Hobart Visitor Guide 2024: Everything you need to know

Australia's island state, Tasmania, is a place unlike anywhere else. With a distinct climate and ecology, Tasmania can feel almost like another country at times. But Tasmania and its capital Hobart are as Australian as they come. Hobart is the second oldest capital in Australia and is home to some of the country's oldest institutions.

First founded as a penal colony in the nineteenth century, Hobart occupies an important place in the history of Australia. But the city also offers stunning natural surroundings, including Mount Wellington, which dominates the city. Hobart is the perfect place to begin your exploration of Tasmania and see a lesser-known side of Australia. Drop off your bags at a Hobart bag storage and see the city for yourself.

A weekend in Hobart

A single weekend isn’t going to exhaust all the options for things to do in Hobart, but it will give you a taste of what the city and Tasmania, in general, have to offer. Combining both historical attractions and natural splendor, you’ll find more than enough to keep you busy over a weekend in Hobart.

• Looming over the city, Mount Wellington is more or less a must-visit while you're in Hobart. Over 4,000 feet tall, the mountain is protected by a vast natural park, and the views from the top are stunning. A road lets you drive to the top, but you can also make the journey on foot if you're feeling adventurous.
• See where Hobart got started at Sullivans Cove. The site of the first European landings, this area is now the city's main dock. Explore the old piers and enjoy the many cafés and pubs along the waterfront. You'll also find excellent seafood in this area.
• Step back in time at Cascades Female Factory. This formal workhouse for female convicts was established in 1828. Located a couple of miles outside Hobart, this is the only facility of its kind remaining in Australia, and is worth visiting to see what life was like for the prisoners who became the first non-aboriginal residents of Australia.

Hobart lockers

Hobart is a great place to explore on foot. With many charming neighborhoods and a wealth of museums and historical attractions, being a pedestrian is one of the best ways to see the city. Make things easier on yourself by dropping off any unneeded bags at a Hobart luggage storage locker. That way, you can travel light and see more of this fascinating city.

8 Best Ways To Experience Hobart In 2024

Hobart is one of the most interesting cities to visit on the Australian island of Tasmania. It's got everything from an intriguing past to luxury marinas as well as several stunning beaches. There are incredible areas where you can hike into the mountains for a picnic, wander through acres of vineyards or go paddling a kayak along the coast. The streets of Hobart itself hide so many historical secrets that a day there could never be boring, no matter which of the companies listed below you went on tour with. Drop off your bags at a Bounce luggage storage in Hobart so you can really enjoy what the city has to offer.

Best Walking Tour – Hobart Walking Tour

Hobart is steeped in so much history it almost seeps from the walls of the buildings. The only way to experience this city's unique atmosphere is on a walking tour with Hobart Walking Tours. They'll help you get an insight into Hobart's dark past as they guide you around the waterfront and the hangouts of the convicts who were shipped there. If that's too much history for you, they do a great alcohol-themed tour around the city's old pubs.

Get to know Hobart’s darker side with Hobart Walking Tour by calling 61-413-383-207 or email them at robyn@hobartwalkingtours.com.au.

Best Kayak Tour – Roaring 40s Kayaking

Hit the water and paddle the Bass Strait until you get to Flinders Island. It's not an activity to do alone, so go with the Roaring 40s Kayaking company and you won't get washed out to sea or crash into the rocks. Once you reach Flinders Island, you'll get time on dry land or more specifically a beautiful stretch of deserted beach. Kayaking doesn't get better than that.

Plan your Hobart paddle with Roaring 40s Kayaking by emailing them at info@roaring40skayaking.com.au  or call them on 61-455-949-777

Best Photography Tour – Luke O'Brien Photography

Landscapes, seascapes, historic buildings, flora and fauna - there's nothing left unphotographed if you go on a photography tour with Luke O'Brien Photography. He's an award-winning expert at shooting Hobart and Tasmania who enjoys sharing his knowledge so you'll get some amazing pictures to take home with you.

Click away with Luke O'Brien Photography when you're in Tasmania by calling him on 61-362-319-964 or email him at luke@lukeobrien.com.au.

Best Mountain Bike Tour – Hobart Mountain Bike Tours

For an out-and-out adventure and to expend some pent-up energy, have a day out with Hobart Mountain Bike Tours. They'll provide the mountain bike and all the safety equipment you'll need to enjoy a day riding on the mountainous dirt trails and through the forests of Tasmania. It's not all hard work as they have different levels on their routes to suit the stamina and agility of their clients.

