Top 25 Unmissable Attractions in Hobart, Australia

Tasmania’s state capital is the second oldest in Australia, established at the commencement of the 19th century as a penal colony.

Hobart is home to some of Australia’s oldest institutions and vibrant remnants from the nation’s early days, including a UNESCO-listed female workhouse and a historic penitentiary.

Around the harbour and in the older neighbourhoods, such as Battery Point, one can still appreciate much of the architecture from this period.

One notable street, Salamanca Place, is adorned with Georgian dock buildings and hosts an exhilarating market every Saturday.

Always prominent in the background is the peak of Mount Wellington, providing a breathtaking view that extends across the region and well beyond the city.

1. Mount Wellington

As much a part of the Hobart skyline as any structure, Mount Wellington rises 1,271 metres just a few kilometres inland from the city.

The peak and slopes are safeguarded by the 18,000-hectare Wellington Park. You can ascend the mountain by car, tour group, or on foot if you possess the necessary skills. Pinnacle Road winds through glacial rock formations and sub-alpine vegetation to the summit, culminating at the Pinnacle Observation Shelter.

At this point, you will encounter a view that can only be characterized as monumental, encompassing Hobart, the Derwent River, Bruny Island, and Tasmania’s South West Wilderness in a breathtaking panorama.

This is part of the allure, yet it is worth noting that temperatures at the summit can be between 10 to 15°C cooler than those found in Hobart’s city center.

During winter, sub-zero temperatures are common here.

2. Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Located in the Queens Domain, an area of hilly bushland adjacent to Hobart’s city center, is Australia’s second-oldest botanical garden.

It is remarkable to consider that the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens were established over 200 years ago; the combination of historic specimens and an inspiring waterfront setting makes this attraction indispensable.

Inside, you will find an Antarctic plant house, a fuchsia house, a cactus collection, a tranquil Japanese garden, and a traditional herb garden.

The innovative Arthur Wall is heated internally, allowing exotic plants to thrive in Tasmania’s cooler climate, and along the garden’s meandering paths, you will be shaded by the largest public collection of conifers in the Southern Hemisphere.

Be sure to visit the shop, which offers honey produced in the garden’s apiary, along with botanical gin.

3. Salamanca Place

Regarded as one of the finest markets in Australia, this street runs along the south side of the harbour at Sullivans Cove.

Even on days without the market, Salamanca Place is essential for its extended terrace of Georgian houses and dock buildings constructed from honey-colored local sandstone.

Accompanying these structures are large plane trees, while beside them are narrow lanes, alleys, and small squares that have changed little since Hobart’s whaling days in the early to mid-19th century.

While there are new establishments, this area today is thriving with restaurants, bars, cafes, galleries, theatres, bookshops, and boutiques.

Relatively new, Salamanca Square is a plaza set out in the 1990s, with shops and lawns surrounding a fountain.

4. Salamanca Market

Each Saturday from 08:30 to 15:00, over 300 stalls convene on Salamanca Place for one of Tasmania’s most renowned events.

This is Salamanca Market, which originated in 1972 and is frequently hailed as Australia’s premier market.

The array of artisans, craftspeople, and producers trading here, combined with the picturesque backdrop of Georgian facades and Mount Wellington, creates an unparalleled experience.

Shop for locally sourced fresh ingredients, collectibles, homewares, artwork, handmade jewelry, and a diverse array of crafts.

In terms of food, there are numerous opportunities to sample before purchasing, and akin to the best farmers’ markets, vendors are eager to share information and tips about their products.

5. Sullivans Cove

Sullivans Cove served as the initial landing site and the setting for Hobart’s first permanent European settlement, and it remains the city’s primary dock area.

This area is ideal for a leisurely stroll.

To the north of this coastal recess was Hunter Island, which is now connected to the city by reclaimed land along Hunter Street.

The series of piers along the waterfront developed during the 19th and early 20th centuries, with Elizabeth Street Pier being the oldest, dating back to 1866. Along the esplanade, you can find a significant collection of splendid 19th-century architecture.

Study the informative boards and observe the tall ships and pleasure yachts of varying sizes docked at the port.

Many of Hobart’s major attractions are concentrated here, accompanied by numerous cafes and art galleries.

Finding a restaurant that serves exceptionally fresh fish and seafood, from sushi to oysters and fish and chips, is effortless in this vibrant area.

6. MONA

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) opened in 2011 on the Berriedale Peninsula, situated upriver from Hobart’s city center.

This museum features the impressive $110 million collection of David Walsh, a notable professional gambler and owner of the estate, and succeeded a museum of antiquities that was established in 2001. Although MONA appears unremarkable from the outside, the interior descends into the ground over three levels that are intricately carved into the cliffs, forming a maze of galleries.

