Things to Do in Hobart

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens opened in 1818 and its impressive collection of indigenous plants, trees and unique Asian-inspired gardens span some 35 acres of scenic countryside. Perhaps the garden’s most unusual exhibit is the Subantarctic Plant House, which displays plants from the remote Macquarie Island. In addition to environmental conditions that mimic the wild, audio from the island—like sounds of Elephant seals and penguins—is also piped throughout the space, giving visitors a full sensory experience.

After wandering the grounds, relaxing by the lily pond or exploring the French Memorial Garden and Fountain, stop by the Royal Tasmanian’s restaurant, which sources produce from its very own vegetable garden for a truly Tasmanian farm-to-table experience.

South Bruny National Park is a perfect place to escape the hustle of Hobart and experience the true beauty of Tasmania countryside. This scenic getaway on the southern tip of Bruny Island offers visitors the best of both land and sea—from coastal cliffs to secluded beaches. It’s ideal for a quick day trip or an overnight camping excursion.

Visitors can spend the morning collecting shells along the beach’s shore or taking a leisurely dip in one of the park’s sheltered swim areas (a local favorite is near Jetty Beach). Experienced surfers love the serious waves that break at Cloudy Bay, where rustic campsites are almost always available for a small fee.

Birders and botanists will love exploring the lush rainforest just beyond the sand, where dozens of plants and bird species indigenous to Tanzania thrive. Curious sorts can explore the remains of an old whaling station at Grass Point or wander to Cape Bruny Lighthouse, the second oldest of its kind in the country.

Day-trippers and less experienced hikers can wander along shorter trails, like the memorable trek to Grass Point or Fluted Cape. More challenging routes, like the Labillardiere Peninsula Circuit or East Cloudy Head trail are best left to fit visitors planning to spend at least a night.

Gold was first discovered in Beaconsfield in 1847, but it wasn't until 30 years later that the rush truly kicked in. The Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre uses hands on displays to take visitors back in time and see what mining life was like.

Centre exhibitions provide detailed accounts of what the day to day search for gold entailed. This is not your typical museum. So much is interactive, requiring touching, not just reading, that even those not typically impressed by museums, will find something to like here.

The Mine Rescue Display tells the story of the 2006 rescue of Todd Russell and Brant Webb, two miners trapped below the surface for two weeks. A simulation of the rock fall allows visitors to better understand the conditions underground where the miners were trapped.

Named after the explorers Bass and Flinders who first sailed along the Tamar River into George Town back in 1798, the Bass & Flinders Centre is now one of the town's most visited attractions. The museum offers a fascinating introduction to Tasmania's maritime history, telling the story of its namesake's expedition through multi-media exhibitions and displaying an impressive array of restored ships, maps and artifacts, dating back to the 18th century.

The Centre's star attraction is a full-size replica of the Norfolk, the ship on which Bass and Flinders sailed into Tasmania, and visitors can even step aboard to explore the captain's quarters and peek into the crew kitchens. Additional highlights include replica of the "˜Elizabeth', the whale boat rowed around Tasmania by James Kelly; a banana boat surfboard; and a pair of racing fours.

Towering over the Derwent River and dramatically illuminated at night, the Tasman Bridge has long been one of Hobart’s most memorable landmarks. Built in 1964, the five-lane bridge runs for 1.4km across the river, connecting the central business district with the eastern suburbs, and forming part of the long-distance Tasman Highway.

Despite its status as a city landmark, the Tasman Bridge is perhaps most notorious for its collision with the MV Lake Illawarra bulk carrier In 1975 – an accident that caused extensive damage to the bridge, the sinking of the ship and several fatalities, becoming known as the ‘Tasman Bridge Disaster’. Today, a memorial plaque honors the tragic victims, while the sunken vessel provides an unusual attraction for scuba divers.

Established back in 1804 when Tasmania was still called Van Dieman's Land, George Town is one of Australia's oldest and most historic settlements. Here on the grounds of the George Town Watch House, a gaol was established for housing convicts and putting them to work"”which earned it the moniker of "female factory" for its number of female convicts.

When visiting George Town Watch House today, step inside a cell to experience the lives of early convicts, and look at a model of how the complex was laid out in the 1800s. Much more than simply a jail, the watch house is also indicative of life in 19th century Australia, from the types of chores the prisoners were tasked with, to the harsh realities of living on such an isolated coast. For many years this was the only jail in Tasmania's entire Tamar Valley, and while small in appearance when viewed from outside, the George Town Watch House is a fascinating stop for history buffs, families, curious travelers, or anyone fans of colonial heritage.

