Your ultimate guide to Tasmania

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

As an island off an island, Bruny ticks all the boxes with artisanal goods, stunning hiking trails and wondrous wildlife encounters. Despite its tiny permanent population of around 1,000, Bruny Island draws more than 150,000 visitors annually – all chasing a slice of the good life, even if just for a day. Getting to Bruny Island is half the fun. Take a scenic drive to Kettering, a 40-minute drive south of Hobart and jump on the car ferry, operating from 7am to 7pm. The 20-minute journey will treat you to gorgeous views of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and back towards kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Once there, the world is your (Bruny Island) oyster. You can explore the 60-kilometre stretch of land at your own pace, over a few hours, a weekend or an entire week. Here are the best things to do on Bruny Island. 🏝️ The most beautiful islands in Australia🌊 Tasmania's 10 best beaches🚘 All the best day trips from Hobart

Hobart may be tucked all the way down the bottom of Australia, but it’s a destination not to be slept on. Tasmania’s capital city is blessed with natural beauty, featuring the glittering waters of the River Derwent on one side and the rugged peak of kunanyi/Mount Wellington on the other – and there’s plenty to do both outside and inside. Whether you’re headed to this waterfront town for a quick weekend getaway or you’ve got time on your side, our expert writers have rounded up the best things to do in Hobart. From mountain walks and self-guided history tours to top-tier restaurants and the incomparable MONA, everyone will find something to do on this list. Our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley's perfect Hobart day starts with pastries from Pigeon Whole Bakers, a sauna boat experience and a trip to the underrated Farm Gate Market. Happy exploring! Editors' favourite things to do in Hobart: 🖼️ Best for culture: MONA 🧺 Best for food: Farm Gate Market 💦 Best for something different: Kuuma Sauna 🍽️ The best restaurants in Hobart🖼️ The best museums and galleries in Hobart🚗 The best day trips from Hobart

Ah, lovely Launceston. Tasmania’s second city might not get quite so much love as more famous cities on the Australian mainland (or, for that matter, the island’s capital city, Hobart), but it most certainly should. This home of just over 75,000 people teems with stuff to see and do, from gorgeous sights and majestic nature to underrated restaurants. Our Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, explored the city like a true local on a campervan trip and visited all of Launceston's top attractions. Here’s her guide to the best things to do in Launceston, combined with a few insider tips from the locals. 🌳 The best things to do in Hobart😱 The top places to visit in Tasmania🚘 The coolest day trips from Hobart

Hobart may be tucked all the way down the bottom of Australia, but it’s a destination not to be slept on. Tasmania’s capital city is blessed with natural beauty, featuring the glittering waters of the River Derwent on one side and the rugged peak of kunanyi/Mount Wellington on the other – and there’s plenty to do both outside and inside. Whether you’re headed to this waterfront town for a quick weekend getaway or you’ve got time on your side, our expert writers have rounded up the best things to do in Hobart. From mountain walks and self-guided history tours to top-tier restaurants and the incomparable MONA, everyone will find something to do on this list. Our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley's perfect Hobart day starts with pastries from Pigeon Whole Bakers, a sauna boat experience and a trip to the underrated Farm Gate Market. Happy exploring! Editors' favourite things to do in Hobart: 🖼️ Best for culture: MONA 🧺 Best for food: Farm Gate Market 💦 Best for something different: Kuuma Sauna 🍽️ The best restaurants in Hobart🖼️ The best museums and galleries in Hobart🚗 The best day trips from 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. 🎨 More of the best galleries in Australia🔍 The top museums in Australia🌳 All of the best things to do in Hobart

One of Tasmania's biggest selling points is its small size, meaning you can explore much of the state without driving too far. Even on a long weekend visit to Hobart, you can tick off a big hitter, like Wineglass Bay, Bruny Island or Launceston. Talk about bang for your buck. Whether you want to pull on the hiking boots for a strenuous side quest in Mount Field National Park, go for a stunning ocean dip at Binalong Bay (our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley's favourite) or get your history fix at Port Arthur, there’s a day trip from Hobart to fulfil your desires. All it takes is some planning, a tank full of petrol and in some cases, a National Parks pass. So strap yourself in (because safety!) and enjoy the ride. Here are the best day trips from Hobart. 🚗 The best Australian road trips🥾 The coolest hikes in Hobart🥐 Hobart's best bakeries

