Ideas For Your Next Hobart Stay
Find inspiration for your next trip to Hobart with Let's Escape Together's Emily and Max!
Max and Emily are two creatives who make travel content for their brand Let's Escape Together and have a passion for travelling and documenting their travels. Read more about their recommendations when in Hobart after their recent stay with us!
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Tasmania has been on our bucket list for a very long time. Ever since we learned about the Tasmanian Devil and watched videos of Wombats rolling around in the snow, Tasmania was the place where we could see that. Despite Tasmania being in our very own country, it has always ranked lower on the places to visit next planner. In recent years we have favoured international travel instead of travelling domestically. So therefore with international travel being put on hold this was the perfect opportunity for us to cross the ocean and go on our very own Tasmanian trip.
We landed in Hobart and thought it would be great to explore the capital city first. Despite it’s small size in comparison to other Australian cities it sure does pack a punch. Tasmania’s state capital is the second oldest in Australia and started as a penal colony at the start of the 19th century. Around constitution dock and Salamanca Place you can still find architecture from this period. Constitution Dock is famous for being the finish line for the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race. In the distance opposite Constitution Dock you will see the towering Mt Wellington, officially Kunanyi. Standing at an elevation of 1,271m Kunanyi is a great place to get a view of Hobart below and the best thing is you can drive your car all the way to the top!
In this Blog we have included some activities to see and do including where to stay, where to eat, where to grab a drink and also some places to visit on a day trip just outside Hobart.
Staying at Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
It was important to us to stay somewhere close to the main CBD, the pier's, Salamanca and public transport. That's why staying at Hotel Grand Chancellor was the best choice for staying in Hobart. We loved how close it was to some of the best attractions and also how the hotel had it's very own pool, gym, laundry and sauna. The hotel was clean, modern and well maintained. The staff were welcoming and friendly from the minute you check in. The hotel is well priced for the view and great location and we can’t wait to come back.
What is so great about staying at Hotel Grand Chancellor is that you can make your time in Hobart as busy or as relaxing as you want. Some mornings we loved having a sleep in, going for a quick swim at the pool and then making our way down to breakfast. We loved the delicious variety at the buffet breakfast in Tasman Restaurant. Our favourite was the self serve fresh juice machine and the potato rosti’s.
The city itself is compact and perfect to explore on foot. Inner suburbs and destinations such as Cascade Brewery, MONA, the historic Female Factory and Mt Wellington can be easily accessed by the Metro bus service. If you would prefer to hire a car instead of booking tours there are a number of companies located in the CBD just walking distance from Hotel Grand Chancellor. We hired a small car from Drive for 4 days so we would have our own transport for Bruny Island and Port Arthur.
The best things to do around Hobart and surrounds
Salamanca Markets
If you are staying at the Grand Chancellor Hotel on a Saturday, be sure to make your way to Salamanca Place Markets on foot. Every Saturday from 08:30 to 15:00 more than 300 local stalls are set up. Here you will find a variety of crafts, gifts, delicious food and drink, homewares, art, handmade jewellery and locally distilled gin. This is the famous Salamanca Market, dating back to 1972. Outside market day, Salamanca Place remains a buzzing area with its long terrace of Georgian houses and dock buildings constructed from honey-coloured local sandstone.
MONA Musuem
Take the boat or local bus to the biggest attraction in Hobart - the MONA Museum (Museum of Old and New Art). This world class art gallery/Musuem was founded by Tasmanian Millionare David Walsh to showcase his private art collection to the public. MONA is filled with interesting, beautiful, weird and wacky exhibits. David Walsh has built up a collection of more than 1,900 works from Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi to Sidney Nolan’s Snake mural and Chris Ofili’s The Holy Virgin Mary. Afterwards enjoy a wine or burger on the grass over looking the onsite vineyard. The museum is about 15 minutes by road but the favourite way to get there is by the MONA ROMA Ferry up the Derwent from the new dock at Brooke Street Pier. Book tickets online here.
Mount Wellington/kunanyi
Head up 1,271 metres to the top of Mount Wellington for incredible views over Hobart, the Derwent River, Bruny Island and Tasmania’s South West Wilderness. Temperatures on the summit can be between 10 and 15°C cooler than down in Hobart’s city centre so be sure to wear warm clothes. We drove up there for both sunrise and sunset and unfortunatly it was cloudy but the view from the observatory and look outs are still worth the trip up. You can take the kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer bus to the top, they offer one way shuttle passes starting at $25. To book click here or have a chat with the lovely staff at reception for other transport options.
