“The way life should be” is the proud catchphrase used by Hobart City Council to describe Australia’s southernmost capital city. This catchphrase is spot on too and it won’t take you long to discover why.
 
Superficially, Hobart is picture postcard perfect, with beautiful colonial influenced town buildings set against a mountainous backdrop, nestled by the harbour side. It’s one of those places where you can sit shaded under an umbrella from the hot Tassie sun, sipping a latte and happily watch the world slip by at an unhurried pace. As capital cities go, Hobart is possibly the most laid back of all. There is not the feeling of urgency here that infuses most capital cities – and yet it is still the hub of Tasmania, but in a sophisticated rather than an arrogant manner. 

Like many of the larger Australian cities, the history of Hobart is very much connected to the penal system. Although founded in the early 1800s as a penal colony, it was only another 50 years or so until transportation of convicts to the island was abandoned due to the protests of local free settlers who strongly opposed living so closely to those with a propensity for criminal behaviour. 

The city subsequently became known for his lucrative whaling, ship building and export trade, all successfully fed by the city’s excellent harbour connections. As a result, the water front was a hive of activity and many merchants set up their trading bases in warehouses fringing the harbour. Today, those substantial and historical Georgian sandstone warehouses are host to an impressive and stylistic array of cafes, restaurants and local artist studios. 

Although the chilled out vibe spills over into the evening entertainment, the locals still know how to party. In fact Hobart has some of the most relaxed liquor laws in all of Australia!! However, partying here takes place in a kind of spirited ‘Come and Join Us’ manner, where everyone is invited to partake in the fun, rather than the snobby cosmopolitan cliques that you can tend to find in the larger capital cities. 

This sense of community spirit is never more evident than at the time of Hobart Summer Festival held late December to late January. If your trip coincides with this period you are in for a treat, particularly during the New Year period which heralds the arrival of the yachts competing in the Sydney to Hobart and Melbourne to Hobart races. The Royal Hobart Regatta continues the theme of harbour side celebrations in February and is the largest boating festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
Whatever time of year you choose to visit, Hobart’s friendly atmosphere can’t be bettered and it offers a lifestyle envied by many of the mainlanders........even if they’d never admit it!!! 

What to do in Hobart

Shopping and Markets: There are plenty of opportunities to part with your hard earned cash in Hobart, but not without good reason. No tacky sea side souvenirs here, but instead a wealth of local talent culminating in boutique shops and artisan workshops where you will pick up something you are not likely to find anywhere else. Hobart does seem to produce more than its fair share of home grown talent – perhaps as a result of the laid back small community vibe that encourages individuality and creativity in equal amounts to commerciality. 

If hunting out something unique raises your pulse rate with excitement, then head to Salamanca Market on a Saturday (approximately 8.30am to 3pm) and revel alongside the crowds in hunting out a hidden treasure amongst stalls carrying a heady array of arts and crafts, local grown produce and organic gourmet delights. Best of all, you’re likely to meet the creator of your chosen treasure and will leave knowing the history and inspiration behind it, which is priceless. 

St David’s Cathedral: Although building started only in 1868 making it relatively modern in comparison to European examples, St David’s Cathedral is generally perceived to be one of the finest examples of George Bodley’s work outside of England and is definitely worth a visit. 

Museums: Hobart is a museum goer’s delight!! There are enough museums to keep you intellectually engaged all day – and then some! Many of the museums are housed in fine old Georgian buildings, making the outing even more special. Amongst others worth a visit are: 

The Mercury Print Museum – sharing the interesting development of Hobart’s Mercury newspaper and printing works. 

The Narryna Heritage Museum – housed in a grand colonial homestead, this holds an interesting collection of paintings, fine art, furniture and china. You will feel like you stepped back into Great Grandma’s abode! 

Tasmanian Distillery and Museum – The home of Sullivan’s Cove Whisky – take the tour, inhale the fumes and don’t leave without buying some discounted liquor from the distillery shop! 

