 | Celebrating dark and ancient pagan rituals is at the core of this festival, and during the time of the festival, you can’t miss the references to light and dark, birth, death and modern mythology around Hobart. Some of the best Hobart things to do and see are its festivals and events, many of which take place in the summer months. Moorilla tours and events include wine and art days at Mona, private vineyard tours combined with wine tasting, or wine, golf and art events. There are events held regularly at the gardens, too, so check the gardens’ website for the latest info before you visit. The Red Decker Bus makes many visits during the day, with pickup available from multiple locations across central Hobart – click here to book your ticket. If you don’t feel like walking, there are options to explore Wellington Park on horseback, by mountain bike, or even by 4ラ4. From woodlands to summits, Wellington Park is packed with bushwalking routes of varying difficulty through different types of terrain. A corner space in the abuzz North Hobart neighbourhood, you’ll hear the signature sound of records spinning and wine glasses clinking as soon as you get near the lunch and dinner haunt. And an Earth-loving, Tasmanian diner, you’ll be pleased to know that Tempo is also committed to not dishing out farmed salmon or ocean trout. Dessert is the perfect finale, whether it's a lemon semifreddo or custard tart with gingerbread ice cream. There’s an extensive wine list scribbled on the chalkboard, and the staff are happy to help match your choice with the night’s menu. Six courses (four, and la carte if you’re dining at lunch) featuring handmade pasta bursting with flavour, like sweet corn agnolotti or dory and potato cappellacci, as well as vegetable-based dishes using produce from local growers.
Close your eyes and you’ll be well on your way to Antarctica, or perhaps the Laplands of the Arctic Circle or Siberia, minus the long haul. But it’s not just the outlook that dazzles – the food is equally impressive. As always, if you have any questions at all please feel free to hop over to our friendly Facebook Group where you can ask our community of Lappers about anything at all, or you can email me here. Far quieter than the Salamanca Markets and waterfront, a stop at Brooke Street pier is highly recommended during your time in Hobart for a nose-around. There are also some nice coffee bars and cafes if you feel like passing some time next to the water. The pier serves partly as a ferry terminal today – this is where the boats to MONA leave from, and there are also catamaran cruises operated by the luxury operator, Peppermint Bay Cruises (book here). You can make your own Hobart free walking tour of the area, or just drop in for an hour or two. It’s no surprise that visiting the waterfront is one of the top activities to do in Hobart, and while you’re in the area, you won’t want to miss out on Brooke Street Pier if you like culture and locally made products/food. MONA is also the museum behind the MONA FOMA and MOFO festivals held in Tasmania each year (see the festivals section above for more info).
Regularly voted as one of the 10 best things to do in Hobart, this is a great place to come and enjoy some time in nature. If you’re looking for stuff to do in Hobart at a slightly slower pace, then a visit to the gardens is a great idea. The gardens cover over 14 hectares, and visitors can either stroll around and enjoy the gardens at their own pace or take a guided tour which costs $30 for adults. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are just a short walk or drive from the city centre of Hobart and are another of the top rated things to do in Hobart city. High ceilings, crafted playlists (yes, music matters), attentive staff and comfortable seating. The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) ferry is also located here, making Aloft a great restaurant to finish your day after a trip to Tasmania's best musuem. You'll be lucky to find space if you walk in without a reservation, highlighting the fact Aloft is indeed a popular Hobart fine dining experience.
Enticing cushioned booths welcome you to stay a while and the window seat views capture the harbourside activity aptly. And as much as we love a good window seat, Alft’s open kitchen is an experience in itself. Paired drinks are part of the night, and the narrating chefs expertly curate sake and tea to accompany your degustation. Those who book during tomato and stone fruit season are in for a treat; however, Omotenashi is a remarkable affair year-round. No two sittings are the same at the Kaiseki-style eatery, but you can expect minimal-intervention seafood and in-season produce that is elevated beyond belief. The menu is a seasonal snapshot of the state’s best produce, featuring everything from wallaby tartare and kingfish crudo to Tasmanian porterhouse with anchovy butter and beef tallow fries. The site is operated by National Trust Australia and is located on the corner of Bathurst Street and Brisbane streets, just a 20min walk from central Hobart. Click here to book your ticket – operating four times per day from Tuesday to Sunday. Convict history features strongly on the agenda here, and it’s recommended you visit at least one of these on your trip to Hobart. So if you’re looking for cool things to do in Hobart, or just wondering what to do in Hobart at night, come visit Street Eats Franko. We also love that it’s one of very few markets in Tasmania that are dog-friendly, and unlike some of Hobart’s other markets and festivals the Hobart Twilight Festival operates year-round.
Also if you’re looking for things to do in Hobart at night, come back to the Salamanca precinct after sunset when the place comes alive with a range of great restaurants and cafes! Keep in mind that given Salamanca Place is one of the most popular places to visit around Hobart, on most days you can expect it to be quite busy and crowded. A huge chunk of the ingredients for the set menu’s dishes are grown at the kitchen’s on-site farm, while the rest are sourced from nearby growers, farmers and fishermen. "Look but don’t touch" said no one ever at Faro Bar and Restaurant. An intimate nine-seat ramen bar in the city, serving up soul-warming soups for lunch from Tuesday to Friday only. It’s walk-in only, so rock up early to secure a spot. Schol takes its name from the Greek word for leisure, which is fitting for a space that encourages creativity and conversation, all centred around a communal ten-seater table. |