The Tasmanian devil is known around the world, and while the cartoon character of the same name may have helped it gain popularity, few will ever get the opportunity to see a real Tasmanian devil. Taranna Wildlife Park is trying to change that.

Also known as the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, visitors here can learn what endangered devils are really like. The size of a small dog, these carnivorous marsupials are dwindling in population due to a devastating disease. Staff members at Taranna educate guests about the ongoing efforts to help save the devils at presentations and feedings throughout the day. And Tasmanian devils aren’t the parks only residents—visitors can hand-feed kangaroos or watch Tasmania’s only free-flight bird show.

The 19th-century Clarendon Homestead is one of Australia's grandest houses, set on the banks of the South Esk River.

Spread out on more than 17 acres (7 hectares), wear good walking shoes, because there's plenty to explore. The self-guided tour of Clarendon explains the life and times of James Cox, the man responsible for developing the property. The heritage walled gardens and colonial outbuildings are all convict built. There's a servants wing and many farm buildings to see during your visit. Clarendon is also home to The Australian Fly Fishing Museum.

Situated on the edge of 1.6 million hectares of World Heritage Listed woodland, the Tahune AirWalk overlooks the Huon River, offering an aerial view of Tasmania’s southern forests. The treetop walkway is a steel structure that’s as high as 45 meters in places.

There are a number of paths to the AirWalk, all of which are clearly signposted. The Swinging Bridges Track features two steel cable foot-bridges that cross both the Huon and Picton Rivers. This track is a loop circuit that will take you an hour or so to complete. Alternatively, the Huon Pine Walk is an easier 20-minute walk across flat ground and boardwalks.

For the more adventurous, the Eagle Hang Glider will be sure to get your heart rate up. It’s a 250-meter cable that glides over the Huon River, allowing you to reach speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.

It’s impossible to miss St. David’s cathedral when walking through downtown Hobart. Rising up from the quadrangle of one of Australia’s best Georgian streetscapes, St. David’s cathedral towers above the historic city center, its stones and turrets reflecting a time that dates to Tasmania’s founding. Some of Tasmania’s original pioneers laid the original foundation of St. David’s cathedral in this spot in 1817, when previous structures of St. David’s church were repeatedly blown down in gales. Completely rebuilt in 1868 by the Victorian architect George F. Bodley, the cathedral is considered to be one of his finest works found anywhere outside of England. When visiting St. David’s Cathedral today, visitors are welcome to wander inside and seek sanctuary from the city, taking time to admire the interior and famous St. David’s organ. Regarded as one of the finest in Australia, the organ pipes music to congregations that can number as high as 650, as concerts are regularly held in the cathedral for residents and visitors to Hobart. You’ll also find a small museum with relics from Hobart’s past, and on special occasions the cathedral staff will showcase pieces from the vault—some of which date to Medieval times before the modern, western world even knew Tasmania existed.

The name suggests this hilly bushland is ruled by royalty, but the grassy fields of Queens Domain were actually designed for the Tasmanian people. In 1860, the then governor ruled this park that passes along the Derwent River become a community green, with meeting halls, barbecues and picnic areas for gathering with family and friends.

Queens Domain is a perfect place to people watch on a sunny afternoon, or relax after a visit to the nearby Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Visitors can take a dip at the Hobart Aquatic Centre or play a match at Hobart International Tennis Centre. Enjoy a leisurely walk over the scenic Tasman Bridge after unwinding at Queens Domain and then enjoy dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.

In the Coal River Valley, the historic town of Richmond is one of the most popular visits in Tasmania. Known for its 19th-century Georgian buildings and cottages that are today home to galleries and teashops, boutiques and museums, the small town is half an hour from Hobart by bus.

Richmond began life in the 1820s as an important military staging post and convict station that linked Hobart with Port Arthur. Known for its excellent restaurants and for its wines grown in the fertile soils nearby, wine-tasting tours of the surrounding vineyards are a popular daytrip. 

The town’s most popular photo stop has to be the picturesque Richmond Bridge. The oldest stone bridge in Australia, it looks straight out of Stratford-upon-Avon, but it was actually built by Tasmania’s convict workers in 1825. 