Walsh has amassed a collection exceeding 1,900 pieces, ranging from Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi to Sidney Nolan’s Snake mural and Chris Ofili’s The Holy Virgin Mary.

The architecture and the museum’s innovative use of technology also play a significant role in the overall experience, with a handheld device using GPS to convey information about each exhibit.

Reaching the museum takes approximately 15 minutes by road, but the preferred method of transportation is via ferry along the Derwent from the new terminal at Brooke Street Pier.

7. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

Australia’s second-oldest museum originated from the Royal Society of Tasmania, which is the oldest Royal Society established outside of the United Kingdom.

The museum was founded in 1848, housing collections that had been curated much earlier.

These collections encompass various fields, including fine art, Tasmanian decorative arts, botany, zoology, geology, and the island’s history as a stepping stone for Antarctic exploration.

The current structure, completed in 1862, was deliberately designed by Henry Hunter (1832-1892), who also constructed Hobart Town Hall.

An essential exhibition is “Our Land: Parrawa, Parrawa! Go Away!”, which explores Tasmanian history from an Aboriginal perspective and can be complemented by a visit to the Ningina Tunapri Tasmanian Aboriginal Gallery.

8. Brooke Street Pier

The prominent shed-like structure on the southern side of Sullivans Cove at Franklin Wharf is, in fact, Australia’s longest floating pontoon, which was completed in 2015. Measuring eighty metres long and twenty metres across, Brooke Street Pier serves as a high-tech ferry terminal while providing a market space for Tasmanian produce, specialty foods, artisan alcohol, and cosmetics.

Beyond the stalls at the end, you will find the Glass House bar and the Brooke Street Larder cafe, and available are gourmet items like Tasman truffle oil, saffron, premium fudge, teas, Tasmanian whisky, luxurious soaps, and Tasmanian wine alongside Australian opal jewelry.

9. Cascades Female Factory

This workhouse and penal colony for female convicts operated from 1828 to 1856 and is one of the 11 locations contributing to the UNESCO-listed Australian Convict Sites.

Located in a secluded valley on the Hobart Rivulet, approximately four kilometers southwest of the CBD, the Cascades Female Factory’s remote setting was deliberately chosen to withdraw the women from Hobart’s temptations and protect the city from the perceived corrupting influence of women.

With three of its five original yards intact, the Cascades Female Factory remains the sole surviving facility of its kind, providing a rare glimpse into early Australian life for women.

During your visit, you can choose from guided tours: as an example, in 2020, “The Proud and the Punished” was a 45-minute dramatized tour focusing on a petty criminal navigating forced labor, pregnancy, and punishment.

10. Hobart Convict Penitentiary (Campbell Street Gaol)

Situated in the heart of Hobart’s CBD is a prison complex that provides insight into the darker aspects of Tasmania’s early history.

The Georgian prison building, constructed in 1821 by local architect John Lee Archer, functioned as a detention facility for the next 140 years.

Approximately 40,000 male convicts passed through these gates until the cessation of convict transportation in 1853, one of whom was the infamous serial killer and cannibal Thomas Jeffries (executed in 1826). Following the prison’s closure in the 1960s, much of the complex was demolished, leaving only a portion of the gaol wall and two court buildings adapted from the original chapel.

On a guided tour, you can uncover the grim realities of this location, explore the tunnels connecting the courts to the cell block, visit a solitary confinement cell, and see the reconstructed gallows.

11. Constitution Dock

Constitution Dock, located opposite the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, is a highly cherished section of the harbour, featuring a cluster of seafood restaurants next to a rock-walled marina.

One notable eatery is Mures, a Hobart institution since 1973, with an “Upper Deck” for à la carte dining and a “Lower Deck” for classic fish and chips.

Here, you can observe the hustle and bustle of the working Victoria Dock.

Constitution Dock is famously known as the starting point and event venue for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which sets off from Sydney on Boxing Day, with the winner typically arriving in Hobart within one to two and a half days afterwards.

Securing the water-level entrance to Constitution Dock is a sturdy bascule bridge, which opens at intervals and is accompanied by a preserved steam crane built by the Appleby Brothers in England in 1899. A smaller historic crane, located near the Mures restaurant, dates back to before 1885.

12. Maritime Museum of Tasmania

As an island situated 240 kilometers off the coast of mainland Australia, seafaring has been integral to Tasmania’s heritage since well before the British arrival in 1803. This museum, housed in the striking Carnegie Building (1903-07) in Sullivans Cove, elucidates the significant role the sea has played in the lives of Tasmanians, tracing back to the indigenous populations who established strong connections with neighboring islands.

The exhibits encompass Aboriginal vessels, early European explorers, 19th-century maritime industries such as whaling, and the advent of steamships that facilitated Tasmania’s trade in apples, timber, and minerals.

