Josie Rozenberg-Clarke is a writer based in nipaluna / Hobart, Tasmania. She made the move down south in 2023 after 15 years in Sydney, and she enjoys exploring her new home state whenever she can – particularly the restaurants and the national parks. 

Other interests include her love of AFL (particularly the Greater Western Sydney Giants) and podcasting – check out The Zest is History on Apple or Spotify.

Josie was previously Head of Editorial at Pedestrian.TV and has the rather unfortunate title of being the last-ever editor of the iconic Dolly magazine before its closure in 2016. Recently she’s written for Mamamia, Sitchu, Total Girl, TV Week, Refinery29 and Popsugar.

Josie Rozenberg-Clarke

Josie Rozenberg-Clarke

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Articles (24)

The 21 best hikes and walks to conquer in Australia

The 21 best hikes and walks to conquer in Australia

If you didn’t know already, Australia is home to some of the most incredible hikes on the planet. From week-long treks through red deserts and green mountains to easy day hikes through rainforests and across secret beaches, the land Down Under has every possible kind of walk imaginable – and trust us, they’re all bloody good.  If you’re looking at lacing up your hiking boots this year, we’ve got you covered with our pick of the best hikes and walks to do in Australia.  Using the age-old philosophy of variety being the best spice, this list has a little bit of everything. From self-guided kid-friendly day walks to life-changing multi-day treks that can be done independently or in a guided group, we’ve rounded up the most beautiful hikes in Australia, just for you. 🥾 The most epic national parks in Australia🌊 Australia's best beaches🤿 The best things to do in Australia

The 10 best beaches in Tasmania

The 10 best beaches in Tasmania

As the island state of an island country, Tasmania’s got coastline covered. From wild, rugged bays to simply gaze upon in wonder, iconic Instagram faves to tick off the “I’ve been there” list and calm, clear waters frequented by locals on their weekenders, there’s a beach to suit every whim in Tasmania. A bonus is that most beaches are comparatively quiet, so you won’t be fighting for towel space down here. We’ve rounded up a diverse selection of well-known favourites and remote stunners for you to put on your list of the best beaches in Tasmania to check out. It’s important to note that since a huge chunk of the state is National Park, a few of these beaches will require a Parks Pass to visit, and fair warning – not many beaches in Tasmania are regularly patrolled, so swim with caution and stick to the shallows if you’re unsure. Now pack a picnic, a good book, your swimmers and a jacket (it’s Tassie, after all) and get ready for peak serenity. 🌊 The best beaches in Australia🌳 The best things to do in Hobart🚗 The best day trips from Hobart

The 20 best beaches in Australia for swimming, surfing and sunbathing

The 20 best beaches in Australia for swimming, surfing and sunbathing

If there's one thing that Australia does right, it's really beautiful beaches – and a lot of them, to be precise. With a whopping 12,000 fringing our island continent, it would take you a wild 32 years to see them all – if you tackled one beach per day. Assuming that your 32-year plan doesn't singularly involve beach hopping around Australia (although, we can of course, dream), we've put together a list of the best and prettiest beaches in Australia that you should visit this year – or at least once in your life. Each beach on this list has been selected for its remarkable beauty, safe swimming conditioning (read: you won't see anywhere with saltwater crocs on this list), and proximity to other incredible activities, so your adventure out doesn't end with just one dip. Some of these picks have been richly awarded in the past, while others are less mainstream – but rest easy knowing that every single one of them is well worth their salt, in more ways than one. Now, all that's left is for you to find out for yourself. 🌊 The best nudist beaches in Australia🏄 Australia's top surf beaches🌈 All the best places to visit in Australia

The 16 best bars and pubs in Hobart

The 16 best bars and pubs in Hobart

Tasmania’s capital city isn’t exactly heaving with activity after dark like its bustling mainland counterparts. But if you know where to look, Hobart’s bar and pub scene is lively, with plenty of drinking holes for the curious and thirsty. From dive bars to underground cocktail joints, the upscale to the casual, no matter what kind of establishment you’re looking to pull up a stool at, you’ll find it in Hobart. It helps that the local booze, like the food, is world-renowned – the beer, the wine, the whisky, the gin. Whatever your poison, it all adds up to a good time. So whether you are a dirty gin martini person or partial to a tinnie (or three), cheers to our list of the best bars in Hobart. 🍽 The best restaurants in Hobart🍕 Hobart's best pizzas🍣 Where to go for Japanese in Hobart

