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50 Things to Do with Kids in Hobart & Surrounds

  • Hyperdrive Kart Racing

Top 50 things-to-do with Kids in Hobart and Southern Tasmania.

It’s time to get out and about and enjoy Southern Tasmania with the family. If you’re not sure where to start, have no fear, we have compiled this list of the Top 50 things to do with the kids in Hobart and Beyond.

HOBART & SURROUNDS

You don’t have to go far in Hobart to find some family-friendly activities.

1. Visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

Admission is free but donations are always welcome. TMAG is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm from 1 April until 24 December, then daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm from 26 December to 31 March, and on public holiday Mondays year-round. Closed Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day.

Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery
Exploring Hobart Waterfront. Image Credit: Dearna Bond

2. Wander the waterfront and treat the family to fresh fish, chips and Ice Cream.

If everyone is behaving, perhaps some Tasmanian ice cream from VDL Creamery could be on the cards too. Drop by their waterfront store to see what is on display (they have seasonal and uniquely Tasmanian flavours … think Peach and Lemon Myrtle, Pepperberry and Leatherwood Honey, and Lavender and White Chocolate, to name a few).

Hobart Attractions
Salamanca Market

3. Take a stroll through Salamanca Market on Saturday morning.

Or on a Sunday, rain, hail or shine, a busy street in the heart of Hobart transforms into a bustling farmers’ market. Farm Gate Market has remained true to its simple, honest philosophy – if you can’t eat, drink, grow, or meet the producer, then you won’t find it at Farmers Market.

Salamanca Market
Farm Gate Market
Summit of kunanyi / Mt Wellington. Image Credit Luke Tscharke

4. Head up the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Take a stroll along the walking tracks (Sphinx Rock is a great track with the kids) and enjoy a hot choccie at Lost Freight. You might even find some snow, it is Tasmania, after all.

Explore kunayi
Explorer Bus

5. Discover the heroic era of Antarctic exploration

A visit to the Mawsons Hut Replica Museum on the Hobart waterfront. This world-class small museum gives visitors a historical insight into the daily lives of the AAE expeditioners who spent two winters living and working in Antarctica. 

Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum

6. Tour the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site

Hear the stories of Tasmania’s convict women. The Convict Women’s Tour is a comprehensive guided tour of the Site. It lasts approximately 45 minutes. The first tour starts at 10am and every hour on the hour till 3 pm (with exception of 12pm).

Cascades Female Factory

7. Test your puzzle-solving skills at the Evolo Room Escape.

Just beware of your kids outsmarting you. The minimum recommended age for participating is 16 years old. You and your team will be put in a mysterious room filled with Evolo’s innovative and decoratively themed puzzles but you only have 60 minutes to figure out how to escape. 

Evolo Room Escape

8. Book the family on Iron Pot Cruises.

Book a Pennicott’s Iron Pot Cruise (2.5 hours), to see Australia’s oldest lighthouse and learn about Hobart’s early settlement and maritime history.

Iron Pot Cruises
Heritage Horse Drawn Carriages

9. Horse Drawn Carriage Rides through Salamanca 

Experience the romance of a bygone era by taking a leisurely carriage ride through the unique historic areas of Battery Point, Hobart Waterfront and Salamanca Place.

Horse Drawn Carriages

10. Jump onboard the Red Decker Bus

Join the official sightseeing tour; choose from 20 different stops featuring the best cultural sights and attractions in and around the city. Hop on and hop off as many times as you like as you explore Hobart at your leisure, or stay on board and do the 90 minute city loop tour

Red Decker
Hobart Convict Penitentiary

11. Tour the spine-tingling Hobart Convict Penitentiary and discover our city’s hidden secrets.

12. Book the kids into some of the fun school holiday workshops at the Moonah Arts Centre. 

13. Explore Hobart’s waterways on Roaring 40s Kayaking‘s 2.5 hour city paddle (for kids aged 7+).

14. Head to the beach. There are loads to choose from, including Long Beach, Sandy Bay, with a fantastic park and sports field adjacent. 

