Hobart Hotels

As the principal city on Tasmania, Hobart has vital commercial importance. Gateway to Antarctica, the seaport is a common stop for international operations on the South Pole. For travelers however, Hobart combines small town charm with world class eco-tourism in close proximity to the city limits. Get involved in natural tours and learn about Hobart history.

Attractions

The dominant feature of Hobart is “The Mountain” or to be more precise, Mount Wellington. Home to a select ecosystem, the mountain supports a variety of plant and animal life and features great picnic areas. The views of Hobart from the summit are spectacular.

With visible traces of early Aboriginal settlement, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is one of the best in Australia. Open since 1818 on Queens Domain, a public area of bushland northeast of downtown Hobart, the Gardens support a vast array of endemic flora to Tasmania. The Queens Domain site also contains the superb Government House, a World War I monument and a number of athletic facilities, including the city cricket ground.

The premier congregation spot for locals and tourists alike in Hobart is Salamanca Place. With shops, cafés, restaurants and bars, the area is popular by day and night. On Saturdays Salamanca comes alive with a busy market.

Elizabeth Street is another major retail strip in Hobart. The street runs past the central business district of the city and down to Sullivan’s Cove on the Derwent River. With malls and good ethnic cuisine, the street is worth a cursory tour.

As a neophyte wine power with a climate conducive to the cultivation of certain grapes inapt to continental Australia, Tasmania is a great place for oenophiles. The best vineyard tours on the island take place near Hobart.

A good portion of Tasmania is under conservation and UNESCO World Heritage protection. Just outside Hobart proper, Mount Field is a diverse national park that features rainforest and dense alpine flora. With scenic picnic areas and trails, popular attractions in the park include the Tall Trees walk and Russell Falls.

Events

The Hobart Summer Festival is the premier event in Tasmania, with much activity on the waterfront, Salamanca and Sullivan’s Cove. The festival takes place over two weeks in early January and features several inherent celebrations and events, from spectacular fireworks to the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Taste of Tasmania and International Buskers Festival.

Every spring ushers in the Tulip Festival at the Botanical Gardens.

The biennial 10 Days on the Island Festival celebrates the best in performance art and culture from Tasmania, with many events in the capital city.

The Theatre Royal in Hobart is Australia’s oldest, with a regular slate of ballet, drama, musicals and opera.

The excellent Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra plays regular performances at Federation Concert Hall.

With a vibrant live music scene, Hobart has a slew of small clubs that host local bands. The Southern Roots Festival and Hobart Fringe Festival also feature a fine line-up of talent from Tasmania.

Climate

Hobart has four seasons, with a mild oceanic climate. Though Mount Wellington may sport a snow cap in winter, the city rarely gets much of the white stuff. The only city in Australia with less daily hours of sunshine on average is Melbourne.

• Winter (June to August) 4.5-13°C
• Spring (September to October) 6.5-17°C
• Summer (November to March) 9-21.5°C
• Fall (April to May) 7-17°C