Hobart attractions

Covering much of the southern shores of Bruny Island. South Bruny National Park is a favorite spot for hikers, birdwatchers, and surfers. Located less than an hour's drive from Hobart, the park’s natural landscapes are wild and diverse—rocky coves and deserted beaches line the coast, while dense forests, wildflower fields, and gurgling creeks lie inland.

Russell Falls is among the most popular waterfalls in Tasmania, if not the whole of Australia. Located in the Mt. Field National Park, in south-central Tasmania, the three-tiered falls are easily accessible from Hobart. They’re reached after a pleasant short walk on wheelchair-accessible paths through a mossy, fern-filled forest.

Get a lesson in history with a visit to Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG, established in 1843 by the Royal Society of Tasmania. The collection at Australia’s second-oldest museum includes archaeological and colonial relics, Aboriginal artifacts, old photographs, ephemera, and fine examples of colonial decorative arts.

The oldest of Tasmania’s 19 national parks, Mount Field offers a nature-filled getaway that’s easy to reach from Hobart. The park is known for its waterfalls, backcountry hiking trails, and abundant wildlife that includes platypus, wombat, and the famed Tasmanian devil.

As an island state, Tasmania’s history is inextricably bound to the water, and the Maritime Museum of Tasmania dives deep into this heritage by exploring how the sea has impacted the lives of Tasmanians throughout history, from Aboriginal peoples to European whalers to modern day residents.

Towering over the Derwent River and dramatically illuminated at night, the Tasman Bridge has long been one of Hobart’s most memorable landmarks. Built in 1964, the five-lane bridge runs for 1.4km across the river, connecting the central business district with the eastern suburbs, and forming part of the long-distance Tasman Highway.Despite its status as a city landmark, the Tasman Bridge is perhaps most notorious for its collision with the MV Lake Illawarra bulk carrier In 1975 – an accident that caused extensive damage to the bridge, the sinking of the ship and several fatalities, becoming known as the ‘Tasman Bridge Disaster’. Today, a memorial plaque honors the tragic victims, while the sunken vessel provides an unusual attraction for scuba divers.

Nowhere is Hobart’s communion with the sea more evident than Constitution Dock, where commercial fishing boats share the harbor with sailboats and luxury yachts. Each summer, Constitution Dock is the ending point for the Sydney-Hobart sailing race, which is generally regarded as one of the world’s most challenging offshore races. Even during other times of the year, however, Constitution Dock is a buzz of activity with visitors and Hobart locals, as fishermen hoist up crates full of fish, and waterfront restaurants serve some of Australia’s freshest fish and chips. When visiting the coastal Tasmanian capital, the dock is the perfect place for a stroll and feeling the city’s pulse. In the area surrounding Constitution Dock, many of Hobart’s historic buildings all line the action-packed waterfront, where buskers, fishermen, merchants, and tourists combine to create an energetic, yet authentic Tasmanian scene.

Follow the journey of pioneer Dr. Douglas Mawson and the Australian Antarctic Expedition, which set sail from Hobart in 1911, at the Mawson's Huts Replica Museum. The museum recreates the huts that’s Mawson and his team lived in during their 2-year adventure and offers insight into life in Antarctica.

Isolated on a peninsula facing the Tasman Sea, the once-feared Port Arthur Penitentiary was where Britain’s most-condemned convicts were sent to endure harsh conditions. Today, the UNESCO-listed site has been restored and preserved to remember Australia’s past; a visit here sheds light on the darker days of Port Arthur.

Reaching depths of 560 feet (170 meters, Lake St. Clair is the deepest lake in Australia and one of the most beautiful. Set at an elevation of 2,400 feet (732 meters, this cobalt lake and its forest-lined shores are part of Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park.

Situated on the edge of 1.6 million hectares of World Heritage Listed woodland, the Tahune AirWalk overlooks the Huon River, offering an aerial view of Tasmania’s southern forests. The treetop walkway is a steel structure that’s as high as 45 meters in places.There are a number of paths to the AirWalk, all of which are clearly signposted. The Swinging Bridges Track features two steel cable foot-bridges that cross both the Huon and Picton Rivers. This track is a loop circuit that will take you an hour or so to complete. Alternatively, the Huon Pine Walk is an easier 20-minute walk across flat ground and boardwalks.For the more adventurous, the Eagle Hang Glider will be sure to get your heart rate up. It’s a 250-meter cable that glides over the Huon River, allowing you to reach speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.

Australia is a nation that was founded by convicts, and the oldest prison in modern Australia is Tasmania’s Richmond Gaol. Constructed in 1825, it’s the only remaining jail in Tasmania where it’s still possible to tour the life of a 19th-century convict. Step inside a dark cell that was used for solitary confinement, and feel firsthand why the tiny space was known to trigger insanity. Stand inside the outdoor courtyard where morning floggings were held, and look at the infamous “cat-o-nine-tails” that was used to administer the lashings. According to some, the Richmond Gaol is still haunted by the ghosts of former convicts, and reports of moans and cold chills are much more common than you’d think. Despite the strength of its original design, the gaol was quickly overcrowded to the point of abject misery, and multiple phases to expand the jail were constructed over 15 years. As the shipments of convicts ceased from overseas, the gaol turned into a holding cell for citizens of petty crime, before eventually falling into disrepair in the middle of the 1920s. Today, as a restored and revitalized historic site that’s one of Tasmania’s best, visitors can not only witness the horrors that convicts had to endure, but also are given a dramatic reminder of why to stay out of jail.