15. Bounce into some fun

BOUNCEinc offers an unparalleled indoor adventure opportunity. With its distinctive mix of enjoyment, spontaneous expression, advancement, and growth, it is an excellent venue for cultivating and mastering balance, coordination, and agility skills.

Even addressing the needs of younger visitors, BOUNCEinc introduces a playground area and adaptable soft play area for junior jumpers. This expansion of offerings in Hobart brings forth fresh avenues for entertainment.

BOUNCEinc
BOUNCEinc Hobart
Hyperdrive Kart Racing

16. Burn off energy at Hyperdrive Kart Racing

Hyperdrive Kart Racing is a state of the art, solar-powered, electric go-kart centre, with a modern 80’s twist. There are karts for any age, from Adult karts, Junior Karts, Duo Karts, and super-fast Shifter Karts for those that qualify.

Hyperdrive Kart Racing

17. Paintball and Adventure Mahem

Redbanks is the ultimate Tasmanian Adventure Attraction paired with Tasmania’s biggest and best paintball fields. Come and try your hand out at any (or all) of our exciting range activities: Clay Target Shooting, .22 Rifle Range, Archery, Axe Throwing, Air Rifles, Slingshots, Golf Alley, Paintball Fields and so much more.

Redbanks

COAL RIVER VALLEY

A short 30-minute drive from nipaluna/Hobart lands you in the beautiful Coal River Valley

18. Explore the quaint Georgian village of Richmond

Visit the Pooseum and the famous Richmond Sweets and Treats lolly shop (maybe before the Pooseum), or enjoy a picnic by the river overlooking the convict-built Richmond bridge. 

Sweets and Treats Richmond
Pooseum Richmond

19. Visit Zoodoo Zoo in Richmond

Zoodoo Zoo provides unique opportunities to learn about, appreciate and interact with animals. Just 30 minutes from Hobart, this Zoo and Aquarium Association Accredited, guest funded Wildlife Park has been serving the Tasmanian community for over 22 years as one of Southern Tasmania’s most popular wildlife experiences.

Zoodoo Zoo Richmond

20. Old Hobart Town Model Village

Old Hobart Town is situated in Richmond and is Australia’s only and Tasmania’s original historical model village which accurately replicates in miniature the life and history of Hobart in 1820.

Old Hobart Town Model Village

21. Alpaca Farm Tours with Toffeemont

Experience a working alpaca farm and learn about these unique inquisitive animals. Wander at your leisure, engaging with or just peacefully absorbing the tranquil atmosphere that alpacas create.

Alpaca Farm Tours

22. Get Lost at Amaze Richmond

Step into our captivating mazes and embark on an adventure that will leave you enchanted. Lose yourself in the twists and turns as you explore the intricately designed pathways, specially crafted games to challenge and delight visitors of all ages. Discover the joy of getting lost and igniting your sense of wonder and curiosity.

Amaze Richmond
Discover Richmond

THE HUON VALLEY & FAR SOUTH

Travel south of nipaluna/Hobart and discover the amazing variety of activities and nature walks available. 

23. Huon River Jet Boats offer Australia’s only whitewater jet boating experience with high-speed jet boat tours on the Huon River, Southern Tasmania.

Huon River Jet Boats is based in Huonville, 35-minute drive southwest of Hobart (48 km) in the Huon Valley.

Huon Jet Boats
Geeveston Platypus. Image Credit: @lisak_pics

24. Search for a platypus along the Geeveston Platypus Walk.

Geeveston
Highland Getaway ATV Farm Tour

25. Book a Highland Getaway ATV Farm Tour Safari

Get up close and personal with beautiful highland cows.

Highland Getaway

26. The Mount Misery Habitat Reserve.

Five kilometres of well-constructed walking tracks through rainforest, subalpine heathland, a mountain top and a waterfall. 

