A visit to Hobart must include the stunning Port Arthur historical site, which is a truly spectacular place
 

• Hobart Convict Penitentiary is home to past infamous crime and punishment stories of Van Diemen’s Land. The historical site includes underground tunnels, solitary cells and the gallows that were later turned into Hobart’s Jail and Supreme Court. Access to this site is by guide only. 

• An easy 10-minute walk from Hobart's waterfront is Salamanca Place which is an eclectic mix of colonial warehouses and modern architecture. Here you'll find galleries, theatres, craft and jewelry shops, restaurants and cafes. Salamanca shows all things Tasmania. Get a scallop pie at Banjos bakery, or head to Honey badger dessert cafe which only sells sweet treats, or go to one of the laneway wine bars. Salamanca Place is the perfect place to wander around and do a bit of window shopping. 

• Walk up Kelly's Steps that connect Salamanca Place to the suburb of Battery Point. These sandstone steps are an architectural landmark in Hobart (and are named after adventurer James Kelly.) At the top of the steps you'll find the gorgeous Battery Point which is a historic town on a clifftop. Walk along Kelly Street and check out the historic houses, pubs, shops. 

• Mawson Hut Historical Replica site located down by the wharf provides visitors with amazing insight into Antarctic Expedition back in 1911-1914 led by Sir Douglas Mawson and his team down into the unforgiving lands.
   

Hobart Harbour is a magical place to explore, and is right in the city
 

• Wander around Hobart Harbour which is just on the edge of the city. The great thing about Hobart is that the city is compact so getting around by foot is easy. While you're on the harbour, there's shops, local art galleries and fresh seafood being sold straight off the boats. Why not take a 1-hour Hobart harbour cruise up the Derwent River. Cruises are very affordable and board at the Murray Street Pier.

Visit the Cascades Female Factory, which was an all women prison in Hobart. Photo: Alastair Bett
 

• Add Cascade brewery to your itinerary.  This is Australia's oldest brewery and is a 180-year-old Gothic castle set on gorgeous heritage gardens. Take the 1.5-hour Cascade brewery tour and sample the beers and ciders and find out the secrets to making a good brew. Cascade Brewery is in South Hobart (and not far from the city), and is at the foothills of Mt Wellington. Catch the metro bus which takes about 10 minutes or self-drive.

• Visit Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and see the famous Tasmanian Devils, koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and other native animals. Bonorong is a safe haven for injured and orphaned wildlife which makes this sanctuary even more wonderful. This is your chance to see wildlife being nursed back to health, and to feed them.

• Do a Sim737 where you take control of Boeing 737 deck without leaving the ground. Tailor the flight experience to suit you ranging from immediately airborne to imitating real-world domestic pilots, including logging flight plans and other procedures. 

Hobart's national parks & gardens

Mount Field and Russell Falls combine the best walks, views, rainforests and wildlife
 

• Visit Mount Wellington (also known as Kunanyi) for spectacular views of Hobart. There are many ways to visit Mount Wellington including driving your car, a tour or shuttle bus, a bike ride, or a hike. Heads-up: the mountain is high up and cold so rug up, even in summer.

• Mount Field National Park and Russell Falls are an hour's drive from Hobart, and has great walks, stunning views, rainforests and fern forests, wildlife, and some of the world's tallest trees. There are walks for every level of fitness so no one misses out. I would definitely recommend adding Mt Field to your itinerary. Further up the 16km winding gravel road is the stunning Lake Dobson and also the opened in winter the Mount Mawson Ski fields.

• Take a stroll around the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. The Botanic Gardens are about 2 km from the city centre, and it's free. Check out the sub-antarctic house filled with plants that thrive in cold and windy conditions, the conservatory, the stunning Japanese Garden, and the community food garden. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is the perfect place to hang out and literally ‘smell the roses’.
   

