Flights to Hobart (HBA)

When is the best time of year to fly to Hobart?

Whatever time of year you fly to Hobart, you’ll find plenty of things to do, with each season offering an array of unique activities, festivals and attractions.

Summer (December to February) is the best, and driest, time to visit Hobart, offering comfortable temperatures. It’s the ideal time for outdoor adventures, and it’s also jam packed with festivals such as legendary MONA FOMA and Tasmanian Wine Festival, attending Aussie Rules matches, and a visit to Salamanca market. For the boaties it’s also the time to catch the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race.

Autumn (March to May) is a stunning time of year to fly to Hobart, you’ll watch the city come alive and transform with rustic colours as the season transitions. Autumn offers the ultimate ambience for exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, sampling authentic Tasmanian produce (artisan cheeses meet black truffles) and immersing in festival-vibes with the many food and wine festivals on during Autumn and Winter.

Winter (June to August) are the wettest in Hobart, an ideal time to enjoy winter activities – visit the galleries and museums, wear your winter finery, and enjoy the many music and art festivals including Festival of Voices and Dark MOFO. At sea level the daytime temperatures are clear, with crisp days ideal for outdoor activities such as the 20-minute drive to Mt Wellington – a true winter wonderland. Another quirky winter highlight is Hobart’s Winter Fest, which attracts thousands of foodies and the Nude swim, with hundreds of brave people (aged from 18 to 89) plunge the freezing temperatures to swim nude in the Derwent River, to mark the winter solstice.

Spring (September to November) is officially the wettest time of year, however Hobart is the second driest Australian capital city. Make a day trip to Tuhune Airwalk, an adventure park immersed in a forest canopy or a hike at Mount Field National Park, a one-hour drive away from Hobart City. A perfect time too to visit Royal Tasmania Botanical Garden, just 2km from the City.

What are Hobart's top attractions?

While it may be a new addition to the mainstream tourist track, this historic port city has been one of Australia’s must-visit destinations for decades. Hitting its stride thanks to an influx of art, culture and entertainment, Hobart offers something for every type of traveller. And even better? No matter where you stay in Hobart, you've always got its biggest tourist attractions closeby!

MONA – Museum of Old and New Art

Created by billionaire Tassie native David Walsh to help him (in his words) ‘bang above his weight’ MONA defies explanation.

A short 30-minute drive or ferry from Hobart, MONA is Australia’s largest private museum - housing David Walsh’s collection of ancient, modern and contemporary art - with three levels of underground galleries, two wineries and a brewery, several bars and restaurants, luxury accommodation, a library, tennis court – and even a cemetery.

Events include off-site MONA FOMA, an eclectic arts and music festival, and Music at MONA.

MONA FOMA Festival

Held in summer, run at both Launceston, followed by Hobart, MONA FOMA is a music and arts festival showcasing dance, theatre, visual art, sound, noise and new media.

Artists have included Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls, punk-pop Japanese band Chai, and Laibach – a legendary Slovenian industrial band.  Curated by Violent Femmes member Brian Ritchie, MONA FOMA is billed as Tasmania’s largest contemporary music festival.

Dark MOFO

Keep an open mind, Dark MOFO is not your ordinary festival.

Dark MOFO, the winter sister of MONA FOMA Festival, celebrates the darkness of the southern solstice and features a winter feast, large scale light installations, classic films and many musical acts. Previous performers include FKA Twigs, Nicolás Jaarᶧ, St. Vincent and Chelsea Wolfe.

First held in 2013, the first year also introducing the now annual nude solstice swim that sees 2,00 brave souls dunk in the River Derwent at dawn on the shortest day of the year. Another signature event is the Burning of the Ogah-ogah - where festival-goers write down their fears and place into the belly of the statue before it’s set on fire.

Salamanca Market

Tasmania’s most-visited tourist attraction, established in 1972, Salamanca Market is a colourful outdoor market that has won many awards for excellence – visit and see for yourself.

History, culture and food combine at this weekly Saturday market, a treasure trove of Tasmania produce with over 300 stallholders showcasing everything Tassie from antiques, local farm products and cuisine, to arts and musicians.

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

In contrast to the cutting-edge MONA, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery houses Tasmanian art from colonial times – works of convict heritage, natural history and art. A top attraction for families with interactive child-friendly exhibits, and for a fee you can take a theatrical tour of the museum’s heritage buildings called Settlement Secrets.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

One of the best, and even FREE, things to do in Hobart is visit Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. With glimpses of the Derwent River, set on a hill, displaying everything from tranquil Japanese gardens to native and exotic plants.

Cascades Female Factory Historic Site

Discover the tragic and triumphant stories of Australia’s female convicts at UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cascades Female Factory Historic Site, located in South Hobart under the shadow of Mount Wellington.

Thousands of women and children were imprisoned here, many never left, with the factory purpose-built with the intention of reforming the female convicts.

Join a Heritage guided tour and view the new dramatised performance.

Port Arthur Historic Site and Port Arthur Ghost Tours

The UNSESCO World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site, located a 90-minute drive from Hobart, is Australia’s most evocative and intact convict site. With more than 30 historic buildings and ruins over its 100 acres allow a minimum of 3 hours for your visit.

