Hobart at a glance
Hobart is the capital of Tasmania. This guide covers the city and the places most visitors add to it: MONA, kunanyi/Mount Wellington, Salamanca Market, Battery Point, and day trips to Bruny Island, Port Arthur, Richmond, Mount Field and Maria Island. It is an independent guide. It is not run by Tourism Tasmania, the City of Hobart or any attraction, and it has no link to them.
Plan around opening patterns, not just distance. MONA runs its own museum days and ferry timetable. The road to the top of the mountain depends on the weather. Some trips are longer than they look on a map: Port Arthur is about 90 minutes by car from Hobart, and Mount Field a little over one hour. All prices below are in Australian dollars (A$) and are the ones published for 2026.
Four ways to spend your days
A simple frame for a first visit. Swap the order to suit the weather.
A day in the city
Start on the waterfront at Brooke Street Pier, then head to Salamanca Place, where the market runs on Saturdays. Add Battery Point, which has a council walking trail with nine large numbered sculptures about the city's history. TMAG, the museum and art gallery near the waterfront, has free general entry and is open from 10:00 to 16:00.
15 things to do →A day for MONA
The museum is reached by ferry from Brooke Street Pier, about 30 minutes each way. The museum is open Thursday to Monday. Book ahead, and allow time for the art, not just the crossing.
MONA guide →A morning on the mountain
Drive the Pinnacle Road or take a shuttle to the 1,271 m summit, or walk from The Springs. Weather decides how much you see. Bring warm and waterproof clothing, even in summer.
kunanyi/Mount Wellington →A day trip
Choose one by distance and ferry: Richmond is about 25 minutes by car, Bonorong about 30. Port Arthur takes about 90 minutes. Bruny Island and Maria Island each need a ferry.
Tours compared →Our picks: Hobart tours
Bruny Island with a lighthouse visit, a mountain and wildlife day, and MONA with the ferry.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Full-day Bruny Island tour with lighthouse visit
Ten hours with a local guide, hotel pickup and return, ferry both ways, a guided visit to Cape Bruny Lighthouse and its museum, and a national park pass. A morning tasting and a main course at Hotel Bruny are included; drinks with meals are extra, except water on the bus.
Check availability →
Mt Wellington, Mt Field, Bonorong and Richmond day trip
Nine hours with a local guide and transport, with pickup from selected Hobart hotels. Entry to Russell Falls and Bonorong is included; food and drinks are not.
Check availability →
Mt Wellington and MONA with ferry ride
Seven and a half hours with a guide, the drive up Mt Wellington, MONA entry and the ferry there and back.
Check availability →Hobart tours and day trips
Guided trips to Bruny Island, Port Arthur, kunanyi/Mount Wellington and more, with live prices and availability.
Hobart highlights
The main pages of this guide for the city itself.
Things to do in Hobart
Fifteen experiences, from MONA and the mountain to the market and the day trips.
MONA
Opening days, the 2026 ticket prices, the ferry from Brooke Street Pier and the steps at the museum.
kunanyi/Mount Wellington
The summit road, the shuttle, the walks from The Springs and what to wear.
Salamanca Market
Saturday hours, parking rules and wheelchair loans at the information stand.
Tours and day trips compared
Eight trips side by side, with distance, ferry and entry costs.
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Entry prices, keeper talk times and the night tour.
Day trips from Hobart
Five places that can fill a whole day.
Bruny Island
The car ferry from Kettering, The Neck and the rules for watching penguins.
Port Arthur
Admission, the harbour cruise and the evening ghost tour.
Richmond
The sandstone bridge and the gaol, about 25 minutes from the city.
Mount Field
The flat 25-minute walk to Russell Falls and the Parks Pass you need.
Maria Island
Ferry from Triabunna, no cars, and works at Darlington until November 2026.
What to know in autumn 2026
Operating notes that older guides do not have. Status as of 20 October 2026.
MONA prices change on 22 October
MONA announced a price rise from 22 October 2026. From that date the listed adult ticket for non-Tasmanians is A$45. Check the ticket page on the day you book.
MONA tickets →Summit road closed 16 to 19 November
Pinnacle Road is closed to vehicles reaching the summit from 16 to 19 November 2026. On 18 and 19 November the lower section is open only as far as The Springs. Walking tracks stay open, but the road is closed to walkers and cyclists during the works.
Mountain guide →New Bruny ferry fares
Since 28 September 2026 there are only Regular and Saver fares. A Regular car under 6 m costs A$58.60 return until 30 November and A$67.30 from December to April. Passengers travel free.
Bruny Island →Works on Maria Island
Building work at Darlington is expected to run until November 2026. The showers are out of use, and the current notice says a ferry reservation is required.
Maria Island →New SkyBus stop in the city
The Old Woolstore stop (Stop 6) has been removed since 6 September 2026. Use Hotel Grand Chancellor, Stop 1, on Campbell Street.
Airport transfers →Seasons, passes and getting around
Three things to settle before you book.
Seasons
Hobart is in the Southern Hemisphere, so summer runs from December to February. Mean daily highs are about 20 to 22°C in those months and about 12°C in June and July. No month is dry: monthly rainfall averages about 39 to 62 mm. Pack layers in every season.
Weather and best time →Parks Pass
Mount Field, Maria Island and South Bruny need a Tasmania Parks Pass. A Daily Vehicle pass costs A$49.15 for up to 8 people for 24 hours, and a Daily Person pass costs A$24.55 (under 5 free), valid from 1 July 2026. Wellington Park on the mountain is free.
Public transport
The government fare page says free travel applies to general public buses and the Derwent ferries, but not to SkyBus or the Bruny ferry. The Wellington Park authority says free public transport runs until June 2027. Check the current rules before you travel.
Where to stay →Hobart: frequently asked questions
What are the main things to do in Hobart?
Most visitors combine MONA, Salamanca Market on a Saturday, the waterfront, Battery Point and a trip up kunanyi/Mount Wellington. TMAG has free general entry. Our page on things to do in Hobart lists 15 experiences, including the day trips.
How do I get to the day trips?
Richmond is about 25 minutes by car, Bonorong about 30, Mount Field a little over an hour and Port Arthur about 90 minutes. Bruny Island needs a car ferry from Kettering, which takes about 20 minutes. Maria Island is reached by passenger ferry from Triabunna, about 45 minutes. See tours compared for all of them side by side.
Is it free to visit Mount Wellington?
Entry to Wellington Park is free, and the summit is 1,271 m high. The shuttle is a paid service: the Explorer Pass costs A$55 for adults aged 17 and over in 2026. The road can close for snow or ice in any month, most often from April to September, so check conditions on the day. The mountain page has the details.
When is summer in Hobart?
Summer is December to February, autumn March to May, winter June to August and spring September to November. Mean daily highs reach about 22°C in January and February. See Hobart weather for all twelve months.
How do I get from Hobart Airport to the city?
The SkyBus Hobart Express costs A$24 one way and A$44 return for adults. The ride takes about 30 minutes on average. You can also use a taxi, a rideshare or a hire car. Details are on the airport page.
Do I need a Tasmania Parks Pass?
Yes for Mount Field, Maria Island and South Bruny. In 2026 a Daily Vehicle pass costs A$49.15 and covers up to 8 people for 24 hours. It does not replace a ferry ticket, a museum ticket or a lighthouse tour. Wellington Park does not need a pass.