The Tasmanian devil is known around the world, and while the cartoon character of the same name may have helped it gain popularity, few will ever get the opportunity to see a real Tasmanian devil. TheTasmanian Devil Unzoo (formerly the Taranna Wildlife Park) is trying to change that.Visitors here can learn what endangered devils are really like. The size of a small dog, these carnivorous marsupials are dwindling in population due to a devastating disease. Staff members at Taranna educate guests about the ongoing efforts to help save the devils at presentations and feedings throughout the day. And Tasmanian devils aren’t the parks only residents—visitors can hand-feed kangaroos or watch Tasmania’s only free-flight bird show.

Bordering the Derwent River just east of downtown Hobart, the historic docklands of Sullivan’s Cove were the site of the original British settlement in Tasmania. Boats from around the globe still dock at the bustling port and the waterfront district offers a cluster of attractions to tempt visitors to the riverside.

It’s impossible to miss St. David’s cathedral when walking through downtown Hobart. Rising up from the quadrangle of one of Australia’s best Georgian streetscapes, St. David’s cathedral towers above the historic city center, its stones and turrets reflecting a time that dates to Tasmania’s founding. Some of Tasmania’s original pioneers laid the original foundation of St. David’s cathedral in this spot in 1817, when previous structures of St. David’s church were repeatedly blown down in gales. Completely rebuilt in 1868 by the Victorian architect George F. Bodley, the cathedral is considered to be one of his finest works found anywhere outside of England. When visiting St. David’s Cathedral today, visitors are welcome to wander inside and seek sanctuary from the city, taking time to admire the interior and famous St. David’s organ. Regarded as one of the finest in Australia, the organ pipes music to congregations that can number as high as 650, as concerts are regularly held in the cathedral for residents and visitors to Hobart. You’ll also find a small museum with relics from Hobart’s past, and on special occasions the cathedral staff will showcase pieces from the vault—some of which date to Medieval times before the modern, western world even knew Tasmania existed.

Art, wine, boutique accommodations—with a brewery thrown in for fun—that’s the experience waiting here at this vineyard just north of Hobart, where imposing Mt. Wellington rises in the distance yet you still smell salt on the breeze. Housed at one of Tasmania’s oldest vineyards, Moorilla Winery uses tight clusters of grapes that are grown on exceptionally mature vines, and crafts them into Chardonnay, Syrah, and Pinot Noir. Nearly 20 different wines in total are produced right here on the vineyard, which is conveniently set right next to MONA—the fascinating Museum of Old and New art that houses Australia’s largest private art collection in its modern, quirky interior. Combine a tour of the museum and vineyard before sitting down for a tasting, discussing the elements of art on display while swishing and sniffing your wine. If the entire experience is too good to leave, the boutique, luxurious MONA pavilions are located right on sight, so you can wake in the morning, enjoy the café, and spend another Hobart day surrounded by art and wine.

Extending between Richmond and Port Arthur, the Convict Trail traces the history of Australia— which was initially founded as a convict settlement—back to its origin. Learn about how convicts developed the country’s infrastructure as you pass some of the tallest and most-scenic sea cliffs on the planet.

Aussie’s most memorable creatures and critters can be found at Zoodoo Wildlife Park, along with exotic animals and rare and endangered species from around the globe. The small family-friendly park is popular among animal lovers and provides the opportunity to see Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, koalas, and emus, without leaving Hobart.

Bruny Island has a reputation as an Australian foodie paradise, and the Bruny Island Berry Farm is part of the reason why. Here on this family-owned berry farm near the shores of Adventure Bay, locally-grown berries are deliciously transformed into ice cream, scones, jams, cheesecakes, and a wide assortment of desserts. If some of the farm’s 7,000 strawberry plants happen to be in season, visitors have the chance to wander the fields and pick their own berries from the vines. Blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, and youngberries all sweeten a visit to the farm, and even if the berries aren’t currently in season, the rural café is a relaxing spot for a coffee, tea, or scone.

In the Tasmanian capital of Hobart, hip locals head to North Hobart and its main strip, Elizabeth Street, to visit its restaurants and coffee shops, bohemian bars, boutiques, bakeries and live music venues. A real “eat street,” Elizabeth Street cuisine ranges from Turkish to Spanish tapas, Indian to modern Australian. It’s also popular to visit North Hobart’s delis which sell local Tasmanian produce. With plenty of atmosphere day or night, on 375 Elizabeth Street the independent State Cinema is an institution that’s over 100 years old. Inside there’s a curated bookstore, rooftop cinema, and coffee shop.A good spot for brunching and people watching, from North Hobart there are great views of downtown with Mount Wellington towering over the city. Wander the back streets off Elizabeth Street to check out the old Hobart homes, and to check out the street art and murals along Tony Haigh Walk.

