Hobart

Hobart is a small walkable city that blends heritage charm and thriving arts scene with a modern lifestyle in a setting of exceptional beauty.

Hobart is Tasmania's capital city and the second oldest city in Australia, after Sydney.  Located at the entrance to the Derwent River, it stands against the spectacular backdrop of kunanyi/Mount Wellington.  The surrounding bushland reaches close to the city centre and beaches line the shores of the river and estuary beyond.

Hobart is also Australia’s gateway to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, including the spectacular Macquarie island, a wildlife sanctuary and sub-Antarctic monitoring site.  With the most complete infrastructure of any gateway city, Hobart hosts the largest critical mass of Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientists, scholars and logistics experts anywhere in the world.  It is also the home of the permanent Secretariats for the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).

With its captivating history, picturesque waterways, rugged mountains and gourmet experiences, Hobart has something for everyone.

Take a walk along Hobart's iconic waterfront, explore the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, take a ferry up river to MONA for an out-of-this-world modern art experience or visit the world’s only sub-Antarctic plant house.

Enjoy the contrast of elegant heritage sandstone alongside modern architecture.  Explore Salamanca Place, a short walk from the waterfront, with its galleries, theatres, craft shops and restaurants in 1830s Georgian warehouses and on Saturdays enjoy the food and entertainment of Salamanca Market, Australia's best outdoor market.

At festival time this quietly buzzing city hits fever pitch.  Dark Mofo (10-22 June), the Festival of Voices (1-6 July), the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Feast (10-12 July) and the Australian Antarctic Festival (29 July to 3 August) will all be held in winter 2020.

Hobart is also close to many of southern Tasmania's best travel experiences, from historic Port Arthur and the rugged Tasman Peninsula to Bruny Island, the Huon and Derwent Valleys and Mount Field National Park.

For information on things to see and do in Tasmania visit the Discover Tasmania website.