How to get to Hobart

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania, an island located 240 kilometres off the south coast of mainland Australia. To get there you need to fly or take the ferry from Melbourne.

Once you arrive, it’s easy to get around either on foot, by car or with public transport.

By air

You can fly direct to Hobart from all major cities in Australia including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Domestic airlines include Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Rex and Qantas.

From Hobart Airport, jump on the SkyBus which departs every 30 minutes (adult tickets cost $19.50 one-way or $36 return), or jump in a taxi or rideshare. Hire car rental is also available from the arrivals terminal.

By sea

If you’re travelling via Melbourne, you can take the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Geelong to Devonport on the northern tip of Tasmania. There are nightly sailings (and day sailings between September and April), and the journey takes 9-11 hours. You can travel as a foot passenger or take a vehicle.

Getting around Hobart

As a small and compact city, Hobart is best explored on foot. However, the city has a good public bus network (Metro), with most services departing from Elizabeth Street or Franklin Square. You can use the Metro Hobart Network to plan your journey.

There’s also the Red Decker hop-on, hop-off bus. You can get a 24 or 48-hour City Loop ticket, which stops at 20 destinations across the city including Battery Point, Salamanca Place, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, and the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

If you plan on venturing outside of Hobart, self-driving is the only option if you're not joining a tour. You may struggle to get around otherwise. Rideshare options are available, but they're limited to Tasmania's major cities and towns.

Still want to learn about Hobart? Return to Hobart FAQs

Join a Hobart tour

If you'd rather sit back and take in the sights, why not join us on a Hobart tour. Tick off the highlights of Tasmania, walk the Tasman Coast or hop over to Bruny Island to sample local delicacies and explore pristine national parks.