The 12 best things to do in Hobart this winter

Dark Mofo is back in full force for 2025, and we couldn't be more excited! This year's darkly debaucherous festival is happening from June 5 to 15, with the Nude Solstice Swim taking place a week later on Saturday, June 21 – the shortest day of the year. As for the program, expect disused and hidden spaces to be transformed into a vibrant playground for immersive art installations and mysterious music performances – from deconsecrated churches and rooftops to basements, bars, bank vaults and the shores of the River Derwent.

Time Out tip: Dark Mofo's Winter Feast pop-up will take over Princes Wharf and Salamanca Lawns throughout the festival, serving up global cuisines with a side of live music. Fuel up and let the adventures begin.

Hobart's cool climate is ideal for cranking the heat above 80 degrees and enjoying a good sweat. Plus, Tasmania's pristine natural beauty provides the perfect backdrop, with many saunas offering panoramic views or cosy glimpses through portholes. Whether it’s a sleek floating sauna, a charming mobile chamber or a rustic option on a cattle farm, here's our pick of the best spots to sweat it out near the city. 

Time Out tip: Our very top pick is the iconic floating sauna, Kuuma Nature Sauna in Derby, which started it all. Bombs away!

If curling up by the fire with freshly baked croissants sounds like your cup of tea, then we suggest checking yourself in for a wintery weekend at Lumière Lodge. Set in the foothills of West Hobart, this charming Victorian-era homestead looks like something straight out of a fairytale with its lovingly restored fireplace, stained glass windows, shimmering chandeliers and two clawed foot baths. Whisk yourself away for a girls’ weekend, with beds to accommodate up to six guests, or romanticise your life with a private getaway for two. 

Time Out tip: Given Hobart's stellar restaurant scene, dining out is a must. However, reserve at least one night for a home-cooked dinner. The open-plan kitchen is a chef's dream, with a gorgeous green velvet dining nook to enjoy your creations.

Hobart’s hottest restaurant opening of 2024 brings the heat in more ways than one. Taking up residence directly below sister restaurant Aløft, Restaurant Maria is a reminder that the Mediterranean summer is never far away. The centrepiece wood-fire grill sees seasonal Tasmanian produce and local proteins cooked over fire, then ramped up with punchy sauces and hand-foraged Indigenous ingredients. You can walk in for a casual wine or housemade Limoncello Spritz, or settle in for the chef’s tasting menu, featuring Campari-cured crudo, fennel and honeycomb garlic bread, marinated lamb shoulder, and Greek lemon filo cake. 

Time Out tip: If you wind up by the water, you can walk in for a casual wine and a cheeky trio of snacks at the communal high-top tables. No bookings needed! 

Hobart's clean air and geographical location mean that it has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best places in the world to see the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights. While it’s down to sheer luck whether or not the geomagnetic conditions will lead to a spectacular aurora show during your time here, you can maximise your chances of spotting one by joining the Aurora Australis Tasmania group on Facebook where 300,000 members share tips on everything from the best secret locations with a clear view of the night sky, to the best camera settings to ensure that perfect shot.

Time Out tip: We asked a Canon expert to share their top ten tips for photographing the Aurora Australis – start reading up!

Nothing will warm your soul quite like a visit to Hobart’s most wholesome café, located just minutes from the city centre. Hamlet doesn't just dish up an ever-changing menu of brunch favourites – think lamb flatbread, pesto omelettes and mackerel toast – it has immaculate vibes too. The café doubles as a social enterprise hub dedicated to providing training and employment opportunities for those living with a disability. To date, they’ve worked with more than 750 participants, delivered almost 50,000 hours of training and supplied more than 45,000 warm meals to those sleeping rough. How’s that for heartwarming?

Time Out tip: Work up an appetite or burn off your food coma by following the Hobart Rivulet walking track, which starts right next to the café. 

Australia’s first dedicated art hotel delivers much more than just a place to crash from its prime location on Hobart’s historic waterfront. Henry Jones doubles as an art gallery, with more than 500 pieces of contemporary Tasmanian art displayed throughout the hotel lobby and suites. You can uncover the stories painted onto the walls by embarking on Henry Jones’ signature Art and History Tour, which runs at 4pm most days. You’ll also learn about the hotel’s past life as the original IXL Jam Factory, along with facts about Henry Jones – who took over the IXL Jam at 27 and became the world’s first person to tin food.

Time Out tip: Bookings are complimentary for guests, or $35 for visitors – so why not just stay the night?

The temperatures may be low, but the vibes are always high at MONA – Australia’s most bizarre yet beautiful art museum. Half the fun is reaching this wonderland of old and new art, located a scenic 30-minute ferry ride from the Brooke Street Pier. We can’t really prepare you for what’s to come after disembarking the ship, but know that each twist and turn will lead to another weird yet dazzling masterpiece. 

Time Out tip: Experience fancy food, plated as art, at Faro Restaurant + Bar. Suspended over the water, this impressive restaurant offers unreal views over the River Derwent. It also houses MONA’s two centrepiece experiences by James Turrell, including Unseen Seen + Weight of Darkness, and Event Horizon.

Seasonality shines on the menu at Tasmania’s award-winning restaurant and cooking school in New Norfolk, around a 30-minute drive from Hobart CBD. Begin your seasonal adventure in the gorgeous one-acre garden, which grows 90 per cent of the produce showcased in the restaurant and cooking school. From there, settle into the light and airy dining room where you’ll sample the best of winter’s bounty on the ever-changing, eight-course set menu. From woodfired breads and handmade cheeses to smoked meats and freshly picked herbs, The Agrarian Kitchen represents Tasmanian produce at its best. Alternatively, opt for a casual bite from the outdoor kiosk or join a cooking class run by big-name Aussie chefs, including Analiese Gregory, Nadine Ingram and Dareen Purchese.

Time Out tip: Toast your own s'mores over the fire pit at the outdoor kiosk every wintry weekend (Friday to Sunday from 11am to 2pm).

Pull on those puffer jackets for a morning meander around Hobart’s best markets, including the Saturday Salamanca Market and Sunday Farm Gate Market. Start your market adventure with a steaming cup of coffee, hearty bowl of porridge or melty cheese toastie, made with love by Tasmania’s talented gourmands. Then weave your way through the stalls, chatting to the talented local makers and shakers, selling everything from crunchy apples and sourdough crumpets to toasty socks and sheepskin hot water bottles. 

Time Out tip: Book a long weekend trip so you can tick off both markets in the one.

Whisky and winter are quite the dynamic duo. When the frosty air comes out to play, escape to the warmth of Hobart’s award-winning Evolve Spirits Bar for its Drinks with the Distiller experience. During this intimate one-hour tasting session, you’ll sample three premium single malt whiskies from the core range of one of Tasmania’s oldest distilleries, Overeem, with one surprise whisky reserved for the end. Whisky tastings are hosted every Tuesday and Thursday at 5.30pm, and Friday at 4.30pm for $45 per person. 

Time Out tip: Keep the drinks flowing late into the night, as you explore Evolve’s fascinating fossil collection, including artefacts dating back 550 million years ago. 

When you’ve just about had it with the cold, check yourself in for a pamper session at one of Hobart’s most luxurious spas and bathhouses. Warm up in the infrared sauna at White Sage Skin and Wellness, fully switch off with a Himalayan salt stone massage at Lavada, or steam yourself silly in the steam room at Savoy Day Spa.

Time Out tip: Relax post spa with a tipple at one of Hobart's best bars.