How To Spend a Weekend in Hobart, Tasmania

Morning

To start the morning, head over to Machine Laundry Café for a yummy breakfast. Located in Salamanca Square, it is only a short walk from many city hotels or a quick taxi/Uber ride from less central accommodation. Extremely popular with the locals for its delicious food, quirky retro laundromat theme and great coffee, the café provides generous servings and a wide variety of options to choose from, fixing any breakfast cravings you may have.

When you’re feeling full and content, wander over to Salamanca Market. Open every Saturday, the market is home to many stalls that feature local arts and crafts, fresh produce, homewares and jewellery. It is a fantastic way to experience the culture of Hobart while learning a little about its history and its people. A free shuttle bus runs every 10 minutes between the city centre and Salamanca Market from 9am-2pm if you don’t fancy the walk.

Pro tip: If you don’t have it, get the Uber app on your phone. Just make sure to check card/payment specifications.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, take the ferry from Brooke Street Pier to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), a fantastic way to see more of Hobart’s beautiful Derwent River and surrounds. Once inside MONA, it is easy to become lost for hours in the strange and fantastical world that renowned art collector David Walsh has created. The museum provides a mixture of contemporary, modern and ancient art and includes interactive exhibits. There is also a selection of bars and cafés if you and your travel buddies feel like a few afternoon beverages before heading back into the city.

Pro tip: Book tickets for the ferry and MONA in advance. Also, check out the visitor guide on the website before you get there.

Evening

In the evening, head to St. Albi Bar & Eatery for dinner. Only a short Uber or taxi ride away from the inner city, St. Albi provides friendly and reliable service and delectable food that is sure to have you talking about it for days after. The eatery is especially known for its tasty coffee-rubbed steak and its three-cheese arancini with mouthwatering saffron aioli. If you aren’t ready to end the night there, visit lively local bar Ettie’s on the way back to your hotel for a nightcap.

Pro tip: There is an abundance of hotels, but some of the more popular choices include The Henry Jones Art Hotel and The Brunswick Hotel.

Morning

The best way to start an early Sunday morning in Hobart is to grab breakfast at the hidden gem Criterion Street Café. Nestled in a side street, the bustling café provides quaint window seating in the upstairs area that allows you to soak up the morning sun while enjoying some scrumptious corn fritters. The bonus is the café is only a 15-minute walk from Salamanca and an even shorter walk from hotels in the city.

Pro tip: Get there early to allow for more time to sightsee later in the day.

After a delicious breakfast, head to the summit of kunanyi (also known as Mount Wellington), which features one of the most spectacular views of Hobart. There are many different walking tracks available to explore the beautiful scenery and, during the winter months, the mountain is often covered in snow. While it’s a well-known tourist spot, it’s still a must-see and a great way to nab some breathtaking panoramic photographs of Hobart to show your friends and family back home.

Pro tip: Snag a bus pass/tour to get to kunanyi more easily.

Afternoon

Hire a rental car and travel 90 minutes out of Hobart to spend the afternoon and evening at the Port Arthur Historic Site. The former convict settlement was the scene of the worst massacre in contemporary Australian history, a shocking but historically fascinating place that you can discover through the many different tours and experiences available. Delve deep and learn about the troubled lives of the convicts and the tales of the buildings that make Port Arthur so intriguing. The site also has cafés and coffee shops for your convenience.

Evening

Stay at the historic site for the evening and have dinner at the 1830 Restaurant and Bar. The restaurant sources local produce to provide you and your fellow travellers with a taste of what Tasmania has to offer. After dinner, attend the mystifying, bone-chilling and highly popular ghost tour. The secrets and the unexplainable stories of Port Arthur will be explored through a lantern-lit tour of some of the more famous areas of the heritage site. Stay at NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park for the night before heading back into the city the next morning.

Pro tip: Purchase your tickets to Port Arthur and its experiences/tours before arrival. The site offers deals such as the After Dark Package that covers both the dining experience and the ghost tour.