Travel to Hobart

Travel to Hobart

One of Australias smallest state capital cities, scenic Hobart greets visitors with a superb harbour setting, a wonderful architectural tradition and peaceful atmosphere. Located on both sides of the splendid Derwent River, Australia's deepest harbour, Hobart is certainly one of the most beautiful areas in both Tasmania and Australia, with the nearby Mount Wellington dominating the citys backdrop.

Transportation to Hobart

There is a multitude of options for those wishing to travel to Hobart. Most visitors arrive by air from Melbourne or other mainland cities. International services include flights from and to Christchurch, New Zealand and Singapore. Hobart Airport is located 17kms from the city centre and regular bus services provide transport to and from the airport. The airport is serviced by a number of taxi firms. The taxi rank is conveniently located right outside the domestic terminal building.

For visitors wishing to travel by sea and take their own vehicle with them, a regular ferry service connects Melbourne with the Tasmanian port of Devonport, 278kms from Hobart. Ferries are large and well-equipped, and the journey takes around10 hours.

Travel in and around Hobart is mainly by bus, with the citys and islands bus network offering extensive and regular services. A weekday peak-hour ferry service travels to Bellerive, on Hobarts eastern shore, departing from Brooke Street Pier.

What to see

The main business district is on the west side of the water on the thoroughfares of Campbell, Argyle and Harrington streets, which lead to the harbour.

Beautiful old Georgian warehouses are still in use on the waterfront and the same architecture can be found at the colony district of Battery Point. Salamanca Place and Battery Point give shelter to hundreds of yachts. In past times, this area was home to the fishermen, whalers, sailors, shipwrights and merchants, when the city was a booming whaling station.

Salamanca Place is also the citys premier shopping destination, where visitors can find lots of eateries. The Tasmanian Seafarers Memorial bears testament to Hobarts past as an important seaport. The Penitentiary Chapel Historic Site also reminds sightseers of the island's beginnings as a settlement for convicts. The sheltered, landscaped grounds of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens feature historic plant collections and a large number of significant trees, many dating from the 19th century.

Daytrips

Heading north from Hobart will take you to some charming villages with a rich legacy of colonial buildings, with the spectacular coastline and rocky peaks of Freycinet National Park providing stunning scenes along the way. Here, visitors will find the road which takes them to the Tasman Peninsula and the beautiful ruins of Port Arthur.

Heading west will take you to the farming area around New Norfolk and the waterfalls and forests of Mount Field National Park. South of Hobart is the Huon Valley, famous for its orchards, the wild beauty of Bruny Island, the thermal pools and caves at Hastings and the World Heritage area of Southwest National Park.

Activities and leisure

Hobarts location near the sea makes it a mecca for water sports enthusiasts. There are plenty of world-class diving sites, with many tour operators offering diving excursions. Great waves for surfing can be found at Port Arthur, not far from Hobart. Sailing, canoeing and kayaking can also easily be arranged. For land-based activities, watch a game of Australian Rules football or go on a hike in the islands interior.

Safety issues

Hobart is generally a safe city, but visitors should keep an eye on their personal belongings. Be careful when swimming, as there are sharks and stinging sea creatures in the waters. Make sure to follow the warning signs and the life guards' recommendations when on the beach. We strongly advise you take out comprehensive travel insurance for youand your family.