absolutely stunning.
The trailhead is ~1.5 hr drive from Hobart, at Remarkable Cave’s car park (another great spot to check out).
You’ll need a park pass, though. It’s in Tasman National Park, so it’s not dog-friendly.
14) Cape Raoul
This is a 14 km return hike (5-6 hours) with some of the most dramatic sea cliffs on the Tasman Peninsula!
It’s not part of the official Three Capes Track, though. It’s a different, full-day hike south of Port Arthur.
The trail is well-kept, uphill at the start and then it’s mostly flat. Plus, you can take the 2-3-hour detour to check out the iconic Shipstern Bluff, one of Australia’s heaviest surf breaks!
You need a park pass to access it. The road to the trailhead is sealed most of the way, the last stretch is gravel but 2WD accessible.
Most people do Cape Raoul instead of the Three Capes track (which ironically includes 2 capes, not 3) because it’s shorter, easier, and more accessible.
See, the Three Capes track is a challenging 3-4 multi-day hike where you have to camp at Fortescue Bay and/or Bare Knoll, depending on the route.
You’ll go to Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy which are absolutely spectacular, but it’s a rough hike where you have to be self-sufficient.
BUT if you’re keen on doing it, did you know you can do the Three Capes for free?? We saved the +$600 of the paid version and did it ourselves, 100% recommended.
15) Bruny Island
This is one of our favourite spots in all of Tasmania. And yes, you can technically spend a full day there from Hobart, but you’ll be hungry for more!
One day might be enough to check the main highlights like the Truganini Lookout, some beaches, and grab some oysters at Get Shucked.
But you’ll miss out on other epic things like:
- Excellent hikes, like the Fluted Cape Walk, a 4km loop along the cliffs.
- Amazing beaches, like Adventurey Bay or Cloudy Bay (our favourite).
- The Cape Bruny Lighthouse, at the southern tip of the island, where you feel at the edge of the world. with dramatic views and optional tours.
Which is why we recommend spending 3-5 days on Bruny Island, if you can!
Epic tours in Hobart if you’re keen:
Where to stay in Hobart?
Stay in or around Hobart CBD or North Hobart, so you’re central to food spots and day trips.
There are HEAPS of options, here are some recommendations:
- Best campsite: Discovery Parks Hobart. Hot showers, power, 15 mins from city. Pet-friendly cabins upon request.
- Nearest campsite to the city: Hobart Showground. Powered sites, easy access to public transport. Pet-friendly.
- Best hotel: Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart. In the heart of the city, walking distance to Salamanca Markets and Tasmanian Museum. Not pet-friendly.
- Budget-friendly: YHA Hobart Central. Excellent location, plus we’ve stayed in several YHA’s around the country and always had great experiences. Not pet-friendly.
Best time to visit Hobart
There isn’t really a bad time to visit Hobart.
We travelled through Tassie in summer and early autumn, and that combo worked really well for us. Long daylight hours, great hiking conditions, and fewer crowds.
Just don’t expect “easy” weather, not even in summer. Tassie loves to keep you guessing, so layers are non-negotiable year-round.
That said, summer is when most people visit.
Beaches look their best, the lavender fields are in bloom, and everything feels lively. The trade-off is crowds and higher prices, especially around Hobart and the East Coast.
If hiking is your main focus, spring and autumn are hard to beat.
Spring brings fresh colours and flowers everywhere, while autumn is famous for “the turning of the fagus”.
And while winter has a bad rap, it has its perks!
It’s oyster season, Hobart feels extra cosy, and it’s the best time to chase the aurora australis.
Just be mindful of road conditions, especially if you’re driving outside the city, as snow and ice can pop up quickly.
At the end of the day, the best time to visit Hobart comes down to what you want to do. There’s always a reason to go, you just need to plan around the season.
How many days to stay?
3-4 nights is a solid amount, enough to explore the city and fit in a few epic day trips. But if you want to do longer hikes (Mount Brown, Cape Raoul), definitely add 1-2 extra days.
How to get there?
Hobart has the main airport in Tassie. Direct flights from Melbourne take ~1 hr, and there are flights from other cities all over Australia.
It’s the easiest way to go to Hobart. Plus, you can rent a car at the airport or in town if you want to explore outside of the city (or even to do a road trip around Tassie).
You can go to Tasmania by ferry too, but the terminal is in Devonport, a 3.5-hour drive from Hobart.
FREE map with all the things to do in Hobart
Top Tips
Things close early in Hobart (and in Tassie in general).
A lot of shops shut around 5-7 PM, cafés often close mid-afternoon, and kitchens can stop taking orders earlier than you expect. Plan dinner a bit earlier than you would on the mainland.
Also, public transport exists, but don’t rely on it. Buses are fine around the city and inner suburbs, but they’re slow and limited once you head further out.
Did you know?
Hobart is Australia’s second-oldest capital city, after Sydney. You’ll notice it in the architecture. Warehouses, pubs, and cottages that are still in daily use date back to the early 1800s.
The city sits on Palawa Country, specifically the land of the Muwinina people, who lived along the River Derwent long before the city existed. But they were almost completely wiped out within decades of colonisation.
FAQs
Do you need a car to explore Hobart and nearby attractions?
You don’t need a car if you’re sticking to Hobart city. You can walk most of the CBD, use buses, and catch ferries or shuttles to places like MONA and Mount Wellington. But if you want to go outside the city (Bruny Island, Port Arthur, etc), a car makes things far easier.
Is Hobart expensive to visit?
Hobart can be surprisingly affordable if you plan well. Many attractions are free and most hikes only require a park pass. Costs tend to rise in summer, especially for accommodation and car hire.
Don’t stop in Hobart, Tassie’s East Coast awaits!
If you’ve fallen in love with Hobart’s charm, you’re going to be obsessed with what comes next!
The East Coast is packed with some of the best attractions in Tassie – Bay of Fires, Maria Island, Wineglass Bay…
It’s one of the best road trips you can do while in Tassie, plus you won’t spend hours behind the wheel (like most Aussie road trips).
Ready to keep exploring? Check out our East Coast road trip itinerary and start planning your next adventure now!
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