The perfect 4-day Hobart itinerary for families

Learn all about the island state’s colonial and Indigenous history, see some truly mind-boggling art and get out in nature over four days in Hobart

A family holiday needs all the right elements to really be a hit with every member of the crew. Thankfully, Hobart has something for everyone. From weird and wacky museums, cafes and restaurants to suit young and old, and endless outdoor activities. There are plenty of things to do with kids in Hobart. But to take the hassle out of planning, we give you our perfect four-day Hobart itinerary.

Day one

Morning

people dining at Rosie In My Midnight Dreams, Hobart cafe — Wine lovers collide at this light-filled Rosie In My Midnight Dreams on Brooke Street Pier.

Start your Hobart adventure down by the docks at the city’s waterfront, where fishing punts bob and seagulls stalk. Lined with grand old sandstone buildings that tell tales of the town, the area is a fantastic place to discover on foot.

If you’re in need of a caffeine fix (or perhaps a babycino) then get a coffee to-go from the schmick Hobart Coffee Roasters, or linger for longer at light-filled Rosie In My Midnight Dreams on Brooke Street Pier.

For a portal into Antarctica, some 5000 kilometres due south from here, don’t miss a visit to Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum , which opened in 2013 on the 102nd anniversary of Douglas Mawson’s famous expedition from Hobart. Made using Baltic pine from the same Scandinavian region that was used in the original timber huts, the museum is a true replica packed with fascinating details about life on the white continent.

If it’s about time to placate small people with tired feet then make a beeline for nearby Van Diemens Land Creamery before wandering over to nearby Salamanca Place, is  home to galleries, theatres and restaurants tucked into its 1830s Georgian warehouses as well as the must-visit Salamanca Market on Saturdays, where you’ll find purveyors of the best local produce and plenty of kid-friendly diversions.

Midday

the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) in Hobart — The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) showcases a blend of colonial and modern art. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Is it a laundry? Is it a cafe? It can be two things. Kids will love the novelty of Machine Laundry Cafe in lively Salamanca Square, which serves breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes the likes of roti filled with herbed scrambled egg and brioche French toast, many of which can be ordered as small serves.

Then amble back towards the docks and dip into the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) for a few absorbing hours. This excellent museum is great for children and offers an insight into the land you’re standing on, including important learning on the history and culture of the Tasmanian Aboriginal, or Palawa, people. There are specially developed exhibitions for young people and curiosities galore, plus it hosts an annual festival for children and young people called LIFT OFF! Kids aged between seven and 12 will feel a little bit special when they pick up one of the museum’s ‘discovery backpacks’ (a free, in-gallery loan resource, filled with objects, props and activities across a number of subject areas) and set off to explore. And don’t miss the permanent mapiya lumi exhibition, which has been especially developed for babies and kids up to seven years old.

Evening

people dining In The Hanging Garden, Hobart — Chill at the multi-level beer garden.

In The Hanging Garden is hidden in plain sight in the CBD. You’ll feel like Alice going down the rabbit hole as you slip, via 112 Murray Street, into this multilayered venue with festival vibes that encompasses nearly an entire city block.

Here, much-loved Tassie producers such as Bruny Island Cheese and Oryza dish up plates like decadent cheesy fried potatoes and handmade dumplings to devour in the al fresco dining area, which is heated, sheltered and comes complete with pretty hanging plants and twinkling lights.

Should you find yourself in Hobart on a Friday night, and on the lookout for ways to help the kids burn off some energy before bed then drop by Salamanca Art Centre’s Courtyard for its weekly ‘Rektango’ sessions (5.30-7.30, weather dependent); expect live music, lots of dancing, and drinks for the grown-ups to boot.

Day two

Morning

First, fuel up on freshly baked pastries at Daci & Daci Bakers . Then, make sure you’re at the front of the queue for the Mona Ferry, which departs from nearby Brooke Street Pier, so you can snag the best seats in the house: the ones out on deck shaped like sheep or tigers (depending on which of the two high-speed catamarans you’re on).

Watch the centre of Hobart get smaller as you begin your 25-minute sail up the River Derwent to the city’s marvellous madcap museum. Once you alight, climb the 99 steps to arrive at Mona (open Fridays to Mondays; book ahead). It might take you a while before you make it past the museum’s grounds, which serve as both a site for interactive artworks and a playground, with a musical trampoline and a mirror maze.

