How to spend a day in Hobart, Tasmania

On a 10 day road trip around the apple isle that is Tasmania I spent one day and night in Hobart as a pit stop on the way down from Cradle Mountain heading to Strahan. I wished that I had stayed longer in Hobart because it is one gorgeous place.

We arrived at Hobart mid afternoon so we checked into our hotel and then went for a bit of a drive around to check the place out. Hobart is a really beautiful city with its old heritage listed sandstone buildings and a gorgeous marina area where fresh seafood is always the flavour of the day. Hobart is the capital city of Tasmania. It sits on the beautiful river Derwent and the harbour is the second deepest natural port in the world.

As it was getting close to sunset we went for a stroll along the waterfront and around to Battery Point which is a tight nest of lanes and gorgeous old 19th-century cottages. We eventually wound our way back down to the waterfront and found a bunch of jetties running off some of the million dollar properties that reside here.

It was such a calm, still afternoon and was lovely to just sit and watch the sunset in this tranquil spot. Once the sun had gone down we headed back into Salamanca Place to find some dinner. This part of Hobart is really beautiful with big old maple trees running along the paths that are filled with fairy lights. It was Friday night so there were families and couples out enjoying themselves and having dinner in the numerous cafes and restaurants.

We found a delicious little thai cafe for dinner and enjoyed a curry while relaxing after a big afternoon of exploring the city. After dinner we went for a walk back along the waterfront and the marina which was buzzing with crowds of people out and about, enjoying the beautiful evening.

The next day being a Saturday if was time to visit the iconic Salamanca markets. Salamanca Market is a celebration of Tasmania’s unique culture, creative artisans, talented musicians and diverse producers. The weekly outdoor market, held every Saturday, brings Hobart’s waterfront alive with the colours, sounds and smells of Tasmania.

With the historic Georgian sandstone buildings of Salamanca Place as its backdrop and yachts and fishing boats moored nearby, this picturesque market is a favourite for locals and visitors alike.

The diverse range of nearly 300 stallholders includes original, hand-made Tasmanian pieces, from woodwork to jewellery, fashion to fanciful, glassware and ceramics, fresh flowers, the finest flavours from the food and produce stalls, and entertainment from local and international acts who now call Tasmania home.

We spent a few hours looking around the markets because there was so much to see. After lunch we drove up to the summit of Mt Wellington. Hacked out of the mountainside during the Great Depression, the summit road winds up from the city through thick temperate forest, opening out to lunar rockscapes at the summit. Usually cloaked in winter snow, Mt Wellington (1270m) towers over Hobart. The locals find reassurance in its constant, solid presence, while outdoorsy types find the space to hike and bike on its leafy flanks. And the view from the top is pretty spesh!

And that was our day spent in Hobart. If we had more time I would have loved to have visited the Cadbury Chocolate Factory and done a tour of the Cascade Brewery which is Australia’s oldest brewery since 1832. I guess it just gives me a reason to go back again!

A day trip from Hobart can be spent at Mt Field National Park which is 70km north of Hobart and home to the amazingly beautiful Russell Falls, and Horseshoe Falls. Well worth a visit if your into nature and its a beautiful walk through the rainforest before reaching the falls.

Have you been to Hobart? What were your thoughts and experiences like? I would love to know, so leave a comment below!