Mount Misery

27. Tahune Adventures Tasmania – Tahune Airwalk

Walk above the forest canopy – share the lives of the forest giants from up close – look down from high to the place where the wild waters of the Huon and Picton rivers mingle. The 600-metre walkway ends at a spectacular cantilevered platform 50 metres above the riverbank, where the views extend to the mountains of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Tahune Airwalk

28. Tahune Adventures – Twin Rivers Adventure

Here’s an amazing new way to discover Tasmania’s spectacular wild places – paddling, drifting and splashing on a raft or kayak through bouncy rapids and quiet stretches of the Picton and Huon Rivers.

Twin Rivers Adventure

29. Tahune Adventures – Eagle Hang Gliding

As you glide high above the wild Southern Tasmanian forest you’ll see the wilderness through the eyes of a wedge-tailed eagle and experience the freedom of flight, with cable-controlled for your safety. No pilot’s license needed! Feel the wind beneath your wings as you dip and swoop above the mighty Huon River, so if excitement and adventure, along with a unique experience is what you seek, go gliding with them.

Eagle Hang Gliding

30. Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs

Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs is situated in the far south of Tasmania’s beautiful Huon Valley, a 90-minute drive from Hobart.

A Parks and Wildlife Service guide will lead you through a living and breathing ecosystem that boasts an identity like no other. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in an ancient yet ever-changing environment.

Hastings Caves

31. The Wooden Boat Centre

On the guided tour through both the discovery centre and the workshop you get to see students and boatbuilders in action and the smell of Tasmania’s unique boat building timbers including Huon pine, King Billy pine and Celery top pine will welcome you.

Wooden Boat Centre

32. Sled Dog Adventures Tasmania

Sled Dog Adventures Tasmania offers a unique range of dryland dog sled dog tours during the winter season. Located just a one-hour drive south of Hobart, the tours are based at the majestic grounds of the River’s Edge Wilderness Campground.

Sled Dog Adventures

33. Explore Hartz Mountains National Park

Hartz Mountains has been shaped by ancient glaciers and offers visitors a window into Tasmania’s remote and rugged south-west wilderness. You’ll feel on top of the world as you gaze out at the seemingly endless mountain peaks, stretching towards Tasmania’s southern coast.

While the mountains are certainly the park’s heroes, there’s plenty more on offer in the Hartz Mountains, which is particularly popular with bushwalkers. The extensive natural and cultural values of the landscape have earned the park an important place in Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Hartz Mountains

34. Waratah Lookout

Start your visit to Hartz Mountains National Park with this short, easy walk along a gravel track to a viewing platform overlooking the Huon Valley.

Waratah Lookout

35. Arve Falls

The track to Arve Falls is easy to follow and provides a wonderful glimpse of sub-alpine vegetation, including a variety of wildflowers, silver banksia and Tasmanian snow gums.

Arve Falls

36. Lake Osborne

The Lake Osborne walk is a wonderful introduction to the variety of alpine and subalpine vegetation that can be found in Hartz Mountain National Park.

Lake Osborne

TURRAKANA /TASMAN PENINSULA

Just over an hour’s drive from Hobart, the Tasman Peninsula has plenty of great activities for the family to enjoy.

37. Tasman Island Cruises – Pennicott Wilderness Journeys

This Pennicott Wilderness Journey takes you for a spectacular and memorable three-hour cruise along the extraordinary coastline of Tasman National Park, between Eaglehawk Neck and Port Arthur.

Tasman Island Cruises
Pennicott Wilderness Journeys
Port Arthur Historic Site

38. Port Arthur Historic Site

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site is Australia’s most intact and evocative convict site. There is a lot to see and do with more than 30 historic buildings and ruins to explore over 100 acres so you’ll want to allow a minimum of three to four hours.

Port Arthur Historic Site

39. Port Arthur Ghost Tours

Port Arthur can seem a very different place after sunset, full of mystery and intrigue. Join a lantern-lit walking tour to experience the World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site by night.