The 30 best places to visit in Australia for unmissable scenes

The 30 best places to visit in Australia for unmissable scenes

Call us biased, but we reckon Australia is one of the most astonishing and varied places to explore on Earth. A sizeable place – (you know, continent-sized), it can be hard to know where to begin when it comes to working out how to tackle the Great Southern Land – but that's where we come in. From turquoise beaches with sugar white sand and ancient tropical rainforests, to flaming red deserts and buzzy metropolitan cities, we've picked out the most incredible places you should visit in Australia.  No matter who you are, or what you like, rest assured – there's something on this list for everyone.  🇦🇺 The 20 top tourist attractions in Australia🌈 Follow the rainbow to Australia's most colourful landmarks🌊 Australia's best beaches for sun, surf and sand

The 10 best Italian restaurants in Hobart

The 10 best Italian restaurants in Hobart

Since restaurants were a thing, Hobart has been rolling out a robust selection of Italian eateries. From the city’s longest-running restaurant to one of the newest darlings on the dining scene, there’s a wealth of tasty options to choose from.  No matter if you’re after comforting spag bol or envelope-pushing dishes, these stylish spots bring the flavours of Italy to your table. Arrive hungry, order yourself a Spritz and get into it! Buon appetito! 🍽 The best restaurants in Hobart🍕 Hobart’s best pizzerias🍣 Where to go for Japanese food in Hobart

The 20 most luxurious day spas in Australia

The 20 most luxurious day spas in Australia

You know what’s finally trending in 2024? Self-care. While a warm bubble bath or 15-minute face mask is a nice pick-me-up, nothing beats a full-on pamper session at the spa. And boy does Australia have some pretty phenomenal pamper palaces that’ll leave you glowing from head to toe. Whether you’re treating yourself to a five-star massage while on holiday or searching for a local bathhouse to add to your weekly routine, we think you should add these spa days to the top of your to-do list. Here are the most luxurious day spas in Australia. RECOMMENDED: The best health and wellness retreats in Australia.

The 10 best galleries and museums in Hobart

The 10 best galleries and museums in Hobart

From big hitters (*coughs* MONA) to tiny independent spaces, Hobart is full of incredible museums and galleries. Tasmania’s capital is a city rich in history and culture, and both have plenty of representation here.  If you’re in the mood for learning, head to one of the many museums dedicated to preserving Tassie’s past. If you’re an art connoisseur, there are large and small galleries filled to the brim with the work of established and emerging local talent. With almost too many to choose from, we’ve narrowed down the best museums and galleries in Hobart for your next history or culture hit. RECOMMENDED: Here are 11 of the best things to do while you're in Hobart.

The 11 best hotels in Hobart

The 11 best hotels in Hobart

Hobart’s best hotels make the most of the city’s assets – the glittering Derwent River, the imposing majesty of kunanyi / Mount Wellington, fascinating convict history and world-class food and produce.  You’ll be spoiled for choice when looking for a hotel in Hobart. Do you want sweeping harbour views, original heritage architecture, luxe interiors, proximity to the city’s best restaurants and bars, or all of the above? Whatever kind of Hobart stay you’re looking for, you’ll likely find several spaces that suit. We’ve rounded up some of the most-loved hotels in Hobart to make your choice a tiny bit easier. But sorry, it’s still going to be tough…  Looking for things to do while you’re here? Here are the best ways to entertain yourself in Hobart.

