The initial reaction I got from most people when I told them I was leaving for Tasmania on a getaway would be them telling me there was really nothing to see but trees and more trees.
Well, I am here to say that there’s a huge misconstrue going on. Sorry guys, there’s really so much more to it than just trees. And even if it is ‘just’ trees, the trees are situated at locations with backdrops so ethereal it’s unbelievable!
So why Hobart they asked?
Well… … Here’s why…
Top 5 MUST DOs in Hobart Tasmania. Let’s spiel shall we…?
Mount Wellington
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Rating |
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 |
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Length of Visit |
1 – 2 hours; depending on how many photos you want to snap, and how long you wanna’ amble on the metal platforms gawking at the magnificent bare view. |
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Admission Fee |
FOC |
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Visitation Suitability |
Everyone & Anyone |
You cannot say you’ve been to Hobart without placing yourself at the summit of Mount Wellington. Nope you cannot, period! The sweeping view over Hobart City which towers 1270 metres above ground is the must-do-spot to be at!
If you are lucky, a single trip up on 4 wheels (car; for the families or people who have tight itinerary schedule etc.), 2 wheels (bike; for the dynamics who hanker for an adventure uphill) or 2 feet (for trekkers who enjoy longer ramble through cold dense forest) welcomes you to a sprawling peripheral vista of Hobart in a whole new light. I remember driving up there twice in a day with no luck at all, considering the fact that thick cold fog shrouded every inch of the area. It was pretty dangerous just impelling slowly up the narrow sinuous road.
Thank goodness, on our last day in Hobart City, the weather did clear up, and BAM! With minimal trekking of any kind to get views as splendid as these, no wonder it is the MUST DO in Hobart; spoken by the locals!
Salamanca Market
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Rating |
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 |
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Length of Visit |
1 – 2 hours; depending on how much food you can stomach. |
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Admission Fee |
FOC (exclude bought goods) |
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Visitation Suitability |
Everyone & Anyone |
Operates every Saturday, all year round from 08 30 to 15 00 along Salamanca Place, this place is swarmed with locals and tourists all in for a piece of Hobart’s unique cultural experience.
With 300 odd stalls all in tandem along Salamanca Place, you better get there early on an empty stomach so you could try all the local produce and goodness. Not only does this place sells delectable foods, handy crafts and cute souvenirs are massively available for purchase. Some less perishable food items like nougats and honey are available in sample sizes for you to try before buying.
And if you are in luck (yes, I realised I do say that a lot, but come on, right timing is really fundamental, and you know it), live performances of song, dance and magic tricks will get the crowd howling for more. It is absolutely the time to reel off on a lazy Saturday morning!
TIP?
After ambling through the market, and soaked in the atmosphere of it all, take the food TO-GO! Head on down to wharf, just about a 100 metres away, for a nice ‘picnic’ with the view of Sullivans Cove!
I mean, come on, awesome food, perfect local culture experience, and brunch by the wharf overlooking the Cove? Rating is a definite 5 without a doubt; a total MUST DO in Hobart!
Port Arthur
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Rating |
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 |
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Length of Visit |
4 – 6 days; depending on how in-depth of the place you want to cover. Detailed information on things to do at Port Arthur, click the URLs below for past articles. |
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Admission Fee |
AUS $35 – $130; pricings are for adult tickets into the Historic Site Detailed information on which pass package to choose? Click: Sights & Sounds: Historic Site, Port Arthur for more details! |
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Visitation Suitability |
Everyone & Anyone |
Once a convict settlement, this area is now with rich history of how the convicts lived amongst the officials and their families. Ambling in the Historic Site during the self-guided tour, with the handy iPod commentary playing does make the entire experience come alive.
A suggestion would be to stay in the Site until dusk when it gets real quiet; just you, the ancient old buildings, and your imagination of how life was like years ago. Aahhh… Now doesn’t that sound like the perfect history lesson outside the classroom?
Well… at least that was how I like it- just me pretending I was in that convict era; imagining how the convicts were in the Penitentiary. Yup, no judgement please, I like to be in the moment okay? 😀
Other than wandering off in the Historic Site during the day, the GHOST TOUR is something you might wanna’ check out, for experience sake. I mean, you owe it to yourself to just lock those jitters in a box for one night and just do it! You are really in perfect hands of the adept ghost guides, they do these sort of thing on a daily basis, so I am confident it’s safe… … Right? 😀
There are loads to do at Port Arthur like visiting the Coal Mines Historic Site (which is FOC; by the way, and the drive there is quite awe-inspiring #justsaying) and trekking of course! Trekking up Cape Raoul was a beauty too!
Port Arthur is undoubtedly a MUST DO in Hobart to complete your trip!
Click on the links below for more detailed articles and pictures on Port Arthur!
Sights & Sounds: Tessellated Pavement State Reserve, Port Arthur
Sights & Sounds: Historic Site, Port Arthur
Sights & Sounds: Coal Mines Historic Site, Port Arthur
Treks: Cape Raoul, Port Arthur
Maria Island
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Rating |
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 |
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Length of Visit |
1 – 2 days |
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Admission Fee |
AUS $12 – $123; pricings are for adult national park passes of different categories. Click on National Park Passes for more information. |
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Visitation Suitability |
Natural Lovers |
The convict hold up before Port Arthur, this quiet island gives you the first hand experience of life as a convict during those times. Not exactly the ‘first hand’ experience, ’cause we all know that’s never going to happen, but it is as real as it gets!
Accommodation on the island would be the once Penitentiary. Yup! How wicked awesome is that?! Of course, this means no electricity, no room decorations, and definitely no room service! Toilets and showers are just a short walk away. It’s time to rough it out people!
For those who prefer day trips, that’s cool too. Mode of transportation on the island is either on foot or on a bike. Definitely choose the latter to cover more grounds on the island.
An imperative MUST DO is to take an approximately 2 hours return (4.4 km one way) stroll to the Painted Cliffs at Hopground Beach from Darlington. The sculpted sandstone cliffs boil in prominent orange in the late afternoon; definitely a moment to snap and remember forever!
A hidden gem just slight North-East, this is a thumbs up MUST DO in Hobart!
Bruny Island
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Rating |
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 |
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Length of Visit |
1 – 2 days |
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Admission Fee |
FOC (exclude the cost on the vehicle ferry) |
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Visitation Suitability |
Natural Lovers |
Travelling to Bruny Island was my first experience on a vehicle ferry. Up till today, I am still somewhat fascinated by the whole idea of loading the car onto the ferry can being transported to an island. Sorry, but it’s not very often you get to drive up a ferry and enjoy the breeze while you’re at it!
There are many cruises and tours that bring you to the island, but I suggest driving there. Not only do you have a say on what you wanna’ do there, the luxury of time and space is just so crucial when on this serene island.
The Neck Game Reserve is a good stop to be at to have a symmetrical view of the sea divided by the isthmus of land. A nice tranquil drive on Bruny Island Main Road to the South of the island provides nice lunch options at the Hot House Cafe, and trekking options up to the Fluted Cape.
If you are lucky, spotting of a clan of wild wallabies is not a problem!
Click on Sights & Sounds: Food Hunt: Treks: South Bruny National Park, Bruny Island for a more detailed article on Bruny Island!
Loads of things to do on the island that captures the heart. An enrapturing island less populated, and very personal; it’s no wonder a MUST DO in Hobart!
So there, a list of Top 5 MUST DOs in Hobart Tasmania that I am able to say with conviction that you will bound to make the trip to Hobart all worth your ride!
Remember to Travel Whenever!
Dee
