Oceania : Australasia : Australia : Tasmania : Hobart

Hobart

Hobart [1] is the capital city of the Australian state of Tasmania. Hobart is very small and intimate (population 250,000) compared to the larger cities on the mainland, reflecting the small size of the state. The metropolitan area stretches north along the Derwent River, crossed by several bridges. It has a mild temperate oceanic climate, with four distinct seasons.

Travel to Hobart, visa requirements

Hobart city centre is some 15 km from Hobart International Airport (HBA) [2] at Cambridge. The following airlines fly to HBA:

Qantas [3] flies from Melbourne and Sydney.
Jetstar [4] flies from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Virgin Blue [5] flies from Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
Tasair [6] flies from Burnie

An airport bus service runs from the airport to Hobart (11AUD). The bus starts at the bus terminal. For the first three bus rides (plane departure before 07:30) you need to make a reservation before 8pm the night before. There are several pickup points throughout the city. The ticket can be bought from the driver or at the bus station.

A taxi will cost around $30.

It is a couple of hours drive from Launceston airport (hire cars can be rented either in advance or at the airports), or three to four hours drive from the ferry terminal in Devonport.

Get around

Two main methods of transport in Hobart are by private car or by public bus. Hobart has a sufficient public bus system. The main interchange is in front of the GPO (General Post Office). Ticket prices depend on the distance and start slightly above a dollar.

Because Hobart is small, riding a bike is always an option, although factors such as Hobart's mild climate and considerable distance from many of Tasmania's main attractions should be taken into consideration when staying in Hobart as a tourist. Walking is also a good option. Between the City Centre and Sandy Bay is less then an hour walk.

On a Saturday, avoid using a car around the Salamanca area because of the market.

There are no passenger trains in Tasmania.

Hobart attractions and sightseeing

Founded in 1804 by Colonel David Collins, Hobart is the second oldest city in Australia. It grew out of the penal settlement on the island at Risdon Cove, eight kilometres up river, which was founded in 1803 and abandoned five months later for the present site of Hobart. The city has many beautiful historic buildings and precincts, especially in the area around the river. There are many fine examples of Georgian and Victorian architecture, such as Salamanca Place, which has a terrace of wharehouses dating back to the whaling days of the 1830's. Nearby Battery Point, the original seamens quarters of the city and Maquarie and Davey Street offer more than 60 buildings classified by the National Trust.

Landmarks

Salamanca Market [7] - a major Saturday morning attraction, for locals and visitors alike. Situated in front of large sandstone warehouses which have been converted into a maze of craftsmen's workshops, giftshops, restaurants and other 'artsy-crafty' shops. These warehouses were mostly built to service 19th century whaling.
Battery Point, behind Salamanca Market. This area is very old and full of interesting architecture. Many of these buildings are built in the area's golden sandstone, giving the older parts of the city a warm golden glow. Even though it is a very poor building material compared to Sydney sandstone.
Botanical Gardens.[8] Beautiful location about fifteen minutes walk from the city centre. A must see attraction is the sub antarctic garden. Its like walking into a freezer full of plants!

Museums and Art Galleries

the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery [9] - donate some money so they can tart up their act. Has one of the best coin collections in any museum. It also houses stuffed versions of unique Tasmanian animals including Tasmanian Devils and the extinct Tasmanian Tiger
the Maritime Museum of Tasmania [10], Carnegie Building, cnr Argyle and Davey Streets
Salamanca - there are many small art galleries located around Salamanca Square

City tours

Wrest Point Casino, 410 Sandy Bay Road., ☎ tel 1800 030 611 (free call Australia only) or 03 6211 1750 (mailto:email@wrestpoint.com.au), [11]. - Australia's first legal casino was built in Hobart, and the complex has been upgraded many times to keep it at a high standard

Cascade Brewery, 140 Cascade Road., ☎ tel (03) 6224 1117 (bookings)., [12]. Australia's oldest brewery offers beer brewery tours for people aged 5 and over with tastings. Visitors must wear flat covered shoes and long pants. The tour can not be done by those who require a walking aid as there are over 200 steps.

Cadbury's Chocolate Factory, Cadbury Road, Claremont., ☎ tel 1800 627 367 (free call within Australia), [13]. Cadbury offers tours to persons over the age of 12. See how chocolate is made, soak in the aromas, have a tasting and buy cheap choccies in the factory shop. Since it is a working factory, you will need to wear enclosed shoes and safe clothing and don't wear jewelry or bring anything else except your wallet. If you happen to forget the appropriate shoes, the factory can lend some but prefer that a small donation is provided. Bookings are not essential but recommended as the tours can run behind schedules on busy days. Unfortunately, due to health and safety regulations tastings are no longer permitted during the tour but pre-packaged chocolates are provided before and after the tour.

The Domain. Walk from the city a few blocks towards the Tasman bridge and you'll suddenly be out of the city and amongst greenery and trees on the Domain... (head towards the bridge from the city but once you see greenery head up the hill towards it) Of note is the fact that you can always be sure to see plenty of parrots in the trees. They are relatively tame so it's a superb opportunity to see some brightly coloured parrots up close.

