Hobart weekend guide: what to see in two days

This Hobart weekend guide fits the best of the city into two easy days: Salamanca Market and the waterfront on Saturday, Battery Point and Mount Wellington on Sunday. Hobart is small and walkable, so you can see a lot on foot. Pack warm layers, because the weather can change fast, even in summer.

Plan your weekend around Saturday. The big weekly market only runs that day, and it is the busiest and most colourful part of the trip. Everything else in this guide is open to you on either day.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Salamanca Market.

Saturday morning: Salamanca Place and the market

Start at Salamanca Place, a row of old sandstone warehouses beside the harbour. The Salamanca Market runs here every Saturday. Stalls sell fresh produce, local art and crafts. There are about 300 stalls, and the market has grown a long way since it began in January 1972 with about 12 stalls at the silos end of the street. It runs from about 8.30 am to 3 pm.

Go early. The crowds build by mid morning and the footpaths get tight. Bring a bag and some cash for the smaller stalls. Buy a hot drink and a snack, then walk the whole length of the street before you spend anything, so you can compare what is on offer.

The sandstone buildings were once warehouses for the port. Today they hold restaurants, galleries and craft shops, so there is plenty to see when the rain comes in.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Salamanca Market; Wikipedia, Salamanca Place.

Saturday afternoon: the waterfront and the museum

After lunch, stroll the waterfront. Hobart was settled in 1803 and moved to its present site at Sullivans Cove in 1804. It is the second oldest capital city in Australia after Sydney. The cove is still the heart of town.

Find a spot by the water, eat lunch and watch the boats come and go.

A short walk from the cove, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is the city's main museum, with Tasmanian history and art. It is a calm way to spend an hour when you have had enough of the crowds.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Hobart.

Sunday morning: Battery Point

On Sunday, walk up from the market area to Battery Point, the old maritime suburb just south of the city centre. Ship owners, sailors and dock workers once lived here, and the streets still have many historic houses.

Look for Arthur Circus, a ring of cottages first built for garrison officers. It is the only circus in Australia, and it is a quiet spot to stroll. Narryna, one of the old villas on Hampden Road, is run as a museum of colonial life. Check its opening hours before you go.

Plan about two hours. Finish with a coffee in one of the small cafes nearby.

Sources for this section: Companion to Tasmanian History, Battery Point (University of Tasmania); Wikipedia, Battery Point.

Sunday afternoon: Mount Wellington

Finish with the mountain that stands behind the city. Mount Wellington rises 1,271 metres above Hobart. Pinnacle Road, opened in August 1937, is the only road to the summit. Check that the road is open before you drive up, because snow, ice or extreme fire danger can close it.

The view from the summit is wide. You can see the city, the Derwent estuary and the hills to the south. It is much colder at the top than in town. It often snows in winter, and lighter falls are common in other seasons, so the road can close with little warning. Take a jacket, gloves and a hat, whatever the season.

If the summit is cloudy, do not waste the trip. Look up from the city instead to the Organ Pipes, a cliff of tall dolerite columns that stand out above the city.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Mount Wellington (Tasmania); Wellington Park Management Trust, How to get there.

Getting around and where to eat

The centre of Hobart is compact. Most of the places above are a short walk from each other, so you do not need a car except for the mountain. Wear comfortable shoes, because Battery Point has steep streets and steps.

For food, look for Tasmanian seafood, cheese, apples, berries and cool climate wines. Book a table for dinner on Saturday night, since the weekend crowds fill the better places.

A weekend is short, so keep the plan loose. If you have more time, our Overland Track guide covers Tasmania's best known alpine walk. Other trip ideas are listed on the guides page.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Hobart.

Sources

1. Wikipedia, Salamanca Market: en.wikipedia.org
2. Wikipedia, Hobart: en.wikipedia.org
3. Wikipedia, Mount Wellington (Tasmania): en.wikipedia.org
4. Wikipedia, Salamanca Place: en.wikipedia.org
5. Wikipedia, Battery Point: en.wikipedia.org
6. Companion to Tasmanian History, Battery Point: utas.edu.au
7. Wellington Park Management Trust, How to get there: wellingtonpark.org.au