How to Get to Hobart | Intrepid Travel CA

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania - an island located 240 km off the south coast of mainland Australia. The only way to get to Hobart is by sea or air. Once you arrive it’s easy to get around either on foot, by car or by public transport.

Getting to Hobart by air

You can fly directly into Hobart Airport from all major cities in Australia. Regular direct flights depart from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to Hobart. There are also several weekly flights between Canberra.

The airport is 17km from the city centre and you can transfer with the SkyBus shuttle. An adult SkyBus ticket costs $19.50 one-way or $36 return. You can also hop in a taxi or rideshare, or rent a hire car from one of the kiosks in the arrivals terminal.

Getting to Hobart by boat

If you're coming via Melbourne, you can take the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Port Melbourne either with your car or as a foot passenger. The ferry crosses the Bass Strait over to Devonport (on the northern tip of Tasmania) and takes approximately 11 hours. Travelling by boat does take longer than a flight, but you have the added bonus of being able to take a car. The drive from Devonport to Hobart is pretty, too.

Getting around Hobart

Hobart is a small and compact city and many people explore on foot or by bicycle. Or you can drive, take a public bus, bus tour or ferry.

By bus

Hobart has a good public bus network called the Metro network. Most services depart from Elizabeth Street or Franklin Square. You can use the Metro Hobart Network to plan your journey and book tickets or passes.

There's also the Red Decker hop-on, hop-off bus. The City Loop ticket is valid for either 24 or 48 hours and stops at 20 destinations across the city including Battery Point, Salamanca Place, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

By ferry

No trip to Hobart is complete without visiting the weird and wonderful Mona art museum. And the ferry there is definitely part of the experience! There are two private ferries that depart from Brooke Street Pier on the waterfront and the journey takes about 25 minutes. Featuring a bar, art installations and sheep/tiger chairs on the deck, you’ll get a fairly good taste of what to expect at Mona.

By car

You don’t really need a car in Hobart as it’s so compact. However, if you’re venturing outside of Hobart afterwards, self-driving is a convenient way to get around. Hobart has on-street parking spaces, but they can be limited (especially in peak times), so you might struggle to find a space. There are several off-street car parks across the city centre, too.