Mount Wellington, [14]. fantastic view from the top of Mount Wellington, take a bus to "Fern Tree" and then walk a steep zig-zag track to the top or enjoy a scenic drive to the summit. Be sure to bring warm clothes as even in summer the summit is around 4 degrees celsius. Be wary of long, sharp icicles falling off the mobile phone tower. Take care when driving especially at night due to the abundant wildlife on the mountain.

Live Music, [15]. The Tasmanian Gig Guide publishes a monthly live music listing that is available for download on their website. Check out what music is playing at all the venues in Hobart.

Runnymede, Bay Rd, New Town - gracious 1840s colonial home set in beautiful gardens, open to public

Hobart International Early Music Seminar 2007, [16]. Featuring Hopkinson Smith (Lutenist and one of the most respected early music teachers and performers - teaches at Scholar Cantorum in Basel, Switzerland), William Bower (Lutenist from New Zealand), John Griffiths (Musicologist and Vihuela expert from Australia) , Rosemary Hodgson (Lutenist from Australia), Sue Court (Musicologist from New Zealand) and with Ludovico's Band (5 piece continuo group from Australia) - concerts, lecturers and masterrclasses. Held in historic Rydges Hotel in Hobart. March 30th - 2nd April 2007.

Peppermint Bay Cruise, [17]. If you are in Hobart and need to kill half a day, this is an absolute must! You start off in Hobart and board a luxury passenger yacht, which takes you for a cruise around the bay. On the way to Peppermint Bay the crew points out different sites like Salmon Farms, Local Sealife, and geographic wonders. When you arrive at Peppermint Bay you are treated to an amazing Tazmanian clambake, of clam chowder, fish, and rock lobster. The restaurant is wonderful with its rich hard wood floors and a wall that is completely made of glass so that you can enjoy the picturesque scenery. After a fun day they take you home. You can make your bookings at 1300 137 919.
Ticket Sales: Hobart Cruise Centre, Brooke Street Pier, Sullivans Cove, Hobart. Departures: Cruises depart from Brooke Street Pier, Sullivans Cove 11.30am Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday (May 1st - September 30th). Returns 4.30pm. 12pm daily (October 1st - April 30th). Returns 5.00pm.

Shot Tower, Taroona - colonial brick tower for making gun shot, tours and souvenir shop

Good restaurants and cheap meals

Hobart has a profusion of eating establishments ranging from the cheap to the luxuriously expensive. Freshly caught seafood is a specialty of the region, and there are several excellent seafood restaurants. Deep-sea Trevalla is unique to Tasmania and must be tried. Tasmanian lobster is also excellent. Scallop pie is also unique to Tasmania and can be easily purchased from the Salamanca Market food stalls.

Machine Laundry Cafe, 12 Salamanca Square, ☎ tel 03 6224 9922 (fax: fax 03 6224 7967.). This cafe (which also houses a laundromat, hence the name) is a good place for a filling breakfast of $8-$15. Eggs benedict and banana and ricotta pancakes are recommended.

Mikaku, 85 Salamanca Place,, ☎ tel 03 6224 0882.. Mikaku is a Japanese restaurant. The fish menu is not very extensive, it's more focussed on deep fried foods and beef. Mains $20..

Mures Fish Centre, Victoria Dock, ☎ 03 6231 1999 (upper deck) or 03 6231 2121 (lower deck). (fax: 03 6234 4464), [18]. Mures has two sections: the upper deck is a stylish seafood restaurant (mains $20-$30); the lower deck is a cafeteria style bistro (mains approx $10) and served mainly deep fried fish and the like. Reservations are usually required for the upper deck.

The Drunken Admiral, 19 Old Wharf, Hobart Town, ☎ (03) 6234 1903 (fax: (03) 6231 1259), [19]. Dinner from 6pm - Seven nights a week. Wonderful restaurant close to Mures. The seafood platter is highly recommended. It is important to make a reservation as this is a popular restaurant. Mains $21.90-$31.90.

Ball and Chain, Salamanca, long established and very popular steakhouse

Hobart nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.

Bars

Bar Celona, 45 Salamanca Place, ph 03 6224 7557 (fax 03 6224 7388). Bar Celona is a combined wine bar and cafe. The decor is open and wood panelled: while it can get a bit noisy, it's a good place to escape some of the much more crowded bars on a busy weekend night, especially if you want to have a nice glass or two of wine.
Isobar, 11a Franklin Wharf. Formally known as 'carbon', Isobar lounge and Isobar_the nightclub are open 3 nights a week and is a popular hang out for the younger crowd with 3 distinctive areas in the nightclub and the bar downstairs catering more to the upmarket drinkers. Isobar is probably one of the most popular nightclubs in Hobart currently although wheather this is due to the nightclub itself or the lack of a nightlife in hobart is unknown.
The Lark Distillery, 14 Davey Street, Ph. (03) 6231 9088, [20]. The Lark Distillery is the first licensed distillery in Tasmania since 1839 and now operates as a bar, store and distillery in one. It produces fine single malt whiskey and other liquers. It provides free tastings of liquers and spirits and charges a small fee to taste their 3 types of whiskeys ($2 each tasting or $5 for all 3). Their bush liquer also has a distinctive taste through the use of pepperberries. There are several live music performances a week. Entry is always free and students receive a 10% discount on drinks.

