Hobart

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania. It’s renowned for its stunning harbour and rich history. The city has a thriving arts and culinary scene. From Mount Wellington (Kunanyi), you have stunning panoramic views of the city and the Derwent River. If you like adventure there are plenty to choose from. Mt Wellington: Hiking or racing down on a bike. On the water: sailing, kayaking or wildlife cruising. 

We explored Hobart. The Waterfront, Mount Wellington, Salamanca Market, Mona Museum of Old and New before visiting Bruny Island

It’s always fun for us to spend a few days exploring Hobart. Wondering what to do first in Hobart? Well, you can head to the Waterfront, go for a hike at Mount Wellington, browse through the Salamanca Market, or visit the Mona Museum. And if that’s not enough, you can also check out the Botanic Garden, the Wooden Boat Festival, or the Clarence Jazz Festival.

When we were in Hobart during the Wooden Boat Festival, we enjoyed the historic tall ships, classic yachts, and all the other wooden boats.

While in Hobart, the vibrant waterfront is a must-visit. Constitution Dock, home to part of Hobart’s fishing fleet, is not only used by fishing boats but also by personal yachts and various other vessels. This iconic area is best known as the finishing line for the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Stroll along the waterfront to enjoy fresh seafood from the many stalls or dine at one of the excellent waterfront restaurants. You can also explore the nearby Salamanca Place, known for its charming shops and lively market, or visit one of Hobart’s historic buildings.

Every two years, there is a Wooden Boat Festival, a show of wooden boats, including historic tall ships, classic yachts, and a wide range of wooden boats. During the festival, there are sailing competitions, exhibitions, and lots of entertainment. Hobart, Tasmania

The Hobart Wooden Boat Festival is held every two years. When we were in Hobart during the festival, we enjoyed the historic tall ships, classic yachts, and all the other wooden boats.The show includes sailing competitions, exhibitions, and live music. It’s a lot of fun!

Salamanca Market is the most popular tourist attraction in Tasmania and runs every Saturday from 8.30 am to 3 pm. There are over 300 stallholders, and the market includes products from local growers, many gift ideas, and plenty of handmade products. There is also a good selection of food and nearby pubs and restaurants. Hobart, Tasmania

.Whenever we’re in Hobart, a visit to the Saturday Salamanca Market is a must. With over 300 stalls, it offers everything from fresh produce and artisanal foods to handmade crafts, clothing, and artwork. The atmosphere is wonderful, with street performers and live music. Surrounded by great pubs and beautiful heritage buildings, it’s just a short walk from the waterfront.

The Clarence Jazz Festival is a five-day fun event at Bellerive Waterfront. Tasmania, Australia

The Clarence Jazz Festival in Hobart is a five-day annual event held at the Bellerive Waterfront. We loved listening to local and international bands while sipping a glass of wine and taking in the beautiful waterfront views. A highlight for us was always watching and listening to “George Washing Machine” and his band.

The Organ Pipes Circuit, 4 grade, 10 km, is our best-loved walk around Hobart.  From The Springs, it is an easy walk to Sphinx Rock and Junction Hut, then a very steep climb to the Chalet, Organ Pipes track, and back to The Springs via Pinnacle track. Tasmania Australia

Our favourite walk at Kunanyi (Mount Wellington) was the trail from The Springs to The Chalet via Sphinx Rock. From the car park at The Springs, it’s an easy walk to Sphinx Rock, where you’re rewarded with stunning 180-degree views of Hobart and the River Derwent. A little further along, the trail becomes more challenging, with short but steep sections, a rough surface, and many steps.

Please stop walking before enjoying the view because the Organ Pipe Track is very rough. View of Hobarts bridge, Tan Bruny Island Tasmania, Australia

The panoramic view from the Organ Pipes trail of the city, the bridge, and the Derwent River.

The organ pipes Mt. Wellington

The Organ Pipes columns of dolerite, up to 120m high, were shaped by volcanic activity millions of years ago.

Bruny Island

Bruny Island consists of two islands: North Bruny and South Bruny. They are connected through a long, narrow, isthmus called The Neck. It’s a half an hour drive from Hobart to Kettering and then a short ferry ride. A wonderful place for hiking and or indulgent delicious local food

We visited Bruny Island for few days, hiking, and the highlight was a 3-hour Wilderness Cruise, exploring the rugged coastline and watching the coastal wildlife. Tasmania

We spent a few days on Bruny Island, hiking and exploring its stunning landscapes. The highlight of our trip was a fantastic 3-hour Wilderness Cruise with the award-winning Pennicott Wilderness Journeys. Aboard a custom-built boat carrying a maximum of 43 passengers, we cruised alongside some of Australia’s highest sea cliffs, searching for coastal wildlife. We were thrilled to see seals, dolphins, and seabirds. It was the best wildlife cruise we’ve ever experienced the crew was exceptionally skilled and incredibly helpful.

Bruny Island has a spectacular coastline with large caves carved into the high cliff.

The Bruny Island coastline is spectacular, with towering cliffs, deep caves, and dramatic rock formations. One of Bruny Island’s natural wonders is Breathing Rock, a coastal blowhole visible only from the water. To me, this impressive rock looks like a medieval statue with a crown.

A colony of Australian Fur Seals sunbathed on the rocks on Bruny Island

During the cruise, we spotted sea eagles, albatrosses, and playful dolphins. However, the true highlight was spotting Australian fur seals basking in the sun, lounging on the rugged rocks and enjoying the warmth of the day.

