Quick answer
Hobart has more genuinely good things to do than most visitors expect.
The things to do in Hobart go well beyond one famous museum. Salamanca Market, kunanyi Mount Wellington, Battery Point, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, the North Hobart restaurant strip, Lark Distillery, the Sunday Farmers Market, Sullivan’s Cove waterfront, and the Coal River Valley wine region are all among the best things to do in Hobart — and several cost nothing. Here are 10 that prove the point.
Hobart rewards visitors who treat it like a proper city
Most visitors arrive in Hobart with a MONA booking and not much else planned. That is understandable. But Hobart has developed quickly and confidently into one of the most rewarding small cities in Australia. The food scene, the historic streets, the surrounding landscapes, and the genuine cultural depth make the things to do in Hobart far more interesting than the MONA headline suggests. Hobart tours from Aussie Loop cover the full range of what the city and its surrounds offer.
10 things to do in Hobart that are not MONA
1. Salamanca Market on a Saturday morning
Salamanca Market runs every Saturday from 8:30am to 3pm along Salamanca Place, the row of Georgian sandstone warehouses on the waterfront. Over 300 stalls sell Tasmanian food, art, plants, clothing, handmade goods, and produce from local farms and growers. Arrive before 10am to move freely through the stalls before the crowd thickens. The market draws thousands of locals alongside visitors, which makes it feel genuinely alive rather than staged. Free entry. One of the best things to do in Hobart regardless of what else is on your itinerary.
2. Climb kunanyi Mount Wellington
kunanyi / Mount Wellington rises 1,270 metres directly behind Hobart and is the most dramatic backdrop of any Australian capital city. On a clear day the view from the summit takes in the city, the Derwent River, and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Drive to the summit in about 45 minutes from the CBD, or walk from the lower suburb of Fern Tree on a trail that takes 3 to 4 hours return. The summit sits consistently 5 to 10 degrees cooler than the city so bring a layer regardless of how warm it feels at sea level. One of the best free things to do in Hobart for visitors who want a view without a tour.
***kunanyi is the mountain that explains what Hobart actually is. A small city pressed between deep harbour and high wilderness. The view from the top makes that relationship completely clear.***
3. Walk the streets of Battery Point
Battery Point is Hobart’s oldest neighbourhood, a grid of Georgian and Victorian cottages, sandstone walls, narrow lanes, and gardens that has been remarkably well preserved. Arthur’s Circus is the centrepiece: a ring of small cottages around a village green that looks almost unchanged from the 1840s. Spend an hour walking the lanes, stop at Jackman and McRoss bakery on Hampden Road for something good, and finish at the Shipwright’s Arms Hotel for a drink with locals who have been doing the same for decades. Battery Point is one of the things to do in Hobart that costs nothing and delivers more than you expect.
4. Spend a morning at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery sits on Dunn Place in the CBD, a short walk from the waterfront. Free entry. The collection covers Tasmanian natural history, colonial history, Aboriginal Tasmanian history and culture, and a rotating gallery of contemporary Tasmanian art. The Aboriginal history section covering the Palawa people’s 40,000 years in lutruwita/Tasmania is genuinely significant and thoughtfully presented. Budget 1.5 to 2 hours. The taypani milaythina-tu: Return to Country exhibition presents Ancestral objects returned from overseas institutions to Tasmania and runs until August 2026. Worth going now while this is on.
5. Eat your way along North Hobart’s Elizabeth Street
North Hobart’s Elizabeth Street strip is where locals eat and has quietly built a reputation as one of the best restaurant precincts in Australia relative to city size. Japanese izakaya, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, natural wine bars, and some of the best Thai food in the country all live on the same few blocks. Standouts as of 2026: Fico for modern European with exceptional Tasmanian produce, Hamlet for wood-fired seasonal cooking, and Izakaya Furin for Japanese small plates. One of the best things to do in Hobart on a Friday or Saturday evening is simply walk the strip and pick somewhere that looks right. Book ahead for Fico.
6. Drink Tasmanian whisky at Lark Distillery
Tasmania has a genuinely strong whisky industry and Lark Distillery is where it started. The Lark Bar is on Davey Street in the CBD, a 5-minute walk from the waterfront. Tasting paddles of single malt Tasmanian whisky, knowledgeable staff, and an atmosphere that feels nothing like a tourist trap. Our Whisky Day Tour from Hobart visits multiple Tasmanian distilleries and producers in a single day with transport included. The most complete way to experience Tasmanian whisky beyond a single bar visit and one of the most distinctive things to do in Hobart for visitors who appreciate a drink with a genuine story behind it.
7. See Tasmanian devils at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is 25 minutes north of Hobart in Brighton, a genuine wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre rather than a commercial attraction. Tasmanian devils, wombats, eastern quolls, wallabies, echidnas, koalas, and a wide range of native birds are all resident. The Tasmanian devil feeding is the headline: genuinely close access to the animals in naturalistic enclosures. Bonorong also runs a Dawn Tour and a Night Tour for visitors who want the animals at their most active. One of the best things to do in Hobart for families and wildlife-focused visitors.
***Bonorong tends to affect people more than they expect. The animal rescues on display are genuinely moving and the Tasmanian devils are extraordinary up close.***
8. Browse the Sunday Farmers Market at Bathurst Street
The Hobart Farmers Market runs every Sunday from 8:30am to 1pm on Bathurst Street in the city centre. Tasmanian growers, bakers, producers, and food makers selling direct: cheese, salmon, oysters, charcuterie, sourdough, honey, and seasonal produce from farms across the state. More food-focused and less arts-and-crafts than Salamanca Market, which makes it a genuine complement if you are visiting on both a Saturday and a Sunday. Free entry. Budget something for what you will inevitably buy.