The 10 best things to do in Cradle Mountain

The 10 best things to do in Cradle Mountain

Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is a thing of beauty that needs to be seen in person to be believed. Sure, you might have seen all the landmarks – Dove Lake, the imposing mountain itself, pristine Lake St Clair, flowering fagus in autumn, adorable snow-dusted snuffling wombats – on Instagram, but nothing compares to breathing in the pure alpine air and seeing this glorious place with your own eyes. While you can definitely tick off some Cradle Mountain experiences in a day, we highly recommend extending your stay because there’s simply so much to do. With heaps of hikes (ranging from easy strolls to challenging summit treks), outdoor activities, animal spotting and luxe spas to visit, your days will be suitably and satisfyingly packed. Beautiful in every season, Cradle Mountain is probably at its most spectacular in autumn, when the fagus trees start to turn and everything is bathed in fiery orange. But no matter what time of year you visit, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Cradle Mountain. 🚗 The best day trips from Hobart🏞️ Australia's best national parks🥾 The best hikes in Hobart

The 10 best cafés in Hobart for coffee and brunch

The 10 best cafés in Hobart for coffee and brunch

Hobart’s got a rep for having one of the best food scenes in Australia, and it’s not limited to fine dining and wine bars. When you’re up and at ‘em early, ready for a day of exploring Tassie’s capital and surrounds, you’ll find plenty of cafés serving great coffee alongside breakfast menus ripe with local produce. There are well-known staples and places hidden at the end of laneways behind secondhand bookshops, so lucky you have us to round up the best cafés in Hobart for you. Now all you have to decide is: which one to hit first. 🍝 The best restaurants in Hobart🥐 Hobart's top bakeries🍕 Where to get the best pizza in Hobart

The 50 best things to do in Australia

The 50 best things to do in Australia

You know the landmarks and the laid-back culture, but there are plenty more things to do in  Australia than kissing koalas and yelling ‘g’day mate’. Australia is a nature lover’s paradise, with highly sought-after food experiences and an impressive cultural heritage to boot. Whether you want to get amongst art parties in small coastal cities, see fairy penguins scurry across sandy beaches or watch the sunrise over Sydney Harbour from a kayak, there’s so much to explore across this incredible country. You’ll no doubt find something to inspire a holiday Down Under with our guide to all the best things you need to do right now in Australia. 🇦🇺 The top tourist attractions in Australia🌈 Australia's most beautiful destinations🌊 The best beaches in Australia

Listings and reviews (59)

Island Espresso

Island Espresso

Another local favourite café that gives itself away with a line of folks outside, Island Espresso clearly makes good coffee – given the fact that city workers brave the morning cold to wait for their pre-work takeaways outside. But if you pop in for a sit-down breakfast, you’ll find not only top-notch caffeine and a friendly family-run vibe, but also hash brown fries (with housemade tomato relish) on the menu. It’s a scientific fact that hash browns complement every breakfast dish and make your day infinitely better, so for that reason, Island Espresso will always hold a special, deep-fried place in our hearts.

Pigeon Hole Café

Pigeon Hole Café

Not to be confused with Pigeon Whole Bakers (a great place to grab a takeaway coffee and pastry, not so much an actual café), Pigeon Hole is a must-visit Hobart café, especially if you’re a paddock-to-plate foodie type. Everything at Pigeon Hole is locally sourced, right down to the chairs that diners sit on – made by a craftsman in the Derwent Valley. Food-wise, the owners of Pigeon Hole also own Weston Farm, which provides plenty of the menu’s fresh produce. Any dish with honey, apples, veggies, pickles and preserves is likely to be sourced from the farm, and anything the farm hasn’t provided comes from local producers. It’s a true Tassie brunch experience.

Machine Laundry

Machine Laundry

A stalwart of Salamanca Square, this bright and welcoming spot has been serving the people of Hobart for decades. A must-visit for breakfast, it’s especially pleasant to take refuge in this brightly-coloured, retro-tinged space when the Tassie weather is at its most bleak. If the decor isn’t soul-warming enough, the hearty breakfasts – like chunky sourdough heaped with avocado and perfectly squeaky halloumi, or the breakfast chicken cassoulet with a fried egg – certainly will. And yep, you can literally do a load of laundry here at the coin-operated machines.

Plain Jane

Plain Jane

A sister café of long-standing inner-city staple Machine Laundry, Plain Jane has been bringing cheerful vintage goodness to the northern suburb of Moonah for a couple of years now. Locals flock here for the top-tier coffee, huge takeaway three-cheese toasties, and plentiful indoor and outdoor seating for those dining in. The tunes are always good, the decor is pure joy and so are Nonna’s baked eggs on the menu. Bellissimo.