Port Arthur Ghost Tours

40. Coal Mines Historic Site

The Coal Mines offer visitors the chance to discover a different perspective on Tasmania’s convict history among the uncrowded ruins and scenic vistas. It is a great place to explore on foot, with several tracks and paths around the extensive site.

Coal Mines Historic Site

41. Port Arthur Lavender Cafe

Roam amongst the lavender, interactively learn about the distillery’s manufacturing and distilling process, enjoy delightful lavender cuisine and browse unique Tasmanian gifts created from the lavender. Enjoy a delicious meal at the café.

Port Arthur Lavender Cafe

42. Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry

The Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry manufactures a large range of hand-forged chocolate products. Indulge yourself in all things chocolate, using the finest Belgian Coverture chocolate there’s sure to be something to tantalise the taste buds.

Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry

43. Tasmanian Devil Unzoo

Tasmanian Devil Unzoo is a global leader in shaping how zoos evolve in the 21st century.

When you visit the zoo without cages, you will discover lots of very special Tasmanian devils but what is different now is that our Tasmanian bush animals are wild, not captive. It is a welcome change from a traditional zoo.

Tasmanian Devil Unzoo

44. Back Track Buggys Tasmania

Back Track Buggys Tasmania is a guide-led tour across parts of the Forestier Peninsula, in southeast Tasmania not far from Eagles Hawk Neck. You will travel over old disused logging tracks to reach an amazing clifftop lookout with a view over Cape Surville.

Back Track Buggys

45. Rosedale Homestead – Animal Sanctuary and Rosedale Story Museum

Hand-feed an alpaca, enjoy a pony ride, take a selfie with a miniature donkey, pat a camel or spot a rare white wallaby. These are just some of the fun things you can do. 

Animal Sanctuary

46. Tasman Peninsula kayaking tour – Roaring 40s Kayaking

Get up close and personal with the southern hemisphere’s highest sea cliffs and resident Australian fur seals. This exhilarating adventure will have you kayaking along the coast of the Tasman National Park towards Cape Hauy

Roaring 40s Kayaking

DERWENT VALLEY & CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

Enjoy an adventure in the scenic Derwent Valley and the geographical heart of Tasmania, the Central Highlands.

47. Curringa Farm Tours

Get a taste of country life with a farm tour at Curringa Farm (you can also stay in their lovely accommodation).

Curringa Farm

48. Highlands Power Trail

Learn about the history of hydro-electricity in Tasmania on the Highlands Power Trail, including the Waddamana Power Station Heritage Site.

Highlands Power Trail

49. Rail Track Riders

Railtrack Riders provide visitors with exclusive access into a tract of Tasmanian rainforest via a historic rail line.

Rail Track Riders
Maydena Bike Park Mandatory. Image Credit: Tim Bardsley-Smith

50. Maydena Bike Park

The bike park operates two uplift services, providing access to 75+ individual trails including beginner and family-friendly rides, wilderness trail and epic pro trails.

Maydena Bike Park

51. Visit Mt Field National Park

Enjoy a day out in nature at Mt Field National Park. Walk to the impressive Russell Falls, see if you can spot a platypus, look for interesting fungi (blue, pink, purple, yellow, orange or otherwise!). 

Mt Field National Park

More Articles on Southern Tasmania

Curringa Farm

Make the Most of Our Longer Days

Tasmania’s longer days provide the perfect opportunity to explore more of our island’s natural beauty and vibrant experiences. With endless possibilities for exploration, the question is, where to go and

Read More »

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We acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal people and their enduring custodianship of lutruwita / Tasmania. We honour 40,000 years of uninterrupted care, protection and belonging to these islands, before the invasion and colonisation of European settlement. As a destination that welcomes visitors to these lands, we acknowledge our responsibility to represent to our visitors, Tasmania’s deep and complex history, fully, respectfully and truthfully.

We acknowledge the Aboriginal people who continue to care for this country today. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present. We honour their stories, songs, art, and culture, and their aspirations for the future of their people and these lands. We respectfully ask that tourism be a part of that future.

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