Regions: Hobart Surrounds

Located on the mouth of the Derwent River, Hobart boasts an abundance of historical, cultural and culinary delights. Beyond the city centre, there is much to see and do, from walks alongside the River Derwent, climbing Mt Wellington or visiting the many museums and galleries in suburban Hobart, to going further afield and discoveringthe many historic villages dotted throughout the countryside.

At the summit of Mount Wellington, you can take in panoramic views over Hobart, Bruny Island, South Arm and the Tasman Peninsula from the interpretation centre. Stroll through cool forested gullies along the historic Pipeline Track or traverse Wellington Range on the back of a horse or mountain bike.

You can walk across Australia’s oldest bridge and stand in the cell of its oldest jail in picturesque Richmond, a 30-minute drive north-east from Hobart. Explore the cobblestone streets by the lantern light of a ghost tour or picnic on the banks of the Coal River. Check out local art and craft in the galleries and cafes. Then savour classic cool-climate wines at the cellar doors and wineries of the Coal River Valley.

Best Time To Visit

The state of Tasmania and the city of Hobart lie in the path of the ‘Roaring Forties’, a strong band of wind that circles the world, producing fairly changeable weather. Being part of a large island and the southern most tip of Australia, Hobart features a typical maritime climate, with extremes in temperatures. Hobart tends to have fairly hot summers and some cold winters, although temperatures in Hobart always stay well above freezing.
Hobart’s climate is generally quite mild, with fine weather all year round and less rain than many other parts of Tasmania.

Hobart is comfortable to visit at any time and Hobart’s summer months of December, January and February are very pleasant, with fine weather and only occasional downpours of rain. Autumn (March to May) is a particularly good time to visit southern Tasmania. The weather is generally quite mild – not hot but generally not too cold apart from the odd day – and whenever I’ve visited then I’ve managed to avoid rainy days. During Autumn, seas are generally calmer than at other times, making it one of the best times to cruise the spectacular coasts of Bruny Island and Tasman Peninsula. Autumn is also off-peak so there is plenty of accommodation available.

Things To See and Do:

Use the menu at the top of this page to find places of interest and things to see and do in this region. Alternatively, use the map below.

To operate the map menu, click on the arrow to the left of a category to see its sub-categories. Click the box of any attractions you would like more information about; flags will appear on the map for each item checked. Click the flag of any item for more information.

To close a category’s sub-menu after use, click on the down arrow to the left of the category name. Flags of items in that category which you have checked will also disappear from the map.

To remove the map menu while you are using the map, click the button at the bottom right of the map (it will have a minus sign in it) and the menu will disappear. To view the map menu again, simply click on the button again (this time it will have a plus sign in it) and the menu will re-appear.