Sitting on River Derwent, with Mount Wellington
as the backdrop, Hobart is one of my favourite capital cities. To show you the beauty of Hobart, I’m taking you on a 5-day road trip in and around Hobart.
Hobart Road Trip – Day 1: MONA + Salamanca Place
MONA
We arrived in Hobart just before midday and headed directly towards MONA – Museum of Old and New Art.
MONA is not the typical museum you might have visited in the past. It is an unconventional museum with a huge range of controversial and thought-provoking exhibitions on display.
Because of how unique this museum is, I highly recommend it as a must-visit in Hobart. However, for families with kids, I do suggest the parents do some research before bringing their kids along to visit MONA.
After visiting MONA, we headed back to Hobart CBD to explore the city itself.
Salamanca Market
Salamanca Market is a Saturday market in Salamanca Place & one of the most visited attractions in Hobart. It offers a range of food options, fresh local produce, and artisan items.
Even on non-market days, Salamanca Place is still worth a visit in its own right.
This cobblestone street is lined with well-preserved Colonial and Victorian buildings, which makes this place very charming to walk around. When you are here, be sure to also venture out to the back streets to explore the quaint streets and picturesque cottages in Battery Point.
Hobart Road Trip – Day 2: Port Arthur / Tasman Peninsula
On day 2, we embarked on a day trip to the Port Arthur Historic Site and the Tasman Peninsula.
It usually takes around 1.5 hours to drive from Hobart to the Port Arthur Historic Site. Along this drive, you can also explore the stunning Pirates Bay to visit attractions, such as Tasmans Arch, Devils Kitchen, Blowhole, Fossil Bay Lookout, and Doo Town, before arriving at the historic site.
Port Arthur Historic Site is an important historic landmark in Tasmania (and Australia in general). These well-preserved buildings are also part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Listed Australian Convict Sites.
Due to its size, I suggest planning at least half a day for visiting the Port Arthur Historic Site to fully experience what this historic site has to offer.
For more information on Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula, feel free to also read this ‘Port Arthur Day Trip Itinerary‘.
Hobart Road Trip – Day 3: Mount Wellington + Huon Valley
The following day, we ventured out to the impressive Mount Wellington and beautiful Huon Valley.
Mount Wellington
At 1271 meters in height, Mount Wellington Summit is the highest point in Hobart & provides a stunning panoramic view of Hobart, Derwent River, and the Tasman Peninsula.
Conveniently, it only takes around 30 minutes to drive from Hobart to the Mount Wellington Summit. Alternatively, you can also park at The Springs and hike up to the summit. Depending on your fitness level, this hike usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours one way.
For more information on Mount Wellington and its walking tracks, you may wish to also check out this article on Mount Wellington.
Huon Valley
After visiting Mount Wellington, we headed towards Huon Valley.
Sitting in Tasmania’s southernmost region, Huon Valley is well known for its expansive apple orchards, delicious craft ciders and wines, quality salmon producers, and the picturesque Huon River.
When in Huon Valley, be sure to stop by the amazing Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, which is home to the popular Willie Smith’s cider. In addition to its delicious ciders, its menu also offers a good selection of food featuring fresh local produce. There is also an interesting apple museum on-site, showcasing a huge range of apple varieties, with real apples on display.
After stopping by Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, we followed the picturesque drive along Huon River and headed further down south.
We made a stop at Port Huon to admire its tranquil blue water, before eventually arriving at the stunning Surveyors Bay, where Huon River meets the sea.
You can also explore further to Southport and Hasting Caves if time allows, but we were out of time for the day. Should we have more time, we would spend a day or two solely in Huon Valley to explore and appreciate its beauty.
Hobart Road Trip – Day 4 & Day 5: Bruny Island
We spent the last two days of our Hobart trip at the beautiful Bruny Island.
Bruny Island is a secluded island near Hobart & accessible only by ferry. It was definitely one of my favourite places in Tasmania.
On Bruny Island, you can find beautifully preserved nature with abundant wildlife and satisfy your taste buds with the freshest local produce. I especially loved how peaceful and secluded this island felt when most day-trippers had left the island.
You can certainly visit Bruny Island on a day trip from Hobart. However, I highly recommend staying at least one night on Bruny Island to better experience this wonderful hidden paradise.
- If you are considering staying on Bruny Island, you can check out its accommodations here on Booking.com.
- For more information on Bruny Island, you may wish to check out this ‘Bruny Island Day Trip and Overnight Stay‘.
- If you are debating between a road trip to Port Arthur (Tasman Peninsula) v.s. Bruny Island, feel free to check out ‘Bruny Island or Port Arthur‘ for a detailed comparison.
Hobart Road Trip – Itinerary
Day 1:
- MONA (Museum of Old and New Art)
- Salamanca Place
- Battery Point
Day 2:
- Port Arthur Historic Site
- Pirates Bay, Tasmans Arch, Devil’s Kitchen, Blowhole, Fossil Bay Lookout, Doo Town.
Day 3:
- Mount Wellington
- Huon Valley: Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, Port Huon, Surveyors Bay.
Day 4 & 5
- Bruny Island: The Neck Lookout, Cape Bruny Lighthouse, Cloudy Bay, Adventure Bay.
