Hobart Travel Guide

Why should you hire a car in Hobart?

Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is an amazing place to visit. Although it might not be as popular as other Australian tourist destinations like Sydney, Adelaide, or Gold Coast, it has plenty to enjoy, from historic settlements and interesting architecture to world-class museums and great seafood restaurants. With a rental car, you can easily explore the rest of Tasmania and its wild beaches, old mining towns, and national parks.

Top ways to get to Hobart

Hobart Airport: The largest on Tasmania, Hobart Airport serves about 2.5 million travelers every year. As of November 2019, there are no scheduled international flights, but the airport provides connections to the other largest cities in Australia like Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbane. There are also seasonal flights to and from Wilkes Land, a territory in Antarctica claimed by Australia. Hobart Airport is located some 20 km (12 miles) east of Hobart city center and can be reached in about 20 minutes.
Devonport Airport: The other airport of Tasmania, it hosts flights to a number of smaller destination on and near the island, as well as to and from Melbourne and Tasmania. With one terminal and just one gate, it is one of the smallest international airports in Australia. Located on the north coast of Tasmania, Devonport Airport is some 280 km (174 miles) from Hobart and can be reached in about three hours.

Top destinations and activities

Cascades Female Factory. One of the 11 former Australian penal sites that are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Cascades is a museum that shows the living conditions of female convicts in the 19th century. A fascinating place that provides an important historical lesson, it is not to be missed if you're in Hobart.
Salamanca Place. Made up of many low-rise 19th-century buildings of classic British architectural styles, Salamanca Place is one of the unique neighborhoods in all of Australia. The area is home to many museums, performance venues, and restaurants, as well as the beautiful Salamanca Art Center. Salamanca Market, one of the best-known street fairs in the country, takes place every Saturday.
Parliament House. Originally built in the 19th century as the Customs House, the sandstone building has been the home of the Tasmanian parliament for more than 160 years. Despite legislators working inside the building, the Parliament House is also open for tourists and features attractions like the Parliament Library and the Parliament Museum.
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Dedicated to the indigenous inhabitants, nature, and history of Tasmania, as well as works by the region's most prominent artists, this is one of the most notable museums on the island. With Tasmania being one of the gateways to Antarctica, there are also a number of exhibits dedicated to that fascinating continent. Other notable museums in Hobart include the Museum of Old and New Art, Maritime Museum of Tasmania, Mawson's Huts Replica Museum, and the visitor center of the Australian Antarctic Division (the latter two are also connected to Antarctic research).

Ideas for a day-trip

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Located just north of the city, Bonorong is dedicated to taking care of protected local species as well as injured and abandoned animals. If you go on a tour through the sanctuary, you might get to see its most honorable inhabitant, a cockatoo bird that's more than 100 years old. Located 29 km (17 miles) from Hobart center, Bonorong can be reached in just 25 to 30 minutes.
Mount Wellington. Overlooking Hobart and the rest of southern Tasmania, the majestic Mount Wellington (or Kunanyi, as it's known among the native inhabitants of the island) is a must-visit place if you're in the area. It's possible to take a cable car to the top, but you can also drive all the way up to reach the Pinnacle Observation Shelter. Do keep in mind that it gets quite cold up there and the summit even experiences some snowfall every winter. Located 20 km (13 miles) west of Hobart, Mount Wellington can be reached in about 30 minutes.
Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. A fascinating place to visit for any nature lover, the botanical gardens house more than 6,500 species plant species of amazing variety. Many are native to the island (do visit the Tasmanian Fernery), some come from the rain forests of Northern Queensland at the other end of the country, and others are subantarctic species found on the uninhabited islands between Tasmania and Antarctica. Located 3 km (1.8 miles) from the city center, the gardens can be reached in just five to seven minutes, but it's easy to spend at least half a day exploring them.
Australian Convict Sites. Dedicated to Australia's early history as a penal colony, the Convict Sites are a UNESCO World Heritage site made up of 11 such sites spread across the country, five of which are in Tasmania. The Cascades Female Factory, which is located in Hobart, was already mentioned above, but the other four are also fascinating, if somewhat gruesome, places to visit. The two nearest to Hobart, the Coal Mines and Port Arthur Historic Sites, are on the Tasman peninsula and only about a 90-minute drive southeast of Hobart.

Further destinations

Freycinet National Park. Taking up most of the Freycinet Peninsula on the eastern coast of Tasmania, the national park is a remote and beautiful area. The park has many hiking trails, so you might be lucky to spot local wildlife like the brushtail possum, echidna, or even Tasmanian devil; the surrounding waters are inhabited by southern right whales and bottlenose dolphins. Located 165 km (102 miles) north of Hobart, the national park can be reached in about 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Bruny Island. In fact, Bruny is not one, but two islands, connected by a narrow sandy isthmus known locally as The Neck. It's possible to cross it by car, but watch out for penguins as they are frequently crossing the road here. Some of the attractions of Bruny include the Blight Museum, the Bruny History Room, the Cape Bruny Lighthouse, and some seriously amazing seafood restaurants. To access the island, you need to take a ferry from the town of Kettering, which is located about 33 km (20.5 miles) south of Hobart and can be reached in 35 minutes. Note: Keep in mind that not all car rental providers permit taking a rental car on a boat, so if you plan to travel to Bruny, ask your provider in advance.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Not just mad up of one mountain and one lake (although both are spectacular), there's even more impressive nature to explore in this park. Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, it is home to the primal landscape of the Twisted Lakes, a lot of wildlife, and some of the most impressive mushroom species on the planet. You need to pay a vehicle fee to enter the park at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Center, but it is most definitely worth it. Located some 325 km (202 miles) northwest of Hobart, the national park can be reached in four hours.
Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park. Tasmania is home to a lot of fascinating wildlife, but two animals are especially emblematic of the island. Though the last known Thylacine, or Tasmanian wolf, died in 1936, the Tasmanian devil survives to this day. The largest carnivorous marsupial in the world, during the last decades it has been sadly affected by the widespread devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) and is now seriously threatened as a species. Dedicated to their protection, the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park is the perfect place to meet these fantastic little beasts, meet other local wildlife, and learn more about Tasmania's nature. Located about 85 km (53 mi) southeast of Hobart, the conservation park can be reached in just about an hour.

Traffic and parking tips

One of the largest road hazards in Australia is the wildlife. Take extra caution when driving in bad weather or after dark as this is when most of the collisions with wildlife take place.
Mobile coverage is very rarely available outside of major highways and population centers, so take extra caution when traveling in rural areas.
Another great risk when traveling off of the main highways is the heat. Temperatures can reach extremes very easily, especially during the summer months and in inland areas. Always stay properly hydrated and plan your route in advance to be able to supplement your water supplies.
Laws concerning driving under the influence differ from territory to territory in Australia. In Queensland, the legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.00% for novice drivers and drivers with provisional licenses. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines and a driver's license ban.
Proof of insurance and the car's documentation need to be in the car whenever you're driving.
When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
The nationwide emergency number in Australia is 000.