Tasmania's capital is shaped by nature. The city is surrounded by the rugged heights of Mt Kunay/Wellington and the wide Derwent River, with moorland nearby - just beyond the mountains.

In addition to mountains and rivers, there are cultural and culinary experiences thriving in Australia's second oldest city. The Underground Museum of Ancient and Modern Art, also known as Mona, has a prominent place in the world art world and on the itinerary of many travelers.

Admire Hobart from the water, walk along the waterfront, or even from the saddle of your bike while riding downhill. Wine tasting at an urban winery, when the day comes to an end, sip a glass of whisky next to a dinosaur fossil, or settle in a cozy bar within the walls of a 19th-century hospital.

Find the best attractions and activities in Hobart, spend the best time in Tasmania.

Wander through the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

A walk at Royal Tasmanian Botanical Garden is a great free activity in Hobart. This lovely cool climate gardens were designed in 1818 and have a variety of seasons displaying a kaleidoscope of colors, especially during the fall. Amongst the highlights are the peaceful Japanese gardens, although there is plenty of plants and exotics to explore there as well. Other popular collections include a Tasmanian Fernery and you can even visit the Subantarctic plants house, conservatory. Yo can plan the picnic at the beautiful grounds.

Stroll along the Battery Point Sculpture Trail

The Old Harbour Quarter on Battery Point is similar to the opening air museum. The Sculpture Trail is 1.2 km long and includes two kilometers of Battery Point. The charming seaside suburb of Hobart is surrounded by charming 19th-century farmhouses, boutique hotels and restaurants. You start the excursion in Salamanca Place. As you stroll along the scenic route, you can also look for the nine sculptures which represent numbers connected in the context of the story of the historic site, whether the date or the weight of the object.

Tasman Bridge

The Tasman Bridge is Hobart's most iconic landmark and is a bold arch which crosses the Derwent river with multiple piers. It links Queenstown to the Montagu suburbs. During its inauguration in 1964 11 ships struck the piers crashing into the structure threatening the structure to collapse. The replacement bridge was built on April 27, 1977. Walk along the bridge and enjoy spectacular views over the lake and harbor.

St. David's Cathedral

St. David's Cathedral offers a serene oasis amid booming city activity. The cathedral was built in 1868 and dedicated in 1874. Today you can admire its gorgeous stained-glass windows, look over its square tower at Oatlandstone and hear its ringing bells over the city. Many people are not religious but are drawn to the beauty of this location. Official websites: Web sites.

MONA: Museum of Old and New Art

The MNA was established in 2010 and has become a hot tourist attraction. These provocatively private contemporary art and antiquities are stored underground in a private cellar that offers interactive interpretation via mobile touch screens. Described as a subversive adult Disneyland, the museum presents exhibited objects that include Egyptian sarcophages and a machine that transforms food into colored goo. This place offers numerous facilities including a stylish restaurant, entertainment venues, libraries and cinemas.

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

The Tasmanian Museum and the Arts Museum offer an older counterpoint to the innovative Mona. This is one of Hobarts best attractions for families and provides a unique dose of Aboriginal and convict heritage, nature history and the arts. Of particular interest is the presentation of historical seafarers' or whalers' trade in the Southern Hemisphere. The museum features interactive children's exhibits and gallery displays of Tasmanian art, spanning from colonialism until now.

Mawson Huts Replica Museum

Visit the Mawson Hut replica museum for more details. Opponent of Constitution Docks, the popular attraction offers an interesting glimpse into life conditions for Australias early explorers. Heritage architects reconstructed the first Snow clad huts in the Antarctica used for the 1914 expedition led by Douglas Mawson which left the museum just steps away. These huts allow you to observe what it must be like to live close together amidst the soaring wind.

North Hobart's Restaurant Strip and Runnymede

Within 30 minutes walking down Elizabeth Street from the city centre you can reach the restaurant district in North Hobart. Food enthusiasts have a wide choice of trips around the world to experience different cuisines such as Asian, Japanese, Italian, and Turkish. This town has something distinctly bohemian.

Runnymede is an elegant two-story mansion from the late 1800s set on one beautiful lawn overlooking New Town Bay. The house was constructed at least in 1835 for the lawyer Robert Pitcairn, who campaigned for ending prison transport.

Hobart Convict Penitence

Hobart Convict Penitenary, which houses the 1831 chapel of the respected Irish architect John Lee Archer provides an intimate view of convict life. In 1860 two wings of the prison was transformed into a penal court and used until 1983. You can take a very good guided visit to this historic prison and court building. There is a short documentary about convicted prisoners called Pandemonium projected into the walls of prison chapels. Definitely better to go on a ghost-hunt in Hobart at night.

