What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Hobart, Australia.
Photo: KatherineSlade / Pixabay
Hobart is a coastal city in Australia with about 197,451 people. The main sights sit close to the water: Salamanca Place and its market, the old streets of Battery Point, and the waterfront at Constitution Dock. MONA in Berriedale and kunanyi / Mount Wellington take you a little further out. First-timers often stay in Salamanca or the CBD. The best months to go are December, January, February and March.
We have no set number of days for Hobart. MONA alone takes half a day. kunanyi / Mount Wellington, Salamanca and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery each take 2–3 hours. So plan for more than a single day.
Berriedale
A large private museum of ancient and modern art, much of it built into the sandstone cliffs beside the Derwent River. Some works are deliberately shocking, so it is not for everyone. Many visitors arrive by the museum ferry from the city waterfront.
Wellington Park
The mountain behind the city, with a summit road, lookouts and walking tracks. On a clear day you can see Hobart, the river and the coast below. The top is often cold, windy or in cloud, and the road can close in snow, so check the weather first.
Salamanca
A row of old sandstone warehouses by the harbour, now shops, galleries, cafés and bars. The outdoor market sells Tasmanian food, crafts and produce, but it runs only one day a week, so check before you plan around it.
Battery Point
One of Hobart's oldest neighbourhoods, just up the hill from Salamanca. Walk its quiet streets to see colonial cottages and Arthur Circus, a small ring of historic houses around a green.
Hobart waterfront
The state museum, covering Tasmanian Aboriginal history and culture, convict and colonial history, natural history and art. It is a good wet-weather option and gives useful background for the rest of your trip.
South Hobart
The site of a former prison for convict women, part of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage listing. Little of the original buildings remains, so the guided tour or dramatised session is the best way to understand the stories.
South Hobart
A historic working brewery in a striking old stone building at the foot of the mountain. You can take a tour or just visit the garden and bar. It is close to the Female Factory, so the two combine easily.
Queens Domain
Long-established gardens on the slope above the river, with plants from Tasmania and around the world. Look out for the Subantarctic Plant House, which recreates the cold, wet climate of the islands to the south.
Hobart waterfront
The working harbour in the city centre, with fishing boats, floating seafood stalls and ferry departures. It is an easy place to walk, eat fish and chips and watch the boats.
Mount Nelson
A historic signal station on a hill south of the city, used in colonial times to send messages about ships. It has wide views over the Derwent estuary and is a quieter alternative when kunanyi is in cloud.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best month: January | 22°C / 13°C | 8 days (59 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 20°C | 8.3/10 |
| Best month: February | 21°C / 12°C | 8 days (40 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 19°C | 8.5/10 |
| Best month: March | 19°C / 11°C | 9 days (55 mm) | 8.9 h/day | 18°C | 8.3/10 |
| April | 17°C / 9°C | 7 days (39 mm) | 7.8 h/day | 16°C | 7.7/10 |
| May | 14°C / 6°C | 10 days (56 mm) | 6.7 h/day | 14°C | 5.4/10 |
| June | 11°C / 5°C | 9 days (59 mm) | 6.2 h/day | 12°C | 4.5/10 |
| July | 11°C / 4°C | 9 days (43 mm) | 7.0 h/day | 10°C | 4.4/10 |
| August | 12°C / 4°C | 11 days (61 mm) | 7.6 h/day | 10°C | 4.6/10 |
| September | 14°C / 6°C | 10 days (51 mm) | 8.8 h/day | 11°C | 6.0/10 |
| October | 16°C / 7°C | 12 days (79 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 13°C | 6.7/10 |
| November | 18°C / 9°C | 12 days (72 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 15°C | 7.7/10 |
| Best month: December | 20°C / 11°C | 11 days (66 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 18°C | 7.9/10 |
The warmest month, with a high of 21.9°C. Expect 8.4 rain days and 11.3 sun hours. It scores 8.3, one of the best months.
High of 20.9°C, only 7.7 rain days and 40 mm of rain. The top score of 8.5 makes it the best month to go.
High of 19.4°C with 8.7 rain days. It scores 8.3, still a best month, and the sea is near 18.3°C.
Cooler at 16.5°C, but it has the fewest rain days, 7.3. It scores 7.7, the last best month before the cold.
The high drops to 13.5°C and lows reach 6.1°C, with 9.9 rain days. It scores 5.4, only ok. Pack warm layers.