Richmond also has its own detailed model village of how the town may have looked in the early 19th century. Other popular visits include Australia’s oldest gaol, Grannie Rhodes’ Cottage, Richmond’s wildlife park, and the St John the Evangelist church, which, being built in 1837, is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the country. Other gentle activities to do in the town include boating on the lake and discovering the wooden-walled Richmond Maze.

Get a glimpse of what life was like in the early days of Tasmania at the Franklin House. It was built by Britton Jones, a former convict and successful businessman. Franklin House is known for its use of imported Australian Red Cedar. It was also home to one of the colonies leading private schools from 1842 until 1866.

Knowledgeable volunteers are happy to share information, but visitors can explore the house, garden, stables and nearby St. James Church at their own pace. The on-site tearoom gets rave reviews for Devonshire tea and homemade scones.

Running along one of the last remaining stretches of Tasmanian railway, the Don River Railway offers more than just a scenic train ride "“ it's also one of Tasmania's most important heritage attractions. The experience begins on arrival at Don station in Devonport, where visitors can browse the railway museum, see the original turntable and signal box, and admire the collection of vintage cars, carriages and trolleys on display, including a Royal Carriage dating from 1879.

The volunteer-run railway also runs hourly trains, following a 30-minute route between Don and Coles Beach. As well as enjoying views along Tasmania's north coast, passengers get the chance to travel aboard a steam or diesel locomotive, riding in beautifully restored heritage carriages.

Visitors to Russell Falls face a difficult question concerning the surrounding beauty: Is it the lush environment and deep green foliage that give this area its splendor, or is it the three-tiered waterfall that powerfully plummets its way through the verdant forest? Either way, Russell Falls is often considered to be the most popular waterfall in Tasmania, and the short, paved walkway that leads to it makes for an easy and accessible hike. 

 

The falls are located in Mount Field National Park, where large tree ferns and forests of swamp gum create an exotic, faraway feel. The park also teems with wildlife, and lucky travelers with a keen eye might spot a platypus, echidna or possum. Ten minutes further up a steep trail, another waterfall, Horseshoe Falls, provides a second option for photographing water spilling down through the forest. Visitors who want to work up a sweat can extend their visit and tackle the 

Tall Trees Circuit, a 30-minute trail through towering swamp gums, the tallest flowering trees on Earth. 

Australia is a nation that was founded by convicts, and the oldest prison in modern Australia is Tasmania’s Richmond Gaol. Constructed in 1825, it’s the only remaining jail in Tasmania where it’s still possible to tour the life of a 19th-century convict. Step inside a dark cell that was used for solitary confinement, and feel firsthand why the tiny space was known to trigger insanity. Stand inside the outdoor courtyard where morning floggings were held, and look at the infamous “cat-o-nine-tails” that was used to administer the lashings. According to some, the Richmond Gaol is still haunted by the ghosts of former convicts, and reports of moans and cold chills are much more common than you’d think. Despite the strength of its original design, the gaol was quickly overcrowded to the point of abject misery, and multiple phases to expand the jail were constructed over 15 years. As the shipments of convicts ceased from overseas, the gaol turned into a holding cell for citizens of petty crime, before eventually falling into disrepair in the middle of the 1920s. Today, as a restored and revitalized historic site that’s one of Tasmania’s best, visitors can not only witness the horrors that convicts had to endure, but also are given a dramatic reminder of why to stay out of jail.

The Brickendon Historic Farm and Convict Village has been owned by the same family since 1824. It has more than 20 buildings to explore including a convict-built Gothic chapel, Dutch barns, a chicken house and blacksmith shop. The 10 acre (four hectare) garden has roses, ornamental fruits and 180 year old trees from all over the world.

The skills and work of convicted men and women, assigned to work at the farm allowed it to thrive and prosper. Women were assigned to domestics chores in the houses, while men were put to work in the fields. Some convicts were also skilled tradesmen like wheelwrights and blacksmiths. Workers were not paid; they were fed, clothed, housed, and could be punished. 

Today, Brickendon Historic Farm and Convict Village is still a working farm, with crops including vegetables and poppies. Brickendon is also home to a number of animals ranging from cows, sheep and horses to chickens, goats and a pig named Flora.

Brickendon also rents cottages for guests looking for a hotel alternative. Located in the Heritage Gardens, the historic colonial style cottages offer antique furnishings with modern conveniences. Farm cottages offer views of the farm and are often visited by friendly, wandering poultry.