Find cheap flights to Hobart

Tasmania has good roads, few freeways and motorways, and the drives are usually quite scenic. If you have not opted for a rental car, buses and coaches are a good way to get around the island.

Buses

Within Hobart, the Metro buses run across a fairly dense network and many of the attractions in the Hobart region are accessible by the Metro bus. Single adult cash fare ranges from $3.30 AUD – $6.90 AUD based on zones travelled. The Derwent Valley Link bus services the New Norfolk community, Derwent Valley and Hobart. Single adult fare from Hobart to Granton is $6.40 AUD while the farthest point to which the bus travels is Ellendale with a fare of $17.80 AUD. Outside of Hobart, other bus services such as Tassie Link, Redline Coaches and McDermotts Coaches offer tours and transfers to several locations within the island. The Mersey Link Bus Service offers connectivity in Davenport, Ambleside, Spreyton, The Tiers and Latrobe.

Coach Touring

Many national companies such as AAT Kings and APT offer traditional coach touring around Tasmania with year-round multi-day itineraries for budget, deluxe and luxury travellers. There are also many options for local sight-seeing tours and specialised tours with themes around wine trails, adventure activities, wildlife, or historic sites.

Ferries

There is a daily, 30-minute long ferry service to Maria Island from Triabunna Wharf, which is around 86 kilometres from Hobart. For Bruny Island, you can use the daily service operating from the wharf on Ferry Road in Kettering. This is a 35-minute drive from Hobart. The Ida Claire can take you from Cynthia Bay to Narcissus Point via Echo Point in approximately 30 minutes. Prior booking is essential to use this service.

Motorhomes and Caravans

Another popular way to explore Tasmania is by hiring a campervan, caravan or motorhome. There are ‘fee-pay’ as well as free sites around Tasmania and there is a good range of camp sites with all necessary facilities for the adventurous tourists.

No visa is required for domestic travellers within Australia. For foreign nationals, please check the Australian Government Immigration website.

Things to do and places of interest in Hobart and around Tasmania

• Choose a long trekking path at Freycinet Peninsula Circuit or Bay of Fires Walk or the 46-kilometre long Three Capes Track or the 65 kilometres long Overland Track in Cradle Mt-Lake St. Clair NP. You can even add some kayaking in Bay of Fires or at the Pieman river after trekking in the Tarkine rainforest region. Depending on the trail you choose, there are some homely hotels, huts or hipster cabins to stay at en route.
• For a wildlife extravaganza, your choices include Maria Island for Tasmanian Devils (the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial), Narawntapau National Park for wombats and wallabies, the lakes of the Central Highlands for duck-billed platypus, dolphins off the west coast, humpback and southern right whales off the east coast and fairy penguins on Bonnet Island.
• Soak in the amazing arts and cultural experience of Tasmania when you visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), both in Hobart, or the Queen Victoria Museum in Launceston, or several other, smaller art galleries around the state.
• Get a peek into Tasmanian history which includes the brutal convict past. 5 of the convict sites have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites – including Woolmer’s Estate and Brickendon near Longford, Darlington Probation Station on Maria Island, Cascades Female Factory in South Hobart and the Coal Mines Historic Site and Port Arthur Historic Site on the Tasnam Peninsula.
• Travel the scenic 21-kilometre stretch from Hobart to Kunanyi / Mt. Wellington passing through temperate rainforests and glacial rock formations and go to the open viewing platform of the interpretation centre at the top to get panoramic views of Hobart, Bruny Island, South Arm, Tasman Peninsula and the World Heritage Wilderness Area beyond.
• Don’t miss a trip to the famous Salamanca Market in Hobart. This iconic weekly outdoor market is held every Saturday from 8.30 am to 3 pm near Hobart’s waterfront and is a celebration of Tasmania’s unique culture, creative artisans, talented musicians and its finest food and produce.

Tips and tricks for visiting Hobart

It is quite possible to experience all 4 seasons in a single day in Tasmania. Hence, remember to carry a warm jacket no matter when you travel. Do not expect to get good network coverage on your mobiles through many parts of the state. Keep in mind that many eateries close early and only take reservations well ahead of time, so plan ahead on your meal times and venues as far as possible. Do not underestimate the Tasmanian wilderness. Try not to hike alone, carry an emergency kit and plenty of water on your outdoor trips. Also carry a mosquito repellent.

Tasmania hosts several events and festivals almost round-the-year, so do check if there is one happening when you are visiting. Some of the better known festivals include Taste of Tasmania in Hobart around December – January, Chocolate Winterfest at Latrobe in August, Tasmanian Craft Fair at Deloraine in November, Blooming Tasmanian Flower and Garden Festival at Launceston in September, MONA FOMA and Dark MOFO at Hobart in January and June respectively, and the Tasmania Whisky Week held across the state in August.