If you don’t have, or don’t want the stress of having a car, Hobart is a wonderful city to explore on foot. While there are a few friendly hills to navigate, you won’t have to worry about figuring out Hobart’s one way streets or paying for parking.
The city is a very manageable size to walk around in and public transport is readily available to key attractions that are a bit further out. Most buses and ferries are accessible to people with mobility restrictions (please check with operators before you book).
We’ve put together some tips to help you explore Hobart without a car.
How to get to Hobart from the airport
The Hobart Airport is around a 20-minute drive from the Hobart CBD. Travelling between the two is easy and low-cost with the SkyBus Hobart Express service (plus, there’s free on-board WiFi). The buses run every day including public holidays, departing at least every 30 minutes throughout the day. The buses are mobility-enhanced, with access for passengers who use wheelchairs.
Book your SkyBus ticket online.
If you arrive on an early flight and don’t want the hassle of worrying about your luggage, check out Hobart Luggage Storage.
Exploring Hobart on foot
Your boots were made for walking and that’s just what they’ll do around Hobart. Full disclosure: there are a few hills to navigate between the waterfront and the city (luckily there are lots of cafes and pubs around to keep your energy levels up).
Things to do on foot:
- Stroll around the historic Hobart waterfront, quench your thirst with a cocktail or beer in the charismatic pubs and bars, enjoy fine dining in the restaurants, or grab fresh fish and chips directly off a boat.
- Visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) to immerse yourself in Tasmanian art, culture and history (entry is free).
- Wander around historic Battery Point, home to the early mariners of Hobart. Play on the swing at Arthur Circus and follow the Sculpture Trail.
- Join a walking tour to learn the local secrets and hear some colourful tales of days gone by.
- Step back in time at the Hobart Convict Penitentiary, the Cascade Female Factory Historic Site, and Narryna (an 1830s merchant’s house).
- Wander the famous Salamanca Market on Saturdays (8.30 am – 3 pm), the Farm Gate Market on Sundays (8.30 am – 1 pm), and Street Eats @ Franko on Fridays (4 pm – 9 pm, December to April).
- Shop till you drop in the reinvigorated Hobart CBD (on the hour, watch the cow jump over the moon in the Cat and Fiddle Arcade).
- Walk up to the restaurant, cafe and bar strip at North Hobart for a pleasant time wining and dining (there is also a cinema and charming gift shops).
- Stop to smell the roses at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
Adventures departing from Hobart
Public transport is available from Hobart to all the major attractions, most commonly by bus or ferry (alternatively, catch a taxi or Uber or hire a bike). There are also a range of guided tours that depart from Hobart and explore different regions of Southern Tasmania. Pop into the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre for information and help with bookings.
Things to do in Hobart & beyond:
- Cruise around Hobart’s hot spots in a red double-decker bus on a Red Decker hop-on hop-off city loop tour.
- Catch the kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus up the mountain for the best views (yes, it still runs in the snow).
- Catch the ferry from the Brooke Street Pier to Mona – Museum of Old and New Art (there’s also a bus or bike hire).
- See the sights old-school style with Heritage Horse Drawn Carriages or Hobart Historic Cruises.
- Join a guided adventure, sightseeing or food and wine tour.
- Jump aboard the Peppermint Bay Cruise through the Derwent Estuary and d’Entrecasteaux Channel, with a yummy lunch at the Peppermint Bay Hotel.
- Experience a scenic flight, luxury transfer or custom charter in a seaplane with Above & Beyond Tasmania.
- Catch the East Coast Cruises shuttle bus from Hobart to discover the scenery, history, and wildlife on Maria Island.
- Enjoy a day tour of Bruny Island with Bruny Island Traveller, Bruny Island Safaris Food, Sightseeing & Lighthouse Tours or Inala Nature Tours.
Adventures departing from Hobart Airport
Don’t panic, heading back to the airport doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s already time to leave. Some breathtaking scenic tours depart from the Hobart Airport at Cambridge. Catch the SkyBus there, then take to the skies!
- Par Avion Wilderness Tours run light plane trips to special, remote places. Choose from half-day or full-day tours of the Southwest National Park, or an overnight stay at their wilderness camp on the shores of Bathurst Harbour.
- Rotorlift Aviation offer customisable helicopter tours, taking in stunning scenery from the skies above Hobart and beyond.
Stay in charming Hobart digs
Accommodation in Hobart tends to blend old-world charm with modern luxury. Here are a few of our tips (browse Where to Stay for more options):
- The Henry Jones Art Hotel is all about art and sophistication.
- The MACq 01 Hotel lives and breathes stories, so settle in for a tale or two.
- Somerset on the Pier boasts the perfect sunrise spot.
- The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel is sheepishly delightful.
At the end of your Hobart adventure, catch the SkyBus back to the airport. Be sure to come down for air again soon!
Check out the upcoming events in Southern Tasmania.
We love it when you share your adventures with us! Share your snaps by tagging @hobartandbeyond and using #HobartandBeyond on Instagram and Facebook – we’ll share our favourite pics on social media and in the blog.
Related posts:
Top 10 Things to Do in Hobart
24 Spots for a Summer Beverage in Southern Tasmania
The Ultimate Day out at Mona Museum
16 Unique Places to Stay in Southern Tasmania
For Foodies: Cooking Schools in Southern Tasmania
Enjoy a Premium Fly Fishing Getaway in Tasmania
Header image:
Hobart waterfront | @deni_cupit/Instagram
Words:
Isabel Galloway