Tasmanian Transport Museum – For rail anoraks, bring your notepad and settle down for a day of absorbing as much information as you can retain from the exhibits of the Tasmanian Railway. 

Female Factory: The name derives from the famous Lowes Rum Distillery building bought by the Colonial Government in 1827 and extended in order to house the increasing number of female convicts being transported to Tasmania. Be transported back to these hard times with the fascinating and award winning tour of the Female Factory, known as ‘Louisa’s Walk’. You might discover some spine chilling facts of life as the women convicts knew it, as Louisa’s tale unfolds. 

Antarctic Adventure: If Louisa’s Walk left you feeling cold, that’s nothing compared to the chilled environment of the Antarctic Adventure world!! If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to step into the shoes of some of the World’s greatest Antarctic explorers, here’s the place to find out. The interactive displays include experiencing sub zero temperatures (don’t worry, frost bite is not an option here!), skiing in a snow blizzard, visiting a field camp and tuning in to see live images from the Australian Antarctic Base. 

Cadbury Chocolate Factory : If your hands need warming after the sub zero temperatures of the Antarctic expedition, this is the place to go to for an amazingly comforting and downright hedonistic hot choccie to warm your cockles and bring your extremities back to life again!! Not to mention that you’re bound to leave carrying a whole host of chocolate goodies to keep your sweet tooth satisfied for the rest of your trip. Amazingly, Cadbury Factory uses over a million litres of milk per week in fulfilling its chocolate creations! 

Historic Buildings and Places: For history buffs there are numerous places to visit to appreciate Hobart’s past and how it became the city it is today. 

For starters, head to Alexandra Battery, built in 1885 to defend Hobart from possible invasion. Named in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who was born in Hobart, you will also have a great view of Derwent River from this vantage point. 

To get an idea of how the early Tasmanian settlers used to live, take a slow meander to Battery Point, the area which was one of the first in Hobart to be settled and is made up of stately colonial housing, most of which now acts as the beautiful setting for upmarket accommodation and restaurants. 

If you want to sense a unique slice of Tasmanian history it is fun to walk to the General Post Office building in the heart of Hobart. Using your most vivid imagination, conjure up the vision of Amundsen returning from his great expedition, as it was from this building that he sent his telegram to confirm to the world that had been successful in reaching the South Pole and had indeed returned safely. 

Finish off the historical tour with a visit to Old Hobart Gaol, Parliament House (designed by the famous convict architect John Lee Archer and still home to the Governor’s cows who continue to graze in their city centre paddock!) and the 48 metres high Shot Tower, which offers a panoramic lookout over the city.
 
The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens: If you are in any way green fingered (or aspire to be!) then you will love the Botanical Gardens! The 14 hectare Gardens are located in Queens Domain and hold historic plant collections and a significant number of important conservation collections of Tasmanian plants. Overall, you can see over 600 different species of plants, flowers and trees and would have to visit numerous times over to appreciate them all!! 

Mount Wellington: To shake away the cobwebs from a night of partying or just to breathe the gorgeous Tasmanian fresh air into your lungs, take a bracing walk up to Mount Wellington. Standing at 1271 metres high, it dominates the skyline of Hobart. Don’t worry, you can cut corners by parking half way up at Fern Tree and from here there are some lush forest walks on the lower slopes of Mount Wellington. However, if you do take time to walk to the top you will be more than rewarded with magnificent views of Hobart, the harbour and its surrounding suburbs below. Be sure to pick a clear day though, otherwise you could be disappointed!

Getting To and Around Hobart

The best way to get to Hobart is from mainland Australia, as there are few regular international flights. However, the domestic service is very good and all the main Aussie airlines (Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Blue) have daily routes in and out of Hobart. 

Once you have arrived, the best way to get around is by hire car, although you wouldn’t be let down by the public transport system either, buses being your best bet. The public transport timetable is not as regular as you would expect in other capital cities though. At some point, you will inevitably drive across the Tasman Bridge that connects the 2 shores of Hobart.