Bruny Island had a population of about 200 albino Bennetts wallabies, who are prone to cancers and have poor eyesight, but still survived because there were no predators.

We stayed in the small hamlet of Adventure Bay, known for its beautiful, sheltered beaches. From there, we went on some fantastic hikes, spotting echidnas, pademelons, and Bennett’s wallabies along the way. At dusk, we went out to watch albino Bennetts wallabies, close to our accommodation. Bruny Island is home to around 200 of these unique wallabies, which are more vulnerable to cancer and have poor eyesight. However, they have managed to thrive thanks to the area’s lack of natural predators.

Hartz Mountains National Park

Hartz Mountains National Park is a stunning wilderness area located around 80 km south-west of Hobart. The park is famous for its breathtaking alpine scenery, ancient forests, and glacier lakes. There are several wonderful hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult.

The Hartz Mountains National Park is located in the southern part of the Huon Valley.  Within the park, there are well-graded walking tracks that lead through subalpine vegetation to the lakes Esperance, Ladies Tarn and Osborne.Tasmania

During our many trips to Tasmania, we explored Geeveston in the south, just an hour’s drive from Hobart. We stopped by the charming Geeveston Town Hall Visitor Centre before heading up to our beloved Hartz Mountains. If hiking isn’t your thing, you can drive to the Tahune Airwalk, where you’ll be able to walk 50 meters above the forest floor and take in breathtaking views.

Beautiful flora and beautiful views.

The flora of Hartz Mountains National Park is both diverse and unique. Visitors can explore vibrant alpine heath, Button Grass, lush fern gullies, and a stunning array of wildflowers in all colours during the summer months.

We didn't make it to Hartz Peak, 1254m, but we had a beautiful view. Could even see Bruny Island

Although we didn’t reach the summit of Hartz Mountains (1254m), we hiked to enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views along the way.

The Lake Osborne trail is a short walk that takes 45 minutes and goes through a rainforest with myrtle, sassafras, and pandani.  Ancient King Billy pines surround the beautiful glacial lake. Tasmania

The Lake Osborne Trail is one of our favourite hikes. This fascinating 45-minute walk takes you through a rainforest of myrtle, sassafras, and pandani. Along the way, you’ll pass impressive large boulders known as the Devil’s Marbles. The lake itself is stunning, with crystal-clear waters, and ancient King Billy pines lining the edge. It’s the perfect scenery for a photoshoot.

 Duckhole Lake

Not far south of Dover is the tranquil  Duckhole Lake.  The four-kilometre walk passes through the lush green forest, mostly on a boardwalk. We were lucky to see a Platypus.

After visiting Hastings Caves and a dip into the thermal springs, we went to Duckhole Lake. The trail is located just south of Dover, but not easy to find. The 4.2km track, most of which is boardwalk, follows a stream through regrowth forest to the lake. If you are lucky, as we were, you can spot Platypus in the stream.

The Duckhole Lake is a sinkhole that has been filled by rainwater. Tasmania, Australia

The lake is The lake is actually a flooded sinkhole. While enjoying a picnic, we listened to the songs of birds and the croaks of frogs. The water’s surface was like a mirror, perfectly reflecting the surrounding trees. a flooded sinkhole. While enjoying a picnic, we listened to the songs of birds and the croaks of frogs. The water’s surface was like a mirror, perfectly reflecting the surrounding trees.

South Cape Bay

We were lucky to see a Spotted-tailed Quoll—Tiger Quoll at Cockle Bay Creek.

From Huonville we drove to Cockle Creek, which takes about 1.5 hours, to hike the South Cape Bay trail. When we arrived, we were fortunate to see a spotted-tailed quoll, also known as a tiger quoll near the creek.

From Cockle Creek, we did the South Cape Bay Track, which is a 4–5 hour (15.4 km) hike that starts at the end of Australia's most southerly road and is part of the South Coast Track to Port Davey. View of the wild Southern Ocean and Lion Rock.

The 16-kilometre return hike to South Cape Bay is a moderately challenging walk and the southernmost day hike you can do in Australia. The trail begins with an easy stroll through woodlands and marshlands, much of it on boardwalks. As you approach the ocean, the terrain becomes hillier, adding a touch of challenge. Coming out onto a cliff, you’ll be greeted by breathtaking views of South Cape Bay, with the striking Lion Rock to the right

Tasman Peninsula

The Tasman Peninsula is a beautiful area roughly 90 kilometres from Hobart. It’s a popular site for both nature and history lovers. The Tasman National Park is famous for its high sea cliffs, rock formations like the Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen, and scenic hikes.

We did part of the Cape Raoul track, Tasmania,walked until we had majestic views, and enjoyed our lunch. Why walk further?

We hiked a section of the Cape Raoul track, soaking in the breathtaking views along the way. With such stunning scenery, we couldn’t think of a better spot to pause and enjoy our lunch why go any further?

The TESSELLATED Pavement near Eaglehawk Neck. Tasman peninsular, Tasmania

While exploring the Tasman Peninsula, we came across the TESSELLATED Pavement. At first glance, it appears to be a man-made tiled surface. But it’s a stunning natural formation shaped by geological processes over time.

Nearby are the Tasman Arch, the Blowhole, and Devil's Kitchen.

Near Eaglehawk Neck, you’ll find three remarkable natural attractions: the Tasman Arch, the Blowhole, and Devil’s Kitchen.

Tasman Peninsula coastline.

View of Tasman Peninsula coastline.

More from Tasmania: East & West Coast

More from Tasmania: Mt. Field, Cradle Mountains