Midday

Venture into the subterranean museum’s belly. While Mona has a reputation for artworks that prod and provoke, there’s a lot more besides and plenty here that kids will simply be awed by. Julius Popp’s monumental Bit.Fall sees words sourced from live news feeds cascading like a waterfall; see if you can pick out what’s trending online. Trace a familiar wiggling form created from 1620 individual panels in the Sidney Nolan masterpiece Snake. And hold your nose at Cloaca Professional – otherwise known as the poo machine – as it replicates the actions of the human digestive system, complete with a daily deposit at 2pm. And if that hasn’t put you off your lunch, seek out Heavy Metal Kitchen on the lawns when tummies are rumbling; older kids will be awed and amused in equal measure by the unusual meats cooked on the grill here (think wallaby and camel), and less adventurous eaters will be lured in by the promise of hot chippies.

Evening

the Hope and Anchor pub exterior, Hobart — Hope and Anchor is Australia’s oldest continuously licensed pub.

Allow for the better part of a day at Mona and, when you’re galleried out, head back down the river and cosy up in an old tavern – a quintessential Hobart experience. And the Hope and Anchor , just 450 metres from where the ferry alights and dating back to 1807, lays claim to being Australia’s oldest continuously licensed pub.

All quaint, atmospheric and ‘olde worlde’ inside,  it’s stuffed with all manner of interesting artefacts to ogle. The kids’ menu includes fresh fish of the day and chicken schnitzel, while the grown-ups’ menu covers everything from Tasmanian scallops to a house Wellington that heroes slow-braised Tassie beef cheek.

Day three

Morning

the Lost Freight Cafe, Hobart — Enjoy a matcha latte in the sunshine at Lost Freight Cafe.

Rise and shine early to get a taste of the wilderness Tasmania is renowned for by heading up to the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington for spectacular panoramic views back across the city and its wild surrounds; on a clear day you can see all the way to Bruny Island. It’s 25 minutes from the city by car or the hop-on, hop-off Explorer Bus . And it’s 10°C cooler, too, so make sure to bundle up. Stop for hot chocolate on the way at Lost Freight Cafe .

Midday

the Puddleduck Vineyard, Hobart — Stop for lunch at the picturesque Puddleduck Vineyard.

Head back down the mountain and 25 minutes northeast out of town to the historic village of Richmond in the Coal River Valley wine region. Stop on the way for lunch at family-friendly Puddleduck Vineyard and choose from its ‘pecking menu’ with options that include a vineyard platter and gourmet toasties. Kids, meanwhile, get their own dedicated menu, a playground and plenty of space to run around in.

Then set about exploring Richmond itself with its myriad allures and intrigues including Georgian buildings, both the oldest bridge (hand-built by convicts in the 1820s) and gaol in Australia, and the double whammy of both a chocolate and a lolly shop within a minute’s walk of each other on the main street. And don’t miss the Old Hobart Town Model Village , which delights young and old with its window into the life of settlers in the 1820s – in miniature size.

Evening

the Theatre Royal, Hobart — Watch family-friendly plays at the Theatre Royal. (Image: Tourism Tasmania & Nick)

Back in Hobart, catch a show at the Theatre Royal , a beautiful old venue that regularly stages family-friendly plays. Book ahead for performances.

With its hustle and bustle, vibrant Suzie Luck’s is a great spot for dinner with the brood. The prawn crackers and chicken satay sticks are a safe shout for most kids too.

Day four

Morning

a Tasmanian devil in Hobart — Spot Tassie devils in a wild setting. (Image: Getty/AustralianCamera)

Drive just over an hour southeast of Tasmania, over the Eaglehawk Neck isthmus, to the Tasman Peninsula and a zoo with a difference. The Tasmanian Devil Unzoo is all about embracing natural habitats for native animals and offers encounters in a wild setting with the state’s most famous marsupial as well as wallabies, echidnas, pademelons and more.

Those whose kids have a sweet tooth can curry favour with a stop at the neighbouring Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry before heading onwards.

Midday

a woman walking inside The Port Arthur Historic Site — The Port Arthur Historic Site was established in the 1830s as a penal settlement. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Continue on to Port Arthur Historic Site , 10 minutes’ drive away. Have lunch in the on-site cafe before spending the afternoon exploring this World Heritage-listed convict site, the best preserved in Australia. Site entry tickets include a guided introductory walking tour, a 25-minute harbour cruise that takes in the mysterious Isle of the Dead, and access to more than 30 historic buildings, ruins, restored houses and heritage gardens. It makes for strange and compelling stuff.

Evening

All tuckered out after a long day, end your adventure back where you started with a fish and chip dinner by the waterfront as the sun goes down over those bobbing boats. Mures Lower Deck is a tried and true spot that’s forged many a childhood memory for Tassie locals.