Sandwiched between kunyani/Mt Wellington and the River Derwent, Hobart’s breathtaking landscape sets the stage for budget-friendly adventures – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. From peaceful picnics and urban art walks to historic neighbourhoods, we've picked out the best free things to do in Hobart. Our Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, loves perusing the local markets (her favourite is the Sunday Farm Gate Market), and she hopes to tick off all of Hobart's best hikes one day. You might break a sweat, but you won’t break the bank. ☕️ The best cafés in Hobart🖼️ Hobart's best museums and galleries🚗 The coolest day trips from Hobart

Hobart really is the perfect place for a holiday, given the fact that it manages to combine glorious vistas with a top-tier foodie scene. The perfect day in Tasmania’s capital combines outdoorsy exertion before toasting your adventures with a local beer, wine, gin or whisky, and treating yourself to dinner at one of Hobart’s best restaurants. And just how exerting is totally up to you – Hobart itself has hikes that range from easy to challenging, or venture further afield for a day trip to Bruny Island, Mount Field National Park or Hartz Mountains National Park. This place is quite literally your oyster, if seafood’s your thing. So pack your puffer jacket, pull on those trainers and tackle one of Hobart’s best hikes. 🌳 The best hikes in Australia🌊 The best beaches in Tasmania🥐 The best cafés in Hobart

Despite its small size, Hobart is big on activities – and we’re talking fun for the whole family, not just bougie restaurants and gin distilleries. In fact, whether you’re visiting the Tasmanian capital or you’re a full-time Hobartian, you’ll never be at a loss for things to do with kids in Hobart. Even if your kids are balls of constant energy, with nature on all sides of this waterfront town there’s almost too much great outdoors to explore. And luckily there’s plenty of culture and history to soak in on a rainy day, too. We’ve rounded up the best things to do with kids in Hobart, so grab your extended team and dive right in. 🌳 More fun things to do in Hobart🖼️ Hobart's best museums and galleries🚗 The coolest day trips from Hobart

Hobart’s food scene is undoubtedly one of the best in Australia, and the locals will happily back that up. As will Time Out Australia’s Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, who after dining across every state and territory, can confidently vouch for it.  Tasmania’s food scene is spectacular for a number of reasons. In recent years, a wave of talented chefs has traded the high‑pressure kitchens of the mainland for Hobart’s relaxed, slow‑food lifestyle. This influx of talent, combined with Tasmania’s naturally bountiful fresh produce, has turned Hobart into quite the destination for food lovers. You'll find everything from intimate ten-seater bars and waterside fine diners to showstopping museum restaurants and everything in between. Here’s our list of the best restaurants in Hobart to score a reservation (or a walk-in table) at. Editors' favourite restaurants in Hobart: 😍 Best for views: Faro Bar and Restaurant 🌱 Best for special occasions: The Agrarian Kitchen 🍹 Best for snacks and spritzes: Restaurant Maria For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍷 The best bars in Hobart☕️ The best cafés in Hobart🌳 The best things to do 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 scene is lively, with plenty of drinking holes for the curious and thirsty. From luxury dive bars like Manky Sally's and underground cocktail joints, namely Society Salamanca, to the age-old Cascade Brewery Bar among the greenery, 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're a Dirty Martini person or partial to a tinnie (or three), our expert writers, including Hobart local, Josie Rozenberg-Clarke, and Time Out Australia’s Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, can both attest to these 16 best bars in Hobart. Bottoms up! For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍽 The best restaurants in Hobart🍕 Hobart's best pizzas🍣 Where to go for Japanese in Hobart

Whether you're a coffee connoisseur who loves a little latte art or simply someone who needs a strong cup of caffeine to kickstart your day, Hobart’s bean scene is sure to impress. From quaint Battery Point hideouts like Lēoht and award-winning espresso bars such as Pilgrim Coffee, to a café-meets-science lab by the name of Somewhere Coffee Bar, these joints are sure to put a pep in your step. All you have to do is choose how you like your brew. Time Out's contributing writers and coffee enthusiasts know a thing or two about even greater coffee. We can wholeheartedly confirm that the cuppas are just as bang on with the mainland counterparts. Here are our top picks for the best coffee shops in Hobart. Happy sipping! For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. ☕️ Australia's best coffee roasters🥐 The best bakeries in Hobart🥑 Hobart's best cafés

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, namely Dandy Lane Café, as well as newcomers like Lēoht and Erda, bringing a breath of fresh air to the city. Luckily, you have our local writer, Josie Rozenberg-Clarke, and Time Out Australia’s Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, to round up the best cafés in Hobart right now. All you have to decide is: which one to hit first.  For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍝 The best restaurants in Hobart🥐 The best bakeries in Hobart🍕 The best pizza in Hobart