Join in the evening for the 90-minute spine-tingling Port Arthur Ghost Tour.

Bruny Island Day Trip

A 35-minute drive and 20-minute ferry across the D’Entrecasteaux Channel from Kettering lies the wilderness of Bruny Island.

A foodie haven, Bruny Island is renowned for its artisan cheeses, local berries, handmade chocolate and seafood. A 35-minute drive and 20-minute ferry across the D’Entrecasteaux Channel from Kettering lies the wilderness of Bruny Island.

Where to eat in Hobart?

Hobart has recently had a culinary boom, with innovative locals serving up paddock to plate goodness.

In Hobart you’re spoilt for dining choice with the latest catch at Old Wharf Restaurant, tapas-style at The Glass House Hobart, or at Hobart’s first rooftop venue AURA Restaurant and Lounge Bar. With a funky-twist to Asian street food try Mr Good Guy, bringing shared eating and pop culture together in Hobart.

Hobart is lined with uber cool distilleries, wineries and urban bars - try Lark Distillery, Frogmore Creek Winery Cellar Door and Restaurant (20 minutes outside Hobart), Evolve Spirits Bar, and Forty Spotted Gin Bar.

And for the coffee fiends never fear, you’ll find a huge range of cafes in and around Hobart.

There’s a reason why die-hard foodies move to Tasmania.

Where to find the best Cafes?

Hobart is in its throes of its third-age coffee movement, from brunch spots to hole-in-the wall hot spots.

There are so many great cafes in Hobart. Some top picks are Born in Brunswick – a Scandi feel café in North Hobart that is serious about its beans, Villino Coffee Roasters – one of the longest running roasters in Tasmania with her sister outfit Ecru also in Hobart CBD, Pigeon Hole – set in the hilly streets of West Hobart this café is supported entirely by its farm, and Room for a Pony – in North Hobart, which has emerged as Hobart’s hippest spot to hang out.

Where to find the best fine dining?

Hobart is seeing top chefs from across the country ‘pick up sticks’ and move to Tasmania’s capital, bringing a growing industry full of exciting food scenes.

There is ample fine dining to experience, from the’ blurring the lines between fine dining and bistro’ renowned FICO with its Italian inspired menu, Frank – one of the best restaurants in Hobart serving some of the best meat and potato kinds of meals you’ll experience, Urban Greek for an authentic Cretan dining experience, and so much more.

Where to find the best food markets?

Hobart is plumped with phenomenal food markets, from small local markets run by villagers, through to high end.

Our pick of some of the best food markets in Hobart are Farm Gate Market – held every Saturday with 70% of visitors being locals you know it’s going to be good; Salamanca Fresh – located next to touristy Salamanca Markets on the Hobart waterfront, supporting local growers of fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, smallgoods and gourmet groceries; and Constitution Dock Fresh Fish – for the best catch of the day.

Where to find the best cheap eats?

Cheap eats are easy to find in Hobart, with loads of value meals in cafes, restaurants and markets.

Try Café Lola – known for being fresh and frugal, with its tasty paleo inspired menu; Machine Laundry Café in Salamanca Square – you guessed it, part laundry/part café, serving an inventive breakfast; for something spicy head to Sawak Café in the City Centre– with lots of vegan and gluten free options too; and for fresh seafood that doesn’t hurt the credit card try Mure Lower Deck at Hobart Waterfront and try their signature seafood chowder (delish!).

Where to shop in Hobart?

Put on those comfy shoes because you’ll want to shop ‘til you drop in Hobart.

Hobart is an arty-farty-type dream, with creative gift and homeware shops galore. Take on The Design Files’ “Hobart Walking Guide” and explore gems across the city. Step back in time when you walk into Country Women’s Associated Gift Shop – a shop that sells 3 things: handknitted items, homemade preserves, and home-made cakes. For jewellery, gifts and homewares drop into Inside, and for crafty vintage finds you’ll adore Love and Clutter.

Hobart is also bursting with boutiques, big department stores, an Outlet Centre, fabulous vintage shopping, and the renowned tourist mecca Salamanca Markets to grab gifts.

For bargain hunters

More renowned as an arty hub, Hobart still has a smattering of value shopping street and homewares shopping on offer. Outlets such as Watertown Brand Outlet Centre in West Perth offer everything global and Australian brands.

For fashionistas

Fashionistas – look no further than Liberty Emma Collections – for beautiful leather bags, silver jewellery, homewares; and Luxe – a destination for unique one-off pieces, stocking iconic fashion labels and Aesop skincare products.

For the lovers of vintage!

Bring a spare suitcase on your flight to Hobart, you have reached the quiet-achiever Vintage vortex.

Fall into the newest store for Vintage and second-hand gems, The Finders – a collaboration space that brings together Heaven Vintage, Vintage Stallion, Freya Flavell, and Hiatus Store – heaven!

If that didn’t fill your suitcase make your way to Hello Gorgeous Vintage, Perth’s salvage for pre- owned shoes, bags, clothes and accessories.

For everything in between

For all your other regular retail needs discover the abundance of stores in Hobart. Venture to Forrest Chase - Perth’s major shopping centre for everything from Myer to Lululemon, Shafto Lane, The Cat and Fiddle Arcade, Belmont-Forum, and City West Centre.