Visitors can inspect boat-builders’ tools, navigational instruments, paintings, models, and numerous artifacts recovered from shipwrecks to illustrate the perils posed by the waters surrounding Tasmania.

13. Battery Point Sculpture Trail

Commencing at Salamanca Place, this two-kilometer walking trail traverses the lower Derwent Estuary, encircles Battery Point, and concludes at Short Beach on Sandy Bay.

Along the route, you will encounter nine distinctive numerical sculptures.

These sculptures symbolize a date, time, distance, quantity, weight, or another measure linked to an intriguing narrative about Hobart’s history.

Through historic Battery Point, you will pass by some of Hobart’s oldest Georgian cottages and the locations of the city’s initial factories, all while enjoying uninterrupted views of the port and the picturesque eastern hills of the estuary.

The sculptures are often surprising in their designs, appearing as hedges, glowing in the dark, or even literally floating on the estuary.

14. Sandy Bay

This upscale southern suburb of Hobart is just minutes from the CBD, yet it exudes a charming small-town atmosphere.

Sandy Bay is pedestrian-friendly and, despite being one of the most affluent areas in Hobart, maintains a youthful vibe thanks to the Hobart Campus of the University of Tasmania.

Bordered by some of the island’s priciest real estate on the slopes of Mount Nelson, one can find numerous historical residences dating back to the 19th century along tranquil residential streets.

Visitors can stroll alongside yachts, navigate steep winding roads to scenic vistas, and pause at a diverse selection of international restaurants and cafes.

Beaches lining the coast include Long Beach and Nutgrove Beach, both open to the public.

Sandy Bay is also home to the Wrest Point Casino, which made history as Australia’s first legal casino upon its opening in 1973.

15. Mount Nelson Lookout

Though less frequented than Mount Wellington, Mount Nelson Lookout is equally stunning, located eight kilometers south of the CBD.

This site has functioned as a signal station since 1811, relaying messages—typically regarding escapees—to Port Arthur, located approximately 100 kilometers to the southeast.

During that era, a convict had minimal opportunity for escape, as signals could be transmitted in under 15 minutes.

The station ceased operations upon the advent of the telegraph in 1880. Today, Mount Nelson represents a space to relish breath-taking panoramas of Hobart and the Derwent Estuary.

The area includes a picnic space and a restaurant serving light refreshments.

Moreover, you can embark on a hike through the Trugani Reserve, encompassing 130 hectares of preserved native bushland.

Within this reserve lies the Trugani Memorial, dedicated to Tasmania’s Aboriginal heritage.

A looping track follows Cartwright Creek through woodlands adorned with wildflowers, providing habitat for birds, including the endangered swift parrot.

16. Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum

Located facing Constitution Dock on Argyle Street, this small yet well-curated museum documents Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition from 1911-14. The expedition’s ship, the SY Aurora, departed from Hobart near this site at the beginning of an adventure lasting over three years.

During their journey, Mawson and his team traversed more than 1,800 miles of uncharted coastline, gathering critical geological and biological samples and conducting oceanographic and meteorological observations.

The museum provides insight into the explorers’ daily routines, highlighting the inhospitable conditions prevalent in the “windiest place on earth.” All proceeds support the conservation of the original wooden huts still standing at Mawson’s base in Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica.

17. Three-Hour Hobart City Sightseeing Tour

With its captivating mixture of history, stunning sights, and natural beauty, it is advisable to enlist the guidance of an expert to explore everything Hobart has to offer if time is limited.

On this three-hour coach tour through GetYourGuide.com, you will uncover all of Hobart’s key attractions, including Salamanca Place, Battery Point, Sandy Bay, St David’s Park, the Cascades Female Factory, among other notable sites not detailed in this list.

Your journey will unfold aboard a converted tram, making four stops while listening to enlightening accounts of Hobart’s history, culture, and lifestyle provided by your knowledgeable guide.

18. Cascade Brewery

Cascade Brewery, established in 1924 and located on a picturesque estate at the foot of Mount Wellington, proudly asserts its status as Australia’s oldest brewery.

This brewery produces lagers, a draught beer, pale ale, stout, and blonde beer, along with a range of seasonal brews.

All products are crafted using hops and barley grown in Tasmania, along with water sourced from a mountain stream.

Cascade Pale Ale is recognized as Australia’s longest continuously brewed beer, dating back to 1832, while Cascade Premium Light is Australia’s best-selling light beer.

The grand old brewhouse overlooks the brewery’s gardens, and the visitor center is housed in the former manager’s residence.

Daily, ninety-minute Brewery Tours commence from the visitor center, unveiling the intricacies of Cascade’s ingredients and brewing process from malting to bottling.

This tour is accessible exclusively to individuals over 16 years old; however, a 45-minute all-ages experience titled the Cascade Story Tour is also available.

19. St David’s Park

At the western end of Salamanca Place lies a park that, from 1804 to 1872, served as Hobart’s first cemetery, acting as the final resting place for approximately 900 individuals.