Criterion Street Café

Criterion Street Café

Tucked in a narrow one-way side street in Hobart’s CBD, this café is a favourite with locals, but a very badly kept secret given it’s always packed with diners spilling out onto the footpath seating. We challenge you to walk past on your way to the Elizabeth Street Mall shops without gazing longingly at someone’s stack of corn fritters heaped with avocado smash and popping in to try your luck at a free table. The super-friendly staff will always do their best to find you a spot, and trust us, the food makes any kind of wait worth it.

Pilgrim Coffee

Pilgrim Coffee

Pilgrim is one of the best cafés in Hobart CBD for brunch, with a commitment to pouring the best coffee in the city, as well as serving the kind of obscenely good food you’ll feel mildly guilty for indulging in (before your enjoyment takes over). Think four types of toasties stuffed full of goodness, sloppy joes, crispy potatoes, a quesadilla stack and more. With the space’s exposed brick, exposed light bulbs and exposed floorboards, the upscale industrial feel teamed with the expert-level brunch menu will make you feel like you woke up in Brooklyn rather than Hobart.

Marla Singer

Marla Singer

On the other side of the Tasman Bridge is Bellerive’s Marla Singer, named for the character in Fight Club. But the name is where the similarities end, as this Eastern Shore eatery is as far from chaotic as you could get. Situated in a quiet waterfront suburb, this cool yet welcoming café serves up brunch treats like housemade crumpets with whipped ricotta and preserved fruit, pecorino omelette, nduja baked beans, and the muffuletta – a New Orleans-style breakfast sandwich layered with meat, pickles and cheese.

Dandy Lane Café

Dandy Lane Café

The definition of hidden gem, Dandy Lane is one of Hobart’s best cafés and best-kept secrets. You’ll find it down the end of a pedestrian laneway called Collins Court, serving all-day brunch with a hefty side of Tassie friendliness from the staff. Treat yourself to French toast, fried chicken benny or the baby Dutch pancake served in its own little cast iron pan. All of it pairs perfectly with Dandy Lane’s excellent coffee and warm, welcoming atmosphere. It’s tough to brave the winter air after brunch at this place.

Fortescue Bay

Fortescue Bay

Not to be overlooked, the southeast of the state offers up some beaut beaches to visit, too. There’s a bunch of lovely little spots dotted around the Tasman Peninsula – Pirates Bay Beach and Lagoon Beach are highlights – but if you’re an outdoorsy type, add Fortescue Bay to your list. Tucked within Tasman National Park, this remote spot is bordered by towering forests but is worth the hike – or drive – to get there. You can camp nearby, or simply stop off for a dip as you navigate the popular Three Capes Walk. Good for: Adventuring, kayaking, camping, walking.

Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach

The waters on the wild West Coast of Tasmania aren’t the most ideal for a safe swimming session, but that’s not why you visit Ocean Beach. A trip to see this majestic landmark is all about taking in its rugged beauty – a huge 40km stretch of sand, some of the biggest waves you’ll see in Tassie, and the howling winds of the Roaring Forties. Plus, you’ll experience something you won’t find if you’re from the East Coast of Australia: a sunset over the ocean. Good for: Long (and we mean long) walks along the beach, marvelling at giant waves, sunset watching.

Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach

Surfers love Clifton Beach, as its south-facing position brings in some decent swells. It’s not just for hanging ten, though. The shallows are perfect for a paddle and a splash – watch out for rips near the rocks – and the cliffs provide lots of shelter for all-day beach hangs and picnics. It’s patrolled on weekends and public holidays, and can be busy with locals in the warmer months as they defrost post-winter. Good for: Surfing, picnics, beachcombing in the sand dunes.

Waterhouse Point

Waterhouse Point

Up in the north-east of Tasmania are the calm, clear waters of Waterhouse Point. Just east of the popular holiday town of Bridport, the beaches around Waterhouse Point are hugely popular with Taswegians who enjoy fishing and family beach holidays. Camping around the area is free, and lots of locals and tourists take advantage of not only this, but the perfect swimming and snorkelling conditions. Check out Waterhouse Point, Croppies Beach and the beautiful and secluded Ransons Beach. Good for: Fishing, rockpools, snorkelling, family beach holidays.