High of 11.4°C and lows of 4.6°C. It has 8.7 rain days and the least sun, 6.2 hours. It scores 4.5, so go only if you like the cold.
The coldest month, with a high of 11°C, a low of 4.1°C and 9.2 rain days. The lowest score is 4.4. It is a poor choice for outdoor plans.
Still cold at 11.9°C, with 11.4 rain days. It scores 4.6, only ok. If you can, wait a month or two.
Warming to 13.9°C, with 9.6 rain days and 8.8 sun hours. It scores 6, a good month if you pack for chilly days.
High of 16°C, but it is the wettest month, with 11.6 rain days and 79 mm of rain. It scores 6.7, good, but expect showers.
High of 18.1°C, 11.6 rain days and 10.6 sun hours. It scores 7.7, which puts it among the best months despite the rain.
High of 20.1°C and 10.7 rain days. It has the most sun, 11.4 hours. It scores 7.9, a best month.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Australia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, food and drink
Old sandstone warehouses, restaurants and bars line the harbour, and the Saturday Salamanca Market is on your doorstep. You can walk to most sights, and ferries to MONA leave from the nearby piers. The drawback is noise from bars late at night and crowds on market day.
Good for couples, history lovers, quiet
This is Hobart's oldest residential area, with narrow lanes, small colonial cottages and a village feel. Salamanca is a short walk down Kelly's Steps, so you get quiet nights close to the action. The streets are steep and street parking is hard to find.
Good for first-timers, transport, practical stays
The city centre has the most shops, supermarkets and bus connections, and the waterfront is only a few blocks away. It is a sensible base if you want to get around without a car. It feels quiet and a bit flat after business hours, with less character than the waterfront areas.
Good for foodies, film fans, repeat visitors
Elizabeth Street here is a strip of cafés, restaurants, pubs and the State Cinema, popular with locals more than tourists. It has a relaxed, neighbourhood mood in the evenings. The waterfront is a longer walk, and the return trip is uphill.
Good for families, longer stays, beach access
A leafy residential suburb along the river, home to the university, a small beach and waterside walks. It is calmer and roomier than the centre, which suits families. You will need a bus or car to reach the city, and many streets are hilly.
A Tasmanian bakery classic: whole scallops in a creamy curry sauce inside a pastry case. Locals buy them from bakeries as a quick lunch or snack.
Battered local fish with chips, often flathead. In Hobart many people buy it from the floating fish punts at Constitution Dock and eat by the water.
Oysters farmed in the cold, clean waters around southern Tasmania. They are usually eaten fresh and raw, with lemon, at seafood restaurants or bought straight from farm shops.
Salmon farmed in Tasmanian waters appears on many Hobart menus. You will find it smoked, grilled or raw, in cafes and restaurants across the city.
A strong, floral honey made from the flowers of the leatherwood tree, which grows in Tasmania's western rainforests. Locals spread it on toast or buy jars at markets.
Tasmania is known for its small single malt whisky distilleries. In Hobart you can taste local whiskies at bars and distillery cellar doors.
Best: Apr, May, Aug, Sep
Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Best: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
February is the best month, with a score of 8.5. January, March and December are also top choices. In February, highs average 20.9°C and lows 11.9°C. It is also the driest of these months, with 40 mm of rain over 7.7 days, and about 10.3 hours of sun a day. April and November also score well, at 7.7 each.
Only if you don't mind cold, short days. July scores 4.4, the lowest of the year. Highs average 11°C and lows 4.1°C, with about 7 hours of sun a day. Rain falls on 9.2 days. Indoor sights like MONA and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery work well in any weather, so a winter trip can still suit museum lovers.
It is cool even in summer. The sea peaks at 19.5°C in January and 19.2°C in February. By July and August it drops to around 10°C. If you want to swim, go in January or February, and expect cold water rather than a warm beach holiday.
October and November have the most rainy days, 11.6 each. October also gets the most rain, 79 mm. Both are still good months to visit: October scores 6.7 and November 7.7, with highs of 16°C and 18.1°C. Pack a rain jacket. For drier weather, choose February (40 mm) or April (39 mm).
Plan for several full days to see the main sights without rushing. MONA alone takes half a day. kunanyi / Mount Wellington, Salamanca Place and Salamanca Market, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery each need 2–3 hours. Battery Point, the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site, Cascade Brewery and the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens need 1–2 hours each.
Enter to search · Esc to close