Neighbourhoods to explore

Battery Point

alfresco dining at Jackman And McRoss Bakery, Hobart — Reward yourself with freshly made cakes and pastries at Jackman and McRoss Bakery.

Finding the start of Kelly’s Steps in Salamanca Place is a bit of a treasure hunt in itself. Once you’ve located this old secret staircase, zigzag your way up for five minutes to explore the historic suburb of Battery Point – home to Narryna Heritage Museum , an 1830s merchant’s house that tells the story of early colonial life in Hobart, and some of the city’s earliest cottages at Arthur Circus . You’ll also find the famous Jackman and McRoss Bakery , which spills over with freshly baked breads, pastries and cakes and also serves sandwiches, soups and more.

South Hobart

This leafy suburb rewards with plenty of hidden gems. From the Hobart Rivulet Walk, good for stretching those legs, which offers glimpses of the city’s history as it winds towards kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Along the way is the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site , where you’ll learn the stories of the female convicts this institution housed in the 1800s, with plenty of lively interpretation to engage kids. A 10-minute walk from here, warm and inviting Ginger Brown Cafe is a local favourite.

Sandy Bay

It might not be known as a beach city, but Hobart boasts some beauties. Head out to Long Beach in the elegant riverfront suburb of Sandy Bay on a hot day in summer. It’s great for families,  complete with a playground near the beach and a pontoon for splashing into the water from. From here, you can also take a gentle meandering walk along the River Derwent to Nutgrove Beach with its scenic views towards kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Getting from A to B

Hobart’s city centre is compact and walkable, though be prepared for a little light hiking up its not-insignificant hills.

Hiring a car to zip around in allows the extra freedom of exploring Hobart’s fringes, from Richmond to Port Arthur, though plenty of local operators offer well-orchestrated day trips if that’s not an option.

In the city itself, there is a good Metro network of local buses, most departing from Elizabeth Street, that can run you between some of the city’s key spots, as well as the Red Decker hop-on, hop-off bus, which takes in key attractions like Salamanca Place, Battery Point, Wrest Point, Cascade Brewery, Female Factory, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

Meanwhile, the kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus is the official shuttle bus for kunanyi/Mt Wellington; the two-hour return tour includes 30 minutes to take in the views at the summit, or you can choose to hop-on hop-off at five Wellington Park bus stops to explore its variety of alpine walks.

Looking at other things to do and see in Hobart? We’ve got you covered with our ultimate travel guide to the city.

Originally written by Imogen Eveson with updates by Chloe Cann

Welcome to Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.

I arrive at The Tasman in Hobart at 10pm. Two McLaren 620Rs are parked out front, and a welcome cup of mulled wine – made from local chardonnay, not red wine – lands in my hand. It’s already clear this isn’t your average hotel stay. The last time I was in the Tassie capital was in 2022, when my family stayed at MACq 01 and cheered on my brother-in-law who raced in the Sydney to Hobart. This time, I’m moving away from one of my favourite Australian hotels and checking into this award-winning stay.

What I love most about Tasmania is the dedication to good produce. Farmers, chefs and locals alike create and grow some of the country’s finest offerings – plump oysters, world-class gins, irresistible cheese and fresh berries. And much of it can be savoured from the comfort of the unique accommodations peppered across the island, each impressing with its attention to detail. Perhaps none do it as well as this month’s chosen hotel, though.

Having opened its doors in December 2021, The Tasman was named in The World’s 50 Best Hotels list for 2024, putting Hobart firmly on the map for international travellers. Visitors and locals are also drawn to its onsite restaurant Peppina, an Italian eatery helmed by Tassie-born and Napoli-raised chef Massimo Mele, whose food philosophy centres on using the best produce, simply.

The view from the The Aurora Suite at The Tasman — The hotel is a short walk from Salamanca Place, the waterfront and Battery Point.

The building is located in the heart of Hobart CBD in the Parliament Square precinct – a short walk from the waterfront – making it a convenient base for exploring the city. Designed by Sydney-based architects fjcstudio with heritage guidance from Design 5 and interior design practice JPDC, the project involved melding and restoring three distinct architectural styles – 1840s Georgian, 1940s Art Deco and the new Contemporary Pavilion – while celebrating the city’s maritime heritage. The result is an elegant fusion of heritage character and modern sophistication.