Lark Distillery might not be the first of its kind in Tasmania, but prior to 1992 when Lark Distillery opened, the last time Tasmania had a whiskey distillery was 1839. Though 150 years may have passed, Tasmania still produces ingredients that go into premium whiskey, and as staff will tell you when taking a tour of the Lark Distillery grounds, it’s the premium, fresh, island-grown ingredients that make the whiskey a smashing success. Even if you don’t take part in the tour, Hobart travelers can enjoy a drink at the popular cellar door, where 150 different whiskeys create a premium tasting experience unrivaled by any in town.

Tasmania’s Derwent River flows 113 miles (182 kilometers from Lake St. Clair toward Storm Bay. Hobart, 12 miles (19 kilometers from the river’s mouth, sits on an estuary and has a deep-water port for vessels sailing to or from the Tasman Sea. Along its course, the river cuts through Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park.

Extending from 30 minutes outside Hobart to southernmost Australia, the scenic Huon Valley is known as Tasmania’s apple orchard. The Huon Highway follows the Huon River through the area, passing vineyards, cider makers, and a series of small villages along the way. Huonville makes a popular base for exploring Tasmania’s far south.

Though Australia as a country is relatively young when compared to the rest of the world, Hobart as a city is relatively old when compared to the rest of Australia. This scenic port town on the island of Tasmania is Australia’s second oldest city, and at Runnymede just north of town, visitors can walk through a domestic time portal to a Tasmanian era long gone.Originally constructed around 1836 for Tasmania’s very first lawyer, the Runnymede House is a fascinating look at 19th-century Tasmania. Though an Anglican Bishop also lived in the house, it took the name “Runnymede” when a salty ship captain—Charles Bayley—bought the house and subsequently named it after his favorite boat. For 100 years the Bayley family lived in the humble homestead, and since the furniture and belongings are such prime examples of middle-class living at the time, the house is administered by the Australian National Trust as a well-preserved window to the past.On a guided tour of the Runnymede House, hear tales of how settlers and early citizens spent their days in Tasmania, and learn how the house now plays a role in marine conservation and protection.

Situated within walking distance of downtown Hobart, the Macquarie Wharf Cruise Ship Terminal is the principal gateway to Tasmania, Australia’s smallest state. Explore the country’s southernmost capital city—also one of the oldest—or use the Hobart Cruise Port as a jumping-off point for visits to Port Arthur, Bruny Island, and kunanyi (Mount Wellington).

Originally, when this Georgian-style, 19th-century building was built near Sullivan’s Cove, it was destined to be a custom’s house for Hobart’s developing trade. As the politics of the island increased, however, and “Van Diemen’s Land”—as it was then known, grew as an independent colony, the building was chosen to house the customs, as well as the city’s Parliament. Today, Hobart’s Parliament House has been a hub of politics since 1841, and is still the site where Parliament and lawmakers gather to govern the state.On a guided tour of the Parliament House, learn the fascinating history of the building and all of its renovations, as well as tour the underground basement full of history, legends, and lore. On the outside of the buildings, the surrounding Parliament House gardens are a relaxing place to either go for a stroll or rest in the shade of an oak, before venturing over to Constitution Dock or nearby Salamanca Market.

Whether it’s settling in for a sunset viewing of Bruny Island’s Little Penguins, or climbing the 273 steps up towards the Truganini Memorial, visiting the Hummock is a highlight of Bruny Island. At this windswept promontory overlooking Bruny Island Neck, visitors can get a panoramic view of the thin isthmus of white sand that connects the two parts of the island. Penguins are most commonly sighted on this shoreline between the months of September and February, and since they’re officially the world’s smallest species of penguin, there’s an undeniable cuteness factor to watching them waddle ashore. During sunny periods in the middle of the day, it’s possibly to make out the Tasmanian Mainland across the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, and visit the memorial at the top of the stairs that’s dedicated to the last known, full-blooded Tasmanian aborigine to live on the island.

The leafy residential neighborhood of South Hobart offers a few attractions for travelers and many visitors find themselves passing through en route to nearby Mount Wellington. With its handsome Georgian buildings and green backdrop, it’s a picturesque district and home to the famous Cascades Brewery.

Perched on a hilltop looking out over Battery Point and the River Derwent, St. George's Anglican Church is one of the neighborhood’s most prominent historic landmarks. Dating back to 1838, it’s among the oldest churches in Hobart and still holds regular services.

Located in Tasmania, not far from Hobart, the Tinderbox Marine Reserve is ideal for snorkelers and scuba divers. The site is home to more than 30 species of seaweeds, and its abundant plant life provides habitats for a large assortment of marine life.Swimming and boating are allowed in the reserve, and along with numerous types of fish, visitors may catch sight of sea dragons, urchins and sea-stars. Octopus, squid, shrimp and crabs also call the Tinderbox Marine Reserve home, so visitors are asked to leave the wildlife as is and to use care to protect the environment.