How To Plan The Ultimate Hobart Escape
Meg Watson is the weekend editor of Junkee, Arts &…
It’s not easy to plan a holiday right now. With international borders closed, your big bucket list is on indefinite hiatus and your ideal trip probably looks a bit different too. Crowdsurfing at Glastonbury or cramming into Times Square on New Year’s Eve isn’t so appealing anymore…
But that’s no reason to deny yourself a trip away. With Australia’s state restrictions lifting, this is a great time to hop across to Hobart. It’s local. It’s relaxing. And it’s the perfect little escape for anyone raring to get off the mainland.
The first and most important step for anyone planning a trip is checking local travel restrictions. These are still subject to change, so make sure you’re across the latest updates. But, beyond that, we’ve got your back. Here’s all the info you need to plan your getaway.
Eat
It’s very, very important that you eat a scallop pie. These creamy, curried creations supposedly originated on Hobart’s wharves in the early 1800s, and they’ve been a culinary staple of Tasmania ever since. Locals recommend the offerings at Jackman and McRoss bakery and the Smith’s Specialty Pies food truck at Salamanca Market.
Flippers Cooked Seafood is another legend of Hobart’s wharves: it’s so committed to fresh fish, the store itself is floating on the water. But if you’d like a more upscale view of the waterfront, head to Aloft. This much-loved modern Australian restaurant sits atop Brooke Street Pier, a floating four-story pontoon.
If you love Italian food, you can’t go past Fico and Templo. And there are plenty of relaxed pubs and cafes to keep you occupied too. Start the day with brunch at Pigeon Hole and finish it off with a schooner at The Brick Factory.
See
Hobart is Tasmania’s largest city, but it’s tiny compared to other state capitals like Sydney or Brisbane – and it looks even smaller from the summit of Kunanyi/Mount Wellington.
This picturesque mountain, just a 20-minute drive from the centre of Hobart, offers incredible views of the city, Bruny Island, and the whole Tasman Peninsula. It’s the perfect place for a picnic, a bushwalk, or a golden-hour photoshoot.
You can take in some of that natural beauty in the centre of town too. Spanning 14 idyllic hectares, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are worth a full afternoon. If you time the trip right, you can even check out the cherry blossoms in the Japanese Garden.
If you’re more of an indoors kid, Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is the place to be. This iconic art gallery is stacked full of fun and fascinating works. It’s been closed for most of the year due to restrictions, but is now reopening with limited capacity from December 26. Just make sure you book tickets before your visit.
Hot tip: plan your trip for January so you can also check out the annual MONA FOMA festival.
Stay
One of the benefits of planning a holiday in a small city is that everything is in walking distance. It’s a good idea to make the most of that and book somewhere in the centre of town.
RACV Hobart Hotel is a short walk from some of the city’s best restaurants and attractions and, just like MONA, it also embraces the old and the new. The hotel is a quirky mix of heritage and modern design.
View this post on Instagram
There are loads of options so you can pick the room that’s right for you, but it’s worth requesting one with a view. Kick back and gaze out at the Derwent River.
Do
No trip to Hobart is complete without a morning at the Salamanca Market.
Each Saturday from 8.30am to 3pm, around 170 local makers camp out along the cobblestones at Salamanca Place and sell their incredible wares. You can shop for fresh produce, jewellery, preserves, soaps, and ceramics. Or you can just grab a coffee and stroll around.
Want to get up close and personal with the local delicacies? Book a tour of Cascade Brewery, Australia’s oldest operating brewery. You can learn all about the history of this proud Tasmanian beer, then stick around for a tasting in the incredible brewery gardens.
If you want to go a little higher up the shelf, visit Lark Cellar Door and Whisky Bar. Lark’s single malt whisky is internationally acclaimed and yes, they offer guided tastings. At the end of the night you’ll be glad you booked at RACV Hobart Hotel. The bar is just a six-minute stroll away from the hotel.
—
Lead image: RACV Resorts.
—
For more information or to book a stay at RACV Hobart Hotel visit their website.
Meg Watson is the weekend editor of Junkee, Arts & Culture editor of Concrete Playground, and 2013 editor of Farrago. She specialises in writing excitable stuff about art, loud opinion, okay fiction, and bad tweets .