The 10 best galleries and museums in Hobart

Pardon the theatrics, but the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is more than an art museum – it’s an institution. It’s not a Hobart trip without a visit to MONA; getting lost in its deliberately confusing subterranean space and stumbling upon the weird, the wonderful and the mildly disturbing. Opened by Hobart local and professional gambler David Walsh in 2011, MONA kick-started a cultural renaissance in Hobart which now includes festivals like Dark Mofo and MONA Foma. Make the most of your visit by taking the MONA ferry from downtown Hobart, before disembarking to head underground. Will you see a wall of vulvas followed by a couple of priceless Picassos casually hanging in the Ladies’ Lounge? Yep, only at MONA.

For a more conventional but equally fascinating Hobart museum / art gallery experience, head to the CBD’s Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). A more family-friendly experience than MONA, there are dedicated kids' exhibits and spaces, which makes it a popular rainy-day activity for local parents. On any given day, you can head in to learn about the state’s intriguingly brutal convict history and rich First Nations culture, then stroll through an exhibition of sumptuous colonial art featuring Tasmania’s famous wilderness and renowned personalities. With its mix of history and art, TMAG is a true feast for the mind.

Art Mob is Tasmania’s only gallery solely dedicated to First Nations art, celebrating the work of palawa artists from lutruwita / Tasmania and all around Australia. With new exhibitions all year round, you’ll never see the same thing twice at Art Mob. The gallery is a member of the Indigenous Art Code and the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia, so if you’re going to buy art or other products from here, you can be reassured you’re doing so ethically.

An artist-run space supporting the work of local emerging talent, Good Grief is part-gallery, part-workshop. Visit to check out young up-and-coming artists at work, enjoy the sun in the courtyard and stop by the shop to support the organisation by picking up some original designs for yourself. There are also art exhibitions, interactive workshops and performances held on-site throughout the year. Housed in an old automotive warehouse, it’s a large and welcoming space for art lovers of all ages to visit.

If you thought MONA’s infamous poo machine was wild, what about an entire museum full of it? Pooseum, located 25 minutes out of Hobart in the historic town of Richmond, is a museum dedicated to “education about defecation”. Shockingly, it’s the only museum of its kind in the entire country, and is especially loved by kids (and adults!) who want to learn about science in a fun, cheeky way. It’s a wildlife museum with a difference, showing us all the various facts we can learn about different animals from their droppings. You’ll leave with far more knowledge than the classic “wombat poo is cube-shaped” factoid.

You’re in the Apple Isle, so why not visit an apple museum? There are several in Tassie, but here’s a local’s tip: head to the one at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, which just so happens to be a top-tier cidery and restaurant as well. Stroll through the small but enlightening displays detailing the long history of apple farming in the lush Huon Valley, then head to the bar to taste the literal fruits of this labour in the form of an ice-cold cider. Follow it up with a slice of warm apple pie and you’ll really be supporting the local apple industry. If you go on a Saturday, you can also enjoy the local artisan market held on Willie Smith’s grounds.

A one-stop shop for all your art appreciation needs, Salamanca Arts Centre (helpfully located in the picturesque inner-city enclave of Salamanca) is a large heritage building filled with small galleries and design stores. A fabulous way to spend an afternoon is to wander up and down the stairs to check out work by local artists at the Nolan Gallery, Quoll Artists’ Gallery, Spacebar Gallery, Long Gallery and loads more. From painting to printmaking, ceramics and jewellery design to photography and textiles, basically every medium is represented in this sprawling cultural hub.

Bett Gallery is a small family-run space that is considered to be one of the best contemporary art galleries in Hobart. The inner-city gallery represents both established and emerging artists working in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, textile design and jewellery. Bett Gallery hosts several exhibitions a year showcasing the work of talented local artists working across different mediums.

It might seem rather incongruous to come across a version of Mawson’s isolated Antarctic huts smack bang in the middle of Hobart, but once you step inside you’ll feel transported to the icy continent – minus the sub-zero temperatures. Located just 200 metres from where Sir Douglas Mawson’s Antarctic expedition departed in 1911, the huts are exact replicas (down to the type of wood used) of the huts found in Cape Denison, Antarctica. The small space is filled with original artefacts and in-depth information, and aims to educate visitors on the legacy of the 1911-1914 Australasian Antarctic Expedition.

Hobart is a historic port town, so you can bet it has an extensive museum dedicated to its maritime exploits situated bang on the waterfront. Despite its location, the Maritime Museum Tasmania is broader than just Hobart, and offers an informative look at the island state’s seafaring past. From photography to art, to historical artefacts, archives and intricate models, the museum houses more than 70,000 objects. Aside from this core collection, it also runs exhibitions throughout the year and is an absolute must-visit for history buffs.