Get ready to hit the trails with Hobart Mountain Bike Tours by calling 61-416-644-504 or emailing jono@hobartmtbtours.com.au.  

Best Flying Tour – Above and Beyond

If you usually take a helicopter ride try something different when you're in Hobart and go for a flight in a seaplane instead. Above and Beyond Tasmanian Seaplanes will take you on a scenic flight over Hobart, the Tasmanian Peninsula, or Bruny Island. Flight durations vary from ten to ninety minutes depending on how far you want to go and how willing you are to deplete your vacation budget.

Organize your flight with Above and Beyond by emailing them at info@aboveandbeyond.flights or call them on 611300338303 for more information.

Best History Tour – Hobart Historic Tours

Seeing Hobart with Hobart Historic Tours is a must-do for any true history addict. The guides from this company eat, sleep and breathe the history of the city and like nothing better than sharing their in-depth knowledge with visitors. They seriously know their stuff and are more than happy to talk about it.

To delve into Hobart's past, call Hobart Historic Tours on 61-362-345-550 or email them at info@hobarthistorictours.com.au.

Best Hiking Tour – See Tasmania

The only way to truly appreciate the amazing landscapes of Tasmania is to set out on foot to trek it. See Tasmania will take you on guided hikes that will take you through rainforests, along cliff tops, and over mountain peaks. There are over three thousand kilometers of trails on the island, so if you plan to do them all, you’d better take a good pair of hiking boots.

Go trail tramping with See Tasmania by calling them on 61-436-006-917 or email them for more details at info@seetasmania.com.au.  

Best Wine Tour – Drink Tasmania Premium Tours

Tasmania produces a surprising variety of alcoholic beverages that include wine, whiskey, and gin. Spend a day with Drink Tasmania Premium Tours and they'll take you to several wineries where you can try Tasmanian wine or to distilleries where gin and whiskey are made. It'll give you a fascinating insight into how some of your favorite stuff gets into the bottle and you get to taste plenty of it too.

Get ready to go on a tipple tour with Drink Tasmania Premium Tours by emailing them at bookings@drinktasmania.com.au or call 61-475-000-120.

Off the beaten path in Hobart

The must-see attractions are all very well. You can't really visit Hobart without heading up the mountain or visiting the museums. But once that's done, there's lots more to the city than meets the eye. Drop off your bags at a Hobart suitcase storage facility and explore some of these lesser-known attractions.

• See a rainforest without leaving the city at the head office of Forestry Tasmania. This government department houses a glass-domed greenhouse full of trees from the Tasmanian rainforest.
• Delve into the spookier side of history with a penitentiary ghost tour. Hobart's history as a penal colony makes it an ideal place for ghost hunting, and these entertaining tours will take you through the penitentiary chapel and tell you some of the most chilling stories of the city's past.
• Visit a unique fortification at Taroona Shot Tower. Located just outside Hobart, this circular tower is the only one of its type left in the world. 

What to do alone in Hobart

Hobart is an excellent city to explore by yourself. Laid-back Australian hospitality will make you feel welcome, and there's plenty to do here whether you travel by yourself or with someone else. Drop off your bags with a Hobart luggage storage service and explore the city alone.

• Explore the state-of-the-art Museum of Old and New Art. Based around the extensive collection of a professional gambler, MONA is carved into a series of cliffs. As the name implies, it combines ancient Egyptian artifacts with cutting edge art from the modern era.
• Explore one of Australia's best markets at Salamanca Place. Salamanca market is the perfect place to pick up local produce, handicrafts, and other items, and it lets you soak up the most vibrant atmosphere in the city.
• The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery was founded by the Royal Society of Tasmania, the first Royal Society established outside of the UK. Dating back to 1848, the museum’s collection covers fine art, zoology, geology, and the history of the island.

The best souvenirs in Hobart

If you’re looking for something shiny to bring home, you should be aware that Australia produces 95 percent of the world’s opals. These colorful gemstones make great gifts and jewelry, and you can find a good selection at Mawson Sheepskin and Opals. For something a little more eclectic, Salamanca market is the perfect place to pick up local produce and handicrafts that you won’t find anywhere else. Or if you’re a fisherman, head to Wigston’s and pick up a truly unique Tasmanian devil fishing lure.