Remnants of this history can be seen in the old headstones embedded within the park’s walls.

St David’s Park underwent re-landscaping in the 1920s, and among the memorials surviving from the 19th century is that of David Collins (1756-1810), the founding Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemens Land and founder of Hobart.

As you explore, you can examine those headstones that document the names and details of the island’s earliest European settlers, and appreciate the temple-like bandstand.

The lions at the entrance were carved in 1884 and restored before being relocated here in 1888 to commemorate Australia’s Bicentenary.

20. Parliament House

Parliament of Tasmania is housed in a former customs house located on Salamanca Place.

This stately Georgian structure was completed in 1840 and initially served a dual function: serving as both a parliament building and a customs house until 1904. The construction of Parliament House utilized local honey-colored sandstone and was primarily executed by convict labor, under the design supervision of John Lee Archer, who was responsible for several Tasmanian government edifices during that period.

If interested, public tours are conducted at 09:30 and 14:30 on days when parliament is not in session.

Alternatively, to experience the workings of Tasmanian democracy, you may choose to attend a session when the House of Assembly or Legislative Council are convening.

21. Lark Distillery

This boutique distillery was established in Hobart in 1992, more than 150 years after the closure of the previous licensed distillery in Tasmania.

The island possesses all the necessary elements for crafting excellent whisky, from its highland peat bogs to its fertile barley fields and pristine waters.

Located within the same block as Mawson’s Huts and the tourism information center, visitors can gain insight into the expertise, craftsmanship, and science involved in Tasmania’s first single malt whisky.

Distillery tours run from 10:30 to 13:00 Friday through Sunday; however, there’s also a whisky bar open daily, featuring over 250 domestic and international whiskies, in addition to Tasmanian beer, cider, and wine.

22. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Traveling upriver along the Derwent for approximately half an hour will bring you to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can interact closely with native Tasmanian species.

Within spacious paddocks and enclosures amidst picturesque parkland, you’ll encounter Forester kangaroos, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, quolls, echidnas, wombats, and various bird species.

The Forester kangaroos roam freely and are known for their sociable nature, often seeking attention.

Entry includes a bag of kangaroo feed, and on scheduled guided tours, you’ll learn interesting facts about the devils, wombats, and koalas that may not be readily available elsewhere.

23. Farm Gate Market

On Sundays, there is another market destination in Hobart that, while often overshadowed by Salamanca Market, provides exceptional offerings largely unknown to tourists.

The Farm Gate Market opens at 08:30, heralded by the sound of a large brass bell, presenting Tasmania’s finest products laid out on tent-covered trestle tables.

Fresh from the producer, you can acquire heirloom fruits and vegetables, endemic plants, herbs, artisan cheeses, olive oil, Tasmanian wines, spirits crafted at boutique distilleries, locally roasted coffee, international teas, mustards, jams, and preserves.

You cannot leave without sampling something to-go, whether that be a wallaby burrito, custom-made laksa, grilled octopus, sourdough donut, or wood-fired pizza.

24. Bruny Island: Full-Day Food, Lighthouse & Sightseeing Tour

Situated beyond the Derwent Estuary, this island is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and exceptional quality of its produce.

It is therefore fitting that a round trip to Bruny Island combines sightseeing with exquisite culinary experiences.

You will visit magnificent locations such as Adventure Bay, The Neck Lookout, and Cape Bruny.

At Cape Bruny, you can take a tour of the lighthouse, which is the second-oldest existing lighthouse tower in Australia.

During brief guided walks, you’ll have opportunities to dip your toes in the cool Tasman Sea and spot diverse wildlife, including echidnas, various seabirds, and white wallabies, alongside rare wildflowers.

The trip includes regular stops for tastings of local chocolate, cheese, honey, cider, fudge, and much more. Lunch offers options of ocean-fresh fish or beef or lamb sourced from the island.

This experience can be found on GetYourGuide.com.

25. Wineglass Bay & Freycinet National Park Multi Day Trip

An iconic image associated with Tasmania is that of the exquisite, sheltered bay featuring white sands and turquoise waters.

Wineglass Bay is nestled among the wooded granite hills of Freycinet National Park.

You can reach this stunning location via an 11-hour day tour through GetYourGuide.com, with stops at charming coastal towns such as Orford, Triabunna, and Swansea along the way.

Lunchtime options include succulent oysters or abalone sourced directly from the sea before proceeding to Wineglass Bay.

There, you’ll ascend to the Wineglass Bay Lookout, positioned atop granite rocks to unveil Tasmania’s most photographed scenery.

Following that, you can visit several other stunning bays in the national park and enjoy viewings of the rocky islands and outcrops along the wooden boardwalk at Cape Tourville, before returning to Hobart in a state of contentment.