Ahh! Hobart. Where do we start? This is our home town and we could go on about if for a little while, so bear with us!
Hobart is Tasmania's capital city and home to around 230,000 people, which accounts for approximately 40% of Tasmania’s total population. Hobart was originally known by European explorers as Hobart Town, or Hobarton and was settled in the early 1800s and has been home to the Mouheneener tribe for over 35,000 years.
There are two geographical reference points that every Hobartian (Hobart resident) lives by. When we’re predicting the day's weather, we’ll look to kunanyi/Mt Wellington to check for clues on what to expect (hint: if there's snow up there, it's going to be cold outside). Secondly, the Derwent River runs from Lake St Clair in the Central Highlands, to Storm Bay, Frederick Henry Bay and then out to the Tasman Sea. The Tasman Bridge is an iconic image for Hobartians, spanning the width of the Derwent River and providing a link to the East Coast, Tasman Peninsula and Coal River Valley.
There are so many things to see and do in Hobart that it can be easy to be overwhelmed by the choices. Here is the tip of the iceberg for consideration. If this whets your appetite for more, get in touch and we'll help you sort the chaff from the cheese!
Salamanca Market
Tasmania's Own Market is open each Saturday from 8.30 am - 3.00 pm.
This new look, interim market features a selection of over 230 Salamanca Market stallholders, representing artisans, designers and producers - it’s as Tasmanian as we can make it!
The Salamanca Market team have been working hard to support our stallholders and to ensure that we deliver a safe event with the same vibrant atmosphere of the original Salamanca Market.
You will find fresh produce from local growers, hot coffee and delicious breakfast and lunch options to enjoy, lots of gift ideas and plenty of handmade products.
To stay up-to-date with all the latest news and activities, visit the Salamanca Market website or the Salamanca Market Facebook page.
In addition, an online store offering products from Salamanca Market stallholders is now operating. Browse a collection of Tasmanian products and be connected directly with our stallholders to purchase.
Mona
Whether you have two days, or two weeks, be sure to include the Museum and Old and New Art (Mona) in your itinerary. Not just for art lovers, the museum is often credited with the ‘Mona effect’, projecting Hobart onto a world stage after opening in 2011. The impact of the museum on Hobart's tourism economy cannot be underestimated, with global recognition and press coverage that highlighted our unique environment and diverse culture.
Mona is located in Berriedale, a small suburb around 15 minutes out of Hobart by car, or 20 minutes on one of the Mona ferries. You can also ride a bike to and from Hobart without too much effort; the bike track runs along the Derwent River and is relatively flat.
We recommend you spend at least the afternoon at the museum, taking in the art as well as enjoying the wine bar which serves the house wine and beer (these guys are also the brains behind beverage labels Moorilla, Moo Brew and Domaine A). Alternatively, enjoy fine dining at one of the two on-site restaurants.
Families with sensitive, or younger kids, may decide to skip the art and sit on bean bags on the large lawn, where Mona often hosts music concerts whilst enjoying a picnic and a beverage purchased from the wine bar.
Hobart's Waterfront
Firstly, you can't go to Hobart's waterfront without popping in to see us on your way! Whether it's for a browse for locally handcrafted gifts and artisanal produce, or to book tomorrow's tour, you'll definitely get more than you came for.
The waterfront is a Hobart attraction its own right and famous for water views, fish punts and, of course, the arrival point for the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race, which departs Sydney every year on Boxing Day.
You will find freshly caught seafood at the fish punts, and abalone and crayfish lovers will rejoice in chatting to the fishmonger who will most likely regale you with stories on where and when it was caught (hint - it was this morning!).
Once you've finished browsing the fish punts, pop over to the Louis Bernacchi bronze statue along Franklin Wharf. With the new MACq01 hotel in the background, the bronze seals and penguins make a great Instagram shot - be sure to tag us using the #tassietravel tag!
From here, you can either wander around the historical IXL Jam Factory area, or you can head back towards Salamanca. Brooke Street Pier is also nearby, and is recognisable both by its impressive glass facade, bright pink canon and the Mona Roma ferries often moored alongside the pier. Inside, you'll find a number of restaurants and cafes as well as several small business operators showcasing locally crafted produce, souvenirs and homewares.
Past Brooke Steet, you will stumble into the Salamanca precinct, popular among locals and tourists alike, for a great meal, a drink with friends, or simply some quiet people watching. On Saturdays, this street also plays host to the Salamanca Market as covered above.
Families may want to venture to Princes Park just past Salamanca Place on Castray Esplanade, where the children can play captain on their very own ship with the great boat-shaped playground.
Image credits: City of Hobart and Alastair Bett (Salamanca Market), Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett (Museum of Old and New Art), Alistair Bett (Hobart waterfront at night)