Explore the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
 

• If you're up for a challenge, head to Tasman National Park to hike the multi-day Three Cape track. This 4-day trek is 48km and wraps around the cliff face, providing amazing scenic views of the rugged coastline and out to the wild Southern Ocean. The start and endpoint are the historical Port Arthur site (90 minutes from Hobart). Highlight in the Tasman National Park including the stunning Devils Kitchen, The Blowhole and Tasman Arch. This is also where the world-renowned surf break, Shipstern Bluff is located. If not up for the Three Capes walk or don’t have the time, there are a number of walks that showcase the rugged coastline. There's also day hikes that take you around the coastal cliffs at Cape Hauy, Cape Raoul and Shipsterns Bluff.

• If keen to come face to face with the Tasmania Devil visit the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo, with various animals without the cages.  This Unzoo is on your way to Port Arthur and 'words just don't do this place justice'. Just a few of the other animals you’ll bump into include kangaroos, wombats, quolls and possums.
   

Meet the local Tasmanian Devils - and I mean the wildlife! Photo: Tourism Australia
 

•  Around 100 km south of Hobart is the Hasting Caves and Thermal Springs where you can venture underground into an elaborate cave system with its amazing geological display of archaic dolomite formations. Afterwards you may want to have a soak in the mineral swimming pool that is thermally heated to a cozy 28°C. 

• An hour and a half drive south-west of Hobart venture to Tahune Airwalk an incredible 50-minute walk through the southern part of Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area and over the Huon River. It is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, and it enables you to get up and close with the wildlife without challenging yourself. Other attractions at Tahune include a glider, swinging bridge, bike track and Segway tours, all of which are very fun!

Head to Hastings Caves Thermal Springs. Photo: Jess Bonde
 

• Go camping at Cockle Creek for some digital downtime. Cockle Creek is 2 hours drive south of Hobart and very close to the bottom tip of Tasmania. This area has a rich Indigenous history and plenty of walks to enjoy including trekking into the South West National Park, or from Fishers Point Lighthouse to South East Cape, and strolling along the beach at Recherche Bay.

• Enjoy a safari over 5 days. This is where you get to explore the areas between Tasmania’s two major cities - Hobart and Launceston. On Safari you will hike, camp, and canoe your way through Tassie’s national parks. If you’re not up for spending too much time in a tent, there are day tours available.

Hobart's beaches, boats & water

Take a walk around Bruny Island Lighthouse Bay. The Tassie beaches stretch for miles and miles. Photo: Adam Gibson
 

• Go cruising or sailing in Tasmania.  Book a 3-hour Tasman Island cruise from Port Arthur to Eaglehawk Neck (which is along the coast of the Tasman National Park), where you'll see beautiful cliffs, caves and waterfalls.
   
• Go Twilight Yacht Racing in the summer months and be part of the crew of a Helsal IV, a 62 foot Sydney to Hobart veteran. No experience needed and you can either learn the ropes or sit back and hang on.  
   
• North of Hobart - Go river rafting on the Derwent River for the day. For the more serious adventurer, go river rafting on the Franklin River where tours can last up to 10 days! The Franklin River has waterfalls, green forests and plenty of native wildlife. 
   
• Add a day trip to Bruny Island to your itinerary. Bruny Island is South of Hobart and a 40-minute drive followed by a 20-minute ferry ride. Here you'll find beaches, wildlife, and delicious local produce including cheese, berry farms, freshly shucked Tasmanian oysters, whiskey distilleries and wine cellar doors. For a different Bruny Island adventure, book a twilight sail. A must-see whilst on the island is the heritage-listed Cape Bruny 1836 lighthouse that rises 114 metre overlooking the rugged Tasmanian coastline. Favourite beaches on Bruny Island include Cloudy Bay, Adventure Bay and The Neck.

Book a cruise around Hobart Harbour. Photo: Tourism Australia

• Fancy a dip? Hobart has endless stretches of beaches. Head to Long Beach or Nutgrove Beach which are in the exclusive suburb of Sandy Bay (and only 4 kilometres south of Battery Point). Sandy Bay is also where you'll find Hobart's Wrest Point Hotel Casino. Other popular beaches and just a short drive out of the city are Seven Mile, Bellerive, Clifton and Park Beach. Lucky for you, even when it's swimming season, you can still go for miles without running into another person. In summer and autumn, the water is beautiful to swim in, but in cooler months you might just want to take a nice walk or even a horse ride along the beach.