Hobart Nightlife
Hobart has a variety of cool and quirky bars. Spend your afternoon bar hopping around Salamanca and the CBD trying different wines, beer, cider whisky and gin. A few of our favourite bars that are walking distance from The Grand Chancellor are The Den, Preachers, Botanica Bar, Society Salamanca and the Salamanca Whisky Bar.
Enjoy Hobart's best Fish and chips on the Pier
Taste the best fish and chips in Hobart at The Fish Frenzy on the Elizabeth Street Pier. This is one of the most lovable parts of the harbour, with a huddle of seafood restaurants beside a rock-walled marina, the views are amazing.
Explore Hobart’s Heritage
Discover Hobart’s heritage as you wander the city streets, join an organised tour or follow this self-guided walking map. Take the time to appreciate this early Australian settlement and the substantial remaining architecture from the period.
Sullivans Cove
At night walk around at Sullivans Cove which is the initial landing site and the location of Hobart’s first permanent European settlement. The sequence of piers along the waterfront took shape during the 19th and early 20th century, the oldest being Elizabeth Street Pier from 1866. Along the esplanade there’s a great deal of 19th century architecture still intact.
Mexican at Villa Pancho
If you love Mexican head to Villa Pancho on Tuesday for $5 tacos. The small restaurant and bar is known for it's mouth watering food and incredible cocktails. We can confirm the cocktails here were delicious. The Mushroom taco is also a must try!
Visit Bruny Island
Beyond the Derwent River is an island that stands out for its dazzling natural beauty and the exceptional quality of its produce- Bruny Island. A day trip is a great way to explore Bruny Island’s spectacular landscapes, taste its gourmet produce and meet the inspiring locals. Try cheeses, oysters, fudge, premium wines, honey and whisky. Climb the stairs to the lookout above the Neck – a narrow, sandy isthmus connecting north and south Bruny Island. Here is where you take in spectacular 360-degree views over Adventure Bay. If you only wish to go for a day trip there are a number of tours that depart from Hobart. Ask the Hotel reception for more information.
Have a Beer at Cascade Brewery
Founded in 1824, Cascade is Australia’s oldest operating brewery and they still know a thing or two about beer after all this time. Head to the newly revamped Cascade Brewery Bar to try a couple of beers and sample some uniquely Tassie food, including smoked wallaby, salmon and local cheese.
Coal River Valley
Enjoy a wine at one of Tasmanians major wine producing area- Coal River Valley which is conveniently located just a 20-minute drive from Hobart. Jump in the car or even better, get a driver and explore the beautiful scenery and some family-run wineries. Coal River Valley is one of Australia's fastest-growing wine regions.
Tassie's Most Charming Town Richmond
Make sure to stop in the little town Richmond known for its historic buildings mostly from the 1820s. This is a wonderful town to learn about Tasmania’s past while enjoying visits to galleries, museums, cafes, and historical landmarks. Walk down to Richmond Bridge- Australia's oldest bridge built by convicts in the 1820s, it is made of sandstone and was completed in 1825 when Richmond was the 3rd largest town in what was then called Van Diemen's Land.
Day Trip to the Port Arthur Historic Site and Tasman Peninsular
Take a tour of Port Arthur Historic Site which is the largest and most complete of the 11 World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites. As well as exploring the historical ruins and buildings, including the penitentiary and the asylum for the criminally insane, you can also go on a harbour cruise, visit the Isle of the Dead and see the Port Arthur Gallery. Most tours also stop off at the coastline on the way so you can take pictures and visit the beautiful Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen. There are a variety of tours to look at here or ask the staff at reception. There are also a number of incredible hikes in the Tasman Peninsular. We did the 14km hike to Cape Rail for sunrise and it was amazing.
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Hobart has impressed us in so many ways and on so many levels. Whether you are a wine connoisseur, a foodie, a wildlife lover or an outdoor enthusiast there is something for everyone. We hope our recommendations have inspired you to visit all these wonderful places in and around Hobart.
Thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing what you get up to!
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