A Guide to Hobart

As promised I have put together a guide of places to eat and things to do in Hobart based on my trip which started in Hobart continued through the East Coast and finished in Launceston. I was planning on doing a blog on my whole trip but once I started writing I decided Hobart required its own dedicated post (plus it was getting way too long).

Tasmania is a place I have always wanted to visit but the idea of travelling overseas was so much more exciting. Like most Australians in the past year exploring our own country has been the only option of escape and Tasmania did not disappoint.

Tasmania has such a wide range of diverse beautiful landscapes, easy-going locals, and some of the best food and wine around. No matter what you are into Tasmania has it all, with over 40% of the state being national parks makes it a great place for hiking, or if you enjoy food and wine you will be spoilt by choice.

Here is the first 4-day itinerary of my Tasmanian trip.

DAY 1 - MOUNT WELLINGTON

We arrived in Hobart around 10.30 am picked up our hire car from the airport and as we could not check in until 2 pm we headed straight to Mount Wellington. It is only about a 20-minute drive from Hobart airport into downtown Hobart and then another 20-minute drive from the city to Mount Wellington. The view from the top was definitely worth the drive or if you prefer you can also hike to the top.

Later that night we went for dinner at a restaurant called Aloft overlooking the harbour. If you are really into food and wine Aloft serves up Tasmania's freshest locally sourced dishes. I also recommend the wine pairing. If you are looking for a meal a little more affordable there are plenty of other restaurants around the harbour.

DAY 2 - BRUNY ISLAND

Bruny Island is only a 20-minute ferry ride that leaves from Kettering a small town a 20-minute drive south of Hobart. Being one of the highlights of our trip this island has some of the most stunning white beaches, hikes and delicious local food. You can go for the day or book a night, we just did a day trip and saw about half the island. The best stop in my opinion was the Oyster bar called Get Shucked which served up the freshest Oysters overlooking the beach for only $1.80 an oyster. But if oysters aren't your thing there is the Bruny Island cheese company which serves up local cheese, freshly baked bread and locally made beer.

Note: You need a car to travel around the island.

DAY 3 - SALAMANCA MARKETS & WINERIES

A must-do when in Hobart is the famous Salamanca Market which happens every Saturday morning. The market is full of fresh Tasmanian produce, wines, gin, whisky, handmade goods and so much more.

After the markets, we drove to Cambridge which was about 20 minutes from Hobart CBD to check out some wineries. Another suburb that has a lot of great wineries is called Richmond which is the neighbouring. We went to Riversdale Estate which reminded me a lot of the wineries I have been to in Canada. The grounds are stunning and the wine and cheese was amazing too.

Winery recommendations:

- Riversdale Estate

- Pooley Wines

- Frogmore Creek

DAY 4 - BATTERY POINT & MONA

Starting our last day in Hobart we headed to Battery Point for breakfast, a very fashionable suburb located in Hobart, within walking distance of Salamanca Square and the harbour. This historic precinct is lined with stunning colourful cottages that were built in the 1800s, full of great cafes, restaurants and stores.

After spending the morning here we head to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). MONA is Australia's largest private museum full of the most controversial modern art and antiquities in the world. I have been to many art galleries and museums around the world but this one really left an impression. I would highly recommend checking it out as it is more of an experience compared to others. You can get to MONA two ways, one by driving or by catching the ferry from Hobart which includes unlimited champagne.

Note: make sure you book your tickets online before as they do schedule time slots.

Tip: Live music on the weekends.

Places to eat in Hobart:

- Aløft Restaurant - Culinary experience.

- Da Angelo Ristorante - Great Italian food and I am very picky about Italian food.

- Jackman and McRoss - Cute bakery, great for breakfast with good coffee.

- Berta - Amazing food made from fresh local ingredients.

Accomodation

https://bit.ly/3bKIlsL

Top Tips

- Bring sunscreen Tasmania does not have much of an ozone layer and you will burn.

- Hire a car - we used Europcar and had no issues.

- Make sure to pre-book your dinners as places close around 8 pm.