Although it’s not a major capital city, Hobart can still be a pricey place to eat out if you don’t know where to go. Many visitors find themselves gravitating towards the river, which is lined with fancy waterfront eateries charging top dollar for a feed. But eating cheap in Hobart doesn’t just confine you to burger bars or far-flung suburbs. You can dine like royalty in Hobart – if you know where to look. And it just so happens, that we do. Here are some of the best affordable restaurants – meaning places that serve hearty mains for under $20 – in and around the glorious city of Hobart. Pick between generous dumpling plates, fresh banh mi, hearty noodle soups and more. ✨ Your guide to Hobart's best restaurants🥐 The best bakeries in Hobart☕️ Hobart's top cafés

All rise! Hobart’s best bakeries cook up some of the most buttery and flaky pastries our nation has ever seen. You’ll experience love at first bite with perfectly golden croissants, pies, quiches, scrolls and danishes, plus bread in all shapes and sizes. Many of Hobart’s greatest bakeries have been filling the hearts of carb lovers for more than a decade, collecting a loyal following along the way. Take local favourite, Pigeon Whole Bakers, which has been slinging sourdough since 2011, or Jackman and McRoss, a beloved Battery Point bakery and café that's been up and running since 1998. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just popping into town, here are the best bakeries in Hobart. ☕️ Hobart's best cafés🌳 The best things to do in Hobart🍽 Hobart's greatest restaurants

What makes a bangin’ burger? Is it the pillowy soft bun, the perfect condiment combo, the choice to add or subtract toppings (hello, beetroot!) or that first juicy bite? We'd say all of the above, plus a hefty dollop of secret sauce and the vibe of the venue. When we asked local food writer Madeleine Gasparinatos to taste-test her way through the best burgers in Hobart, she was only too happy (and hungry!) to comply. Have a read of this definitive list – there’s sure to be a burger here with your name on it. Editor’s favourite burgers in Hobart:  🍔 Best American-style burger: The Standard 🍻 Best pub burger: Moonah Hotel ✨ Best fusion burger: Devil’s Kitchen Café For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍽 The best restaurants in Hobart🍕 Hobart’s best Italian restaurants🍣 The best Japanese in Hobart

Hobart has enjoyed a long love affair with pubs. In 1803, it boasted 50 of them… that’s one pub for every 200 residents. Fast forward 200-odd years, and the city's pub scene is bursting with charm, craft drinks and great food.  Our local writers devised this list of Hobart's best pubs, including places where you’ll not only find perfect pints, but golden schnitties, cosy fireplaces and live tunes, too. From old-school legends like the Shipwrights Arms and the Hope and Anchor to newer favourites like the revamped Moonah Hotel and Preachers’ beloved beer garden, these are the best pubs in Hobart for good times and laidback vibes. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍷 Hobart's best bars🍽️ The best restaurants in Hobart🍔 Hobart's best burgers

Tasmania’s capital may be famous for its breathtaking beauty, but Hobart’s steak scene truly sizzles. Drawing from its lush pastures and pristine air, Hobart delivers steak experiences that range from boldly inventive to timelessly elegant. Whether you're longing for an Art Deco affair at The Astor Grill, a lively Argentinian-grill-meets-Aussie-fare by the water at Frank Restaurant or elevated dining by the waterfront at Landscape, this city satisfies all your carnivore cravings.  In this roundup, local writer and wannabe farmer Madeleine Gasparinatos has done the hard work for you (well, somebody’s got to!), sampling the juiciest, most flavour-forward cuts to bring you this list of the best steaks in Hobart. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍛 The best Indian restaurants in Hobart🍔 The best burgers in Hobart 🍱 Hobart's best Japanese restaurants

Craving a taste of la dolce vita in Hobart? You’re in luck. Hobart’s Italian dining scene serves up a delicious blend of traditional and contemporary dishes, celebrating not just pasta and pizza, but hearty mains and delish desserts. Local chefs hero the freshest Tassie produce while putting that inimitable Italian spin on each dish, of course.   Our local foodie and Tassie writer Madeleine Gasparinatos has curated a list of must-try spots for the best pizza, pasta and Spritz. At Peppina, it’s all about having a feast; think generous portions, a sun-lit interior and a wine list that makes you want to linger all evening. Then there’s Don Camillo, one of the oldest restaurants in town, still serving soulful Italian fare. And don’t miss Sonny, the intimate Italian wine bar in the CBD where communal dining and buzzing good vibes go together. From classic pizzerias to fine dining, here's our list of the best Italian restaurants in Hobart. Buon appetito! For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines.  🍽 The best restaurants in Hobart🍕 Hobart’s best pizzerias🍣 The best Japanese in Hobart