From mountain summits to sunset cocktails, this is how to spend a weekend in Australia’s second-oldest city, Hobart.
Framed in nature – by kunanyi / Mount Wellington and the wide River Derwent – Hobart hums with activity. Such is the size of Tasmania’s capital city of Hobart, you can kayak on the glassy waters of its inner-city harbour at sunrise, wander markets and climb the city’s mountain summit by lunch, and be sipping cocktails by sunset.
Whether you see Hobart from the water, on foot, or from the saddle of a bike on a mountain descent, the view will be spectacular. Ready for the perfect weekend away?
Day 1: Hobart
7 am
Wake in the lap of luxury at Slow Beam, a modern, angular house in west Hobart with wild and rugged views. Local artists were called upon for inspiration.
9 am
On Saturdays, take a stroll around Salamanca Market, and you’ll see why the locals have kept this street stall tradition alive for 50 years.
1 pm
Even the transport to MONA encapsulates this quirky art experience. Catch the catamaran and sit in the Posh Pit, which has wallaby-fur-lined booths.
2 pm
Peruse MONA, Australia’s largest private museum, with three levels of underground galleries, where owner David Walsh lives above with windows into his masterpiece.
5 pm
Wine time? No worries. Hobart’s MONA has an on-site winery and is one of Tasmania’s oldest vineyards – complete with a cellar door for tastings. There’s also an on-site brewery.
7.30 pm
When it’s time to dine, simply head to the museum’s restaurant (one of many), Faro. Suspended over the river, there’s a change of scene, menu, and entertainment every couple of months. Just to spice things up. Come here with an open palate and an equally open mind.
Day 2
7 am
Rise early and head out to Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs, its dolomite cave system more than 40 million years old. Relax in the mineral-rich thermal springs that remain a balmy 28 degrees, year-round.
1 pm
On the way back to Hobart, stop in at the picturesque town of Cygnet, snuggled between the Huon River and D’Entrecasteaux Channel, where the main street is lined with galleries, craft shops and cafés where you can lunch on fresh, local produce.
2.30 pm
A 20-minute drive north, call into Charles Oates Distilling (tours are by appointment), where you can taste its signature spirits. Be sure to sample the lip-smacking apple brandy, the perfect warmer on a cool Tasmanian day.
5 pm
Back in Hobart, drive (or walk) up Kunanyi/Mt Wellington for breathtaking views of the city and out to Bruny Island. Go at sunset when the sky turns into a theatre of stunning bruised hues, morphing with every glimpse. So this is what it means to be alive.
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