Pubs

The Hope & Anchor Tavern, 65 Macquarie Street, Ph 03 6236 9982 (Fax 03 6234 2186), [21]. The Hope & Anchor is Australia's oldest continuously trading pub, founded in 1807. There are three bars: the public bar has a comfortable atmosphere, with a range of Tasmanian beers on tap, as well as Cooper's Pale Ale and Guinness. In the winter months, sink into an armchair and stoke the open fire. The Lounge Bar, also on the ground floor, is slightly more formal, where drinkers are seated at dining tables. The upstairs Museum Bar is open for special occasions but if you're visiting, ask the publican for a look at the Museum's collection of maritime and war memorabilia from the early days of Van Dieman's Land. The restaurant offers a range of upper-end pub meals. Try the Suffolk Lamb Shoulder or a Gatwick Porterhouse.
The New Sydney Hotel, 87 Bathurst Street. One of the most popular inner-city pubs, the cosy New Sydney is home to Hobart's Irish community and offers an Irish pub atmosphere rather more authentic than that of an Irish theme pub (see Irish Murphy's, below). Large range of imported and local beers on tap.
Trout Bar/Eaglehawk Inn, Corner of Federal and Elizabeth St. North Hobart, Ph 03 6236 9777. A five minute cab ride/30 minute walk from the city, the Trout is one of the homes of Hobart's live music scene. Only a basic range of beers on tap, with standard pub meals available, the Trout is worth a look if you wish to sample some Tassie bands.
Republic Bar, 299 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart, Tel: (03) 62346954, [22]. In its day, the former Empire Hotel was one of Hobart's roughest pubs, hosting a shoot-out during the 1980s. Australian cricketer Max Walker grew up in the Empire, which was run by his parents. After a re-modelling and re-branding as the Republic Bar in the mid-1990s, it has become one of the State's most popular pubs. It hosts an art gallery and regular live music. Associated with left politics and the Green movement. Meals available.
Knopwood's Retreat, 39 Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tel: (03) 6223 5808. Possibly Tasmania's most famous pub, Knopwood's is set in one of the ancient sandstone warehouses that line Salamanca Place. It remains THE place for after-work drinks on Fridays, when the crowd spills out into Salamanca and many punters take their drinks across the road to sit on the lawns. Particularly popular with univerisity students, the pub hosts Syrup nightclub upstairs, one of Hobart's more intimate (and better) clubs.
The Shipwright's Arms, 29 Trumpeter St, Battery Point, Tel: (03) 62235551. Located in Battery Point, one of Australia's oldest suburbs, the Arms opened in 1842. Cosy fires and Chesterfields is the atmosphere here and the nautical theme attracts participants in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race around the new year. A popular local pub, slightly off the tourist trail, the beer garden is an attractive place for a meal on summer evenings.
Irish Murphy's, 21 Salamanca Place, tel 03 6223 1119 (fax 03 6223 1133, email hobart@irishmurphys.com.au), [23]. Irish Murphy's is a busy Irish pub on one of the prime nightlife strips. It has a young crowd dancing to pop hits from their childhood in a fake Irish franchise pub.

Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

Adelphi Court YHA, 17 Stoke Street, New Town, phone 03 6228 4829 (fax 03 6278 2047, email: yhatas@yhatas.org.au), [24]. Prices $22 dorm bed, $56-$62 for a double room and $65-$71 for a single room.
Dr Syntax Hotel, 139 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay, phone 03 6223 6258 (fax 03 6224 0132). Pub-style accommodation. Prices $45-$70.
Alexandra on Battery, 3 Sonning Crescent, Sandy Bay, phone 03 6225 2574 (fax 03 6225 3522). Prices $80-$90 per night.
Motel 429, 429 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay. phone 03 6225 2511 (fax 03 6225 4354, email: sales@motel429.com.au), [25]. Prices $99-$113 per night.
Cottage on Lord, 49 Lord Street, Sandy Bay, phone 03 6224 0823, [26]. Prices $255 per night.
Rydges Hobart, Cnr Argyle Street & Lewis Street, ph 1300 857 922. Rydges Hobart is located just 2 km from hobarts central business district. Rydges Hobart’s heritage listed buildings and antique suites capture the essence of historic Hobart. Rydges Hotels and Resorts is an Austrailian owned and operated company.

Splurge

Lenna, 20 Runnymede Street, Battery Point, tel +61 3 6232 3900, Reservations freecall 1800 030 633 (within Australia), mailto:enquiries@lenna.com.au, [27]. one of Hobart's most stylish boutique hotels.
Grand Chancellor, Davey St. Attached to the hotel is the Federation Concert Hall, the home of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
The Henry Jones Art Hotel, winner of a national award for luxury small hotels.