Things To Do in Hobart and Southern Tasmania

GoTasmania4 years ago

Things To Do in Hobart and Southern Tasmania

Take the vibrancy of a capital city, add stellar bush walks and beaches, and start planning your next getaway.

Huon Valley Council

Take a scenic drive from Hobart through the Huon Valley and further south. Head underground and explore the remarkable subterranean formations of Hastings Caves. For full immersion in nature, join a kayak tour on the Lune River with Esperance Adventures, and listen to birdsong while you’re drifting downstream to the ocean. Photo: Courtesy of Esperance Adventures

Huon Valley Council

Huon Valley, TAS, Australia

Derwent Valley Council

Follow the River Derwent downstream for 40 minutes to New Norfolk in the Derwent Valley. This is the gateway to the Western Wilds, a network of self-drive journeys through the stories and wilderness landscapes of western Tasmania. Go antique hunting in New Norfolk, and book ahead for weekend lunch at the Agrarian Kitchen Eatery or enjoy a takeaway picnic on its front lawn. Further afield is Mount Field National Park; follow its Tall Trees Walk through a forest of giant swamp gums, the world’s tallest flowering plant. Photo: Stu Gibson

Derwent Valley Council

Derwent Valley, TAS, Australia

Tasman Peninsula

Don’t rush the drive from Hobart to the Tasman Peninsula en route to Port Arthur. Instead, break the 90-minute drive with stops to explore at a more leisurely pace. There are stunning rock formations around Eaglehawk Neck, including the Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch and Blowhole, and panoramic views across Pirates Bay. For a leisurely lunch and a glass of sparkling, visit the cellar door at Bangor Vineyard Shed. Photo: Luke Tscharke

Tasman Peninsula

Tasman Peninsula, Koonya TAS 7187, Australia

Bruny Island

A short ferry ride from Kettering, Bruny Island is a magnet for hikers, history buffs and food lovers. Visit Australia’s second oldest lighthouse, or comb a secluded beach along the Cape Queen Elizabeth Trail. Stock your picnic basket with island produce, including oysters by Get Shucked and cheeses and beers by Bruny Island Cheese and Beer Co. Photo: Adam Gibson

Bruny Island

Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia

Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures

Leave the docks of Hobart behind on a seafood cruise with Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures. Visit a salmon farm, taste fresh oysters, crayfish and abalone and watch as your guide gathers periwinkles and sea urchin to cook and serve onboard. On return, taste local spirits at Gold Bar, or sample regional wines with spectacular water views at The Glass House. If you’re looking for a story behind your stay, the storytelling tour at MACq 01 Hotel is an introduction to the area’s most colourful historic characters. Photo: Stu Gibson

Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures

Elizabeth Street Pier, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia

Coal River

The Coal River Valley, just 20 minutes’ drive from Hobart, is another good option for a scenic country drive, with plenty of places to enjoy wine tastings and local produce. At Coal River Farm watch cheese and chocolate being made by hand; its creamy blue cheese won gold at the 2020 Australian Dairy Awards. Suppliers of cherries, flowers, honey and walnuts line the road winding through the valley to the historical village of Richmond. Photo: Alastair Bet

Coal River

Coal River, Tasmania, Australia

kunanyi / Mount Wellington

How many cities have a network of mountain-biking and walking tracks within easy driving distance? The spectacular rock formations of kunanyi/Mount Wellington are visible even from Hobart’s CBD, but it’s worth making time for a closer look. A drive or walk to the summit offers incredible views, and there are natural wonders further down the slopes, too. Try the short walk to Sphinx Rock, or search for the aptly named Octopus Tree. And make time for the North-South Track, a downhill run from The Springs, with some of Hobart’s best riding. Photo: Luke Tscharke