There are 152 rooms and suites divided into Heritage, Art Deco, and Pavilion. My room is in the Heritage part of the building and features dramatic ceilings, a mini bar stocked with local treats and a huge marble-swathed bathroom with an enticing freestanding bath and Tasmanian dairy cream and leatherwood honey soap.

I decide to order room service since the onsite speakeasy, Mary Mary, is closed and I don’t have a dinner reservation. The late-night menu tempts with seafood chowder served with crusty bread and a ham and cheese toastie – but whenever I see a cheese plate, I can’t resist. Have I ever had a truly great one in a hotel? Not even in Bordeaux. But this time, it’s different: the spread is beautifully presented with thinly sliced apple and pear, three local cheeses, honey and an assortment of crackers made onsite. I pair this with a gin and tonic made with Forty Spotted Classic Tassie Gin and Tasmanian Tonic Company gin – it’s my perfect night in.

Forty Spotted Gin and Tasmania Tonic Company tonic at The Tasman — The minibar is stocked with local treats. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

The next morning, I opt for the buffet breakfast. Hotel buffets can be hit or miss, and I generally see them as a waste of money, but my sister claimed the offering at Peppina was her favourite she’s ever had. Coincidentally, one of her closest friends is in town for a conference and, having stayed here before, chose The Tasman and breakfast at Peppina again; more assurance of its deliciousness.

The space is light and bright with two productive olive trees boosting the mood. I load up a plate of chickpeas, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach, pickles, the world’s creamiest mushroom quiche and slices of cheddar. A bit unconventional, but it’s all perfect, and I’m convinced this is the best breakfast I’ve ever had. I finish with a pear and lemon pastry, which is on par with the baked goods I savoured on a recent trip to France.

Peppina restaurant at The Tasman — Peppina celebrates seasonal Tasmanian produce.

I spend the rest of the morning and afternoon walking around Salamanca Markets and the waterfront areas in the historic Sullivans Cove precinct, enjoying 12 Bruny Island oysters for just $20 – a steal! Back at the hotel, I squeeze in a quick gym session. It’s small, but the preserved sandstone walls give it a unique charm that makes the workout feel more like a novelty rather than a chore.

There’s no spa or swimming pool onsite – a disappointment I have to admit – but what it does have is a wine cellar and that might excite me even more. The cellar is stocked with Tassie drops as well as notable international bottles. During my tasting I decide to stick with local sips, which will be paired with a charcuterie plate, and to my delight, another cheese plate. Our sommelier Adrian guides us through eight different wines, including a very tasty 2023 Syrah, Bubb + Pooley and a 2024 Pinot Noir, Stoney Rise. The region is known for its cool-climate wines, especially sparkling wine and Pinot Noir, and Adrian’s animated commentary on each pour transforms the tasting into a performance. That or the wine is just working its magic…

A cheese plate and wine glasses lined up in a wine cellar at The Tasman — Sample Tassie drops in the wine cellar. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

I make the tipsy pilgrimage back to Peppina to try their dinner offering. I dive into a memorable line-up of kingfish ceviche, Bruschetta al Tonno, and gnocchi with pink oyster, nameko mushrooms, mushroom-celeriac broth and parmesan cream. Retreating to my ultra-comfy bed and almost eerily quiet room, the blend of character and comfort makes me feel like there’s nowhere I’d rather be after a full day of eating and exploring.

Although part of the Marriott family, The Tasman’s respect and celebration of its location allows it to exude personality and charm, making it feel worlds away from the impersonal atmosphere often found in large hotels. Where many hotel kitchens are fine but forgettable, The Tasman stands out for its dedication to great produce. And with rooms starting from $300 per night, it offers luxury at a more attainable price.

Details

Address: 12 Murray St, Hobart TAS 7000

Best for: Couples, foodies and design-savvy travellers.

Family-friendly?: Yes

Accessibility: The Tasman has a number of accessible rooms for each room type.

Parking: Paid parking is available.

The perfect 4-day Hobart itinerary for families

Learn all about the island state’s colonial and Indigenous history, see some truly mind-boggling art and get out in nature over four days in Hobart

Day one

Morning

Midday

Evening

Day two

Morning

Midday

Evening

Day three

Morning

Midday

Evening

Day four

Morning

Midday

Evening

Neighbourhoods to explore

Battery Point

South Hobart

Sandy Bay

Getting from A to B

Is this sleek home Hobart’s most underrated stay?

5 of the best day trips from Hobart

This lovingly restored Tassie cottage is a vintage design dream

I finally stopped putting off that multi-gen trip – and you should too

I checked into Hobart’s most delicious hotel and didn’t want to leave

Welcome to Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.

Details