9. Walk the Sullivan’s Cove waterfront at sunset
Sullivan’s Cove is the working waterfront at the heart of Hobart. Fishing boats, heritage buildings, the Brooke Street Pier where the MONA ferry departs, and a string of restaurants and bars facing the water. The walk from Salamanca Place to the Elizabeth Street Pier takes about 20 minutes and passes the Customs House, Constitution Dock, and the Henry Jones Art Hotel. Do it at sunset for the best light on the sandstone buildings and the moored yachts. Free, easy, and one of the most atmospheric things to do in Hobart at any time of day.
10. Drive the Coal River Valley wine region
The Coal River Valley sits 20 minutes northeast of Hobart and is Tasmania’s most accessible cool-climate wine region. Pooley Wines, Frogmore Creek, and Coal Valley Vineyard are all open for tastings across weekends and most weekdays. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling are the strengths. The valley drive is scenic enough to justify the trip before a glass is poured. A full afternoon easily and enjoyably spent. One of the most underrated things to do in Hobart for visitors who want something beyond the waterfront and the mountain.
Free things to do in Hobart
Several of the best things to do in Hobart cost nothing at all:
- Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Free entry daily, significant collection, major Palawa exhibition until August 2026
- Salamanca Market: Free entry every Saturday, 8:30am to 3pm
- Sullivan’s Cove waterfront walk: Free, 20 to 30 minutes, best at sunrise or sunset
- Battery Point walk: Free, 45 to 60 minutes, Arthur’s Circus is the highlight
- Street art in Evans Lane and Mall Street: Free, self-guided, 20 minutes in the CBD
- kunanyi Mount Wellington drive: Free to drive to the summit, car park at the top
Day trips that belong on your Hobart itinerary
Once you have worked through the things to do in Hobart city, the surrounding day trips are genuinely excellent. Tourism Tasmania’s Hobart guide covers the full range, but these three are worth prioritising:
- Bruny Island: 40 minutes south by car then a 20-minute ferry. Fresh oysters, the Pennicott cruise, and white wallabies. Full day. Browse Bruny Island tours on Aussie Loop for guided options with transport from Hobart included.
- Port Arthur: 90 minutes southeast. Australia’s most intact convict settlement. Full day. See Port Arthur tours and day trips for guided options.
- Freycinet and Wineglass Bay: 2 hours 45 minutes north. Tasmania’s signature coastal walk. Full day. Browse Freycinet and Wineglass Bay tours for guided options from Hobart.
Tasmania’s nature and wildlife guide from Tourism Tasmania is worth reading before you plan your full itinerary. Hobart is the anchor. The surrounding region is the real prize.
FAQs
What are the best things to do in Hobart besides MONA?
The best things to do in Hobart beyond MONA include Salamanca Market on Saturday mornings, the walk and views at kunanyi Mount Wellington, Battery Point’s historic Georgian streets, the free Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the North Hobart restaurant strip on Elizabeth Street, Lark Distillery for Tasmanian whisky tasting, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary 25 minutes north, the Sunday Farmers Market on Bathurst Street, the Sullivan’s Cove waterfront walk, and the Coal River Valley wine region 20 minutes from the city.
What are the free things to do in Hobart?
The best free things to do in Hobart include the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (free daily), Salamanca Market (free entry every Saturday), the Sullivan’s Cove waterfront walk, the Battery Point heritage walk, the street art in Evans Lane and Mall Street, and driving to the summit of kunanyi Mount Wellington. Several of the best things to do in Hobart cost nothing at all.
How many days do you need in Hobart?
Two full days covers the main things to do in Hobart city comfortably including Salamanca Market, Battery Point, the waterfront, kunanyi, the TMAG, and a good dinner on North Hobart. Three days allows a day trip to Bruny Island or Port Arthur without rushing the city. Four or more days opens up the Coal River Valley, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, and a properly relaxed pace. Most visitors leave wishing they had booked one more night.
Is Hobart worth visiting without going to MONA?
Yes, completely. MONA is an excellent museum but the things to do in Hobart beyond it are extensive. Salamanca Market, kunanyi, Battery Point, the whisky scene, the waterfront, North Hobart restaurants, and the surrounding day trips make Hobart one of the most rewarding small cities in Australia. MONA adds to an already strong city rather than being the sole reason to visit.
What is the best time to visit Hobart?
The best time for things to do in Hobart depends on what you are after. Summer (December to February) brings the most daylight and major events including the Sydney to Hobart yacht race finish in January. Autumn (March to May) is quieter with great weather and the most photogenic light on the sandstone buildings. Winter brings an atmospheric city with fewer crowds and the food and whisky scene at its most active. Spring (September to November) offers good conditions and accommodation availability before the summer rush.
What are the best day trips from Hobart?
The best day trips from Hobart are Bruny Island (40 minutes south then a 20-minute ferry, full day for the Pennicott cruise and fresh oysters), Port Arthur Historic Site (90 minutes southeast, Australia’s best-preserved convict settlement), and Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay (2 hours 45 minutes north, Tasmania’s signature coastal walk). All three are among the best things to do in the Hobart region and each warrants a full dedicated day.
Every tour on Aussie Loop is handpicked by people who actually know Hobart and Tasmania. No paid placements. No sponsored listings. Just what is worth your time.
