History is everywhere in Hobart, the charming capital of Tasmania.

Hobart has been named in so many ‘Hot Lists’ it is hard to believe the place still gets cold. Mt Wellington soars 1270 m above a wide harbour and is frequently dusted with a layer of snow well into spring. A cosy fireplace is seldom far away in winter in Tasmania. Hobart may be where the action is when it comes to up and coming Australian hot spots, but it offers a refreshingly change from your average capital city. Rush hour traffic is virtually non-existent and the compact town centre is a pleasure to navigate on foot with so many picturesque historic streetscapes to admire along the way. Venture beyond the city centre and you can see contemporary art at the world-famous MONA gallery and experience Australia’s convict history at Port Arthur.

Our Hobart tours

6 Days From 1355

Explore Cradle Mountain National Park and the Bay of Fires on this nature-filled...

4 Days From 1386

Explore the best of south eastern Tasmania, from Hobart to Bruny Island to Port Arthur,...

9 Days From 3260

Tasmania may be just across the ditch from mainland Australia, but when it comes to...

4 Days From 1355

From your base in historic Port Arthur, walk a section of the famous three capes track...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

Highlights of Hobart

Hobart waterfront

Explore Hobart's waterfront

Explore Hobart’s waterfront area and browse Salamanca Place where you will find Hobart’s private art galleries and fashion boutiques plus eateries and pubs built inside historic bond stores from the 1800s. It costs nothing to admire beautiful artworks from local artisans.

Shopper at the markets

Shop at the markets

Saturdays are a big day in Hobart as the Salamanca Markets at Salamanca Place are operating from early morning until late afternoon. What started as a few pop-up stalls has grown into half a kilometre of food stalls, locally produced fashion, art and crafts and a selection of boutique distilled spirits.

Port Arthur

Visit Port Arthur

Step back in time at the historic penal colony of Port Arthur, where more than 12,000 convicts served their time between 1830 and 1877. This open-air museum is beautiful and deeply moving, and remains one of Australia’s most compelling historic attractions.

Cascade Brewery

Raise your glass

Cascade Brewery offers an exceptional hands-on tour of its historic brewery which is the oldest in Australia. Book early as tours are extremely popular and remember to wear long trousers and covered shoes in accordance with the tour’s safety requirements.

Two people walking at MONA in Hobart

Get arty at MONA

The cutting-edge Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), which is located just out of town, has a world class reputation and is well worth a visit. The galleries are filled with wonderful (and occasionally weird) art works plus you’ll find great dining here as well.

Mt Wellington view

Visit Mt Wellington

Head to the top of Mt Wellington for a wilderness experience within 10 minutes of the city. The 21 km drive to the summit climbs from temperate rainforest to sub-alpine flora and glacial formations, ending in panoramic views of Hobart and beyond. 

Hobart tour reviews

Hobart FAQs

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy

Hobart Airport is located 17 kilometres east of the CBD. A SkyBus service travels to and from the city but it costs about the same (or sometimes less) to catch a taxi or an Uber. Car rental desks are available at the airport and many companies also have an office in town. If you need a hire car, book early as prices rise substantially during peak travel periods when hire cars are in high demand.

Check out all of our Tours to Hobart

Most places in Hobart are within easy walking distance. There are no trains, trams or public ferries but there are buses. If possible, you might like to avoid travelling around using public transport on Sundays as it can get tricky due to the reduced timetable. If you need a hire car, book early as prices rise substantially during peak travel periods when hire cars are in high demand. 

If you want to depart from Hobart to visit the rest of Tasmania, check out our Tours from Hobart.

Hobart's weather is (very) changeable. There can be snow on top of Mt Wellington in December or you could be walking around in shorts and a t-shirt in winter. Or piling on warm clothes because the temperature has dipped towards zero degrees at pretty much any time of year. 

In short, pretty much everything. Bring clothes you can layer plus a jumper or jacket, wet weather gear, sunscreen, a hat and a beanie. And don't be surprised if you end up wearing all these things on the same day.

Hobart is a fairly casual place although locals do tend to dress up if they are 'hitting the town' at night. Smart casual is the norm at restaurants in Hobart, aside from the signature 'date night' ones like Landscape Restaurant & Grill where people tend to dress up more. 

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania so there is good WiFi coverage in town and most of the surrounding area. 

Hobart is a small but vibrant city and has a busy festival and event calendar. Some of the most popular festivals in Hobart include:

  • Mona Foma - January
  • Dark Mofo - June
  • Festival of Voices - July
  • Taste of Tasmania - December/January

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania so there is good mobile coverage in town and most of the surrounding area. 

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid

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