Buy fresh produce at Farm Gate Market

Do you need some good shopping tips in Hobart? Farm Gate is the best place to visit for your family! Each Sunday from 8:30 to 2:00pm, this popular farm market lures hundreds of customers to one of the citys busy streets. The market was built on the ethos of being able to eat, drink, grow and see the produce you're looking for. This continues even today. Foods make a big deal. Meet the farmer and talk to him about what he has produced, from fresh fruit to succulent seafood to crisp Tasmanian apples, black truffles and winter greens on the shelves. Add a bouquet of bright and beautiful flowers.

Salamanca Place & Salamanca Market

Located in Sullivan's Cove, the historical sandstone buildings at Salamanca Place are rich in history. Once an industrial center for a century in old Hobart, this cobbled road has evolved into a tourist spot. Depart Battery Point, descend Kelly. Step into a busy neighbourhood where coffee shops, antique shops, restaurants and shops abound. The Salamanca arts center is an arts hub with galleries, performances, and studios. Salamanca's most popular sights are Saturday Salamanca Market. More than 300 shops provide everything from handcrafted wooden items to glassware, ceramics and fruit and vegetable accessories.

Cascade Brewery

The Cascade Brewery Company was established here in 1824. The brewery has a distinctive Gothic façade and is now Australia's oldest brewery. It is only about 4 km from the city centre and about 10 minutes by Metrobus from Franklin Square.

They have a highly rated hike on the site, but keep in mind that you must wear long pants and enclosed shoes. If you want to see this brewery in action, you should plan the visit on a weekday.

We recommend to taste 4 beers and/or ciders, taking a seat in the peaceful manicured garden.

See the View from the Summit of Kunanyi / Mount Wellington

Sometimes covered with snow even during the summer the 1,270 foot Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is curved west of Hobart. You can see the rugged wilderness beyond the city of culture and wealth. The Tasmanian double-naming policy acknowledges the Aboriginal word "kananyi" as the word of the mountain. An enviable 21-km trail takes you up the Huon Highway to the top through temperate forest and sub-alpine landscape. On Pinnacle you can view historical pictures on observation decks.

Mount Nelson

When Mt Wellington is in the clouds, the lower and closer Mt Nelson option can be a good option. Take the 458 subway from the Franklin Square N station in the city to here, and the journey takes about 30 minutes. At the top there are some stunning views of the city and harbour, a signal station and a nice cafe.

Book a Bruny Island Day Trip

Located 35 miles south of Hobart with 20-minute boat trips into the Dentrecasteaux Channel from Kettering, the windswept wilderness of the beautiful Bruny Island. The Island provides an ideal refuge for the gourmet with hand-crafted chocolates and nougats, handcrafted cheeses locally sourced and fresh cured fruits. Many day excursions also offer the opportunity to sample local dishes. South Bruny National Park is at its southern tip, which has a similar feel to northern Scotland. Eco-cruisers and bush walking are common activities on campus. Inshore fur seals and fairy penguins frolic in the chilly waters and the kelp forests spin on the current.

Take a day trip to Port Arthur

The brutal penal colony's history seems bizarre with its stunning position in the Tasman peninsula. The governor founded this community in 1830 in which the most prominent convict from Tasmania was sentenced to brutal labour. Visit Port Arthur, about 90 kilometers from Hobart, is an amazing place to explore the country and is an inspiring tribute to the harsh realities faced by convicts. You may visit guard tower sandstone church hospital prisons, museums, or even museums. Nighttime ghost-tours with lanterns will definitely make your spine chill.

Cruise on the Derwent River

The Derwent River flows 200km from Lake St Clair in Tasmania's Central Highlands, through the city of Hobart, before joining the Tasman Sea at Storm Bay. The wooded coast was once occupied by Aboriginal Tasmanians and later cultivated by European settlers, and today there are industry, recreation, fishing and transport along its length.

There are several options for a short cruise on the lower river, and it's worth heading to the bay to see the city from the water.

Find regional products

Whether browsing the local shops, dining at the many great restaurants, taking a food tour or strolling the markets, food is an essential part of any trip to Hobart. I really think that as more and more people venture south, they could pose a serious challenge to the title in Melbourne.

They may not be to everyone's taste, but the oyster farms around Hobart offer some of the best oysters in the world. Nothing could challenge a Bluff oyster for a world title, but the Tassie oyster did just that. To be fair, to be absolutely sure, try them in batches in a few places.

Surrounded by pristine waters, fish and seafood have always been a mainstay of the Tasmanian diet. There are lot of options to enjoy it from around the piers and waterfront of Hobart city, many with an excellent view or ideally situated for an after dinner stroll. Choose from fine dining through to fish and chips from a floating barge and everything in between.