15 things to do in Hobart
This is an editorial selection, not a ranking. The first eight entries are in or close to the city. Entries 9 to 15 are day trips, and each of them needs a ferry or a drive of 25 minutes to about 90 minutes from Hobart. Prices are in Australian dollars (A$) and are the ones published for 2026.
Southern Hemisphere seasons apply: summer runs from December to February and winter from June to August. Check opening days before you fix a date, because several places close on Christmas Day and some have limited days.
In and around the city, part one
The museum, the ferry, the mountain and the market.
1. MONA, the museum
The Museum of Old and New Art is open Thursday to Monday, 10:00 to 17:00. From 22 October 2026 the listed adult price for non-Tasmanians is A$45, with concessions at A$39. Tasmanians enter free with a ticket and proof of address. Most advance bookings add A$3.50 per transaction.
MONA guide →2. The MONA ferry
The boat leaves from Brooke Street Pier and takes about 30 minutes each way. Prices start at A$30, and the museum ticket is separate. Current departures run from 09:15 to 16:30. A different summer timetable is announced from 3 December 2026.
Ferry details →3. The summit of kunanyi/Mount Wellington
The summit is 1,271 m high, and entry to Wellington Park is free. The Pinnacle Road is asphalt, narrow and winding. Snow and ice can close it in any month, most often from April to September. The Explorer Pass shuttle costs A$55 for adults aged 17 and over and takes 2.5 hours, with 30 minutes at the top.
Mountain guide →4. Salamanca Market
The market runs on Saturdays from 8:30 to 15:00 along Salamanca Place, with around 300 stalls. It goes ahead in the rain. Parking is banned in the market area from 05:30 to 18:00 that day, and towing is possible. Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed free at the information stand from 8:30, with valid ID.
Market guide →Our picks: things to do
A museum and mountain day, a sail on the Derwent and a food walk.
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.
Scenic sailing tour on a yacht
Three hours with skipper and crew, snacks, soft drinks and commentary; sailing instruction is available on request.
Check availability →Hobart food walk with local tastings
Two and a half hours along the harbor and city streets with visits to local food businesses and tastings such as cheese, sausage and seafood.
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 →Things to do in Hobart: tours and tickets
Guided trips and experiences around Hobart, with live prices and availability.
In and around the city, part two
Walks, a brewery, the waterfront and a free museum.
5. Battery Point
The City of Hobart describes the Battery Point Sculpture Trail as a walk past nine large numbered sculptures that tell the story of the city. Opening hours vary by building, so treat the district as a place to walk rather than a single ticketed attraction.
Stay in Battery Point →6. Cascade Brewery
The brewery building stands in South Hobart. The operator's website links to its tour booking. Dates, prices and age rules can change, so confirm them when you book.
7. The waterfront and Brooke Street Pier
Brooke Street Pier is the departure point for the MONA ferry, and Constitution Dock is in the city centre. The Bruny Island ferry leaves from Kettering and the Maria Island ferry from Triabunna, so do not mix up the piers.
MONA ferry →8. TMAG
The museum and art gallery has free general entry and covers art, natural history and cultural history. It is a short walk from the waterfront. From 1 April to 24 December it is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00. From 26 December to 31 March it is open daily. It opens on Monday public holidays, and it is closed on Good Friday, Anzac Day and Christmas Day.
Fitting the city together
The city entries cluster around the waterfront. A workable day starts at Brooke Street Pier, takes in TMAG while it is open, and ends on Salamanca Place. On a Saturday, put the market first. MONA needs a day of its own, because the ferry and the museum are two separate timetables.
All of the city entries are close to the harbour. The out-of-town entries below need more planning, so read the ferry and Parks Pass notes first.
Day trips and out-of-town stops
Seven places that can fill most of a day.
9. Bruny Island and The Neck
The car ferry runs from Kettering to Roberts Point. The operator gives about 20 minutes for the crossing and 35 minutes for the drive from Hobart to Kettering. The parks authority gives 15 and 40 minutes, so allow some margin. A Regular car under 6 m costs A$58.60 return until 30 November 2026 and A$67.30 from December to April. Passengers travel free. Penguins can be seen from the platform at The Neck at dusk, but sightings are not guaranteed.
Bruny Island guide →10. Cape Bruny Lighthouse
Visits need booking in advance and a Parks Pass. Tours run daily and last 20 to 30 minutes. The operator quotes about 18 km of gravel road and roughly 1 hour 15 minutes from the ferry. Confirm the current price and times when you book.
Bruny Island guide →11. Port Arthur Historic Site
General admission is A$55 for adults, A$44 for concessions and A$27.50 for children, 2026. It is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 and closed on Christmas Day. The ticket includes a 20-minute harbour cruise and short guide talks. More than 30 historic buildings, ruins and gardens are open to explore. The drive takes about 90 minutes.
Port Arthur guide →12. Richmond Bridge and Richmond Gaol
Convicts built the sandstone bridge over the Coal River. Work began in 1823 and the bridge was completed in 1825. The Australian government describes it as the oldest surviving large stone arch bridge in the country. The gaol at 37 Bathurst Street is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 for A$12 per adult, A$6 per child, or A$30 for a family of 2 adults plus children aged 5 to 16. The drive takes about 25 minutes.
Richmond guide →13. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Adults pay A$37, children aged 6 to 17 pay A$22 and under-6s are free, with a family ticket at A$105 (2026). It is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Keeper talks start at 10:00, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30. Admission includes feed for the sanctuary's kangaroos, a managed activity that is separate from wild animals in parks. The sanctuary is at 593 Briggs Road, Brighton, about 30 minutes north of Hobart.
Bonorong guide →14. Mount Field National Park
The park is a little over one hour from Hobart via New Norfolk and Westerway and needs a Parks Pass. The Russell Falls Track is 1.4 km return, about 25 minutes, flat and graded 1. It starts at the visitor centre. The visitor centre is open daily, 09:00 to 17:00 from December to April.
Mount Field guide →15. Maria Island
A passenger ferry runs from Triabunna to Darlington in about 45 minutes. There is no visitor car traffic on the island. A same-day return costs A$59 for adults, plus a Parks Pass. Darlington works are expected to run until November 2026, the showers are out of use, and there are no shops or cafes, so bring food and water. Keep at least 2 m from wildlife.
Maria Island guide →Short on time? Three combinations
One day: entries 4, 7 and 8, with the market first on a Saturday. Two days: add 1 and 2 on a Thursday to Monday, plus 3 in good weather. Three days or more: add one of the day trips, starting with the closest, Richmond (12) or Bonorong (13).
Each day trip is a full day if you add the drive or ferry time. Our page on tours and day trips compared puts distance, ferry and entry costs side by side. For a base, see where to stay.
Things to do in Hobart: frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do in Hobart?
There is no single answer. MONA, Salamanca Market on a Saturday and the mountain are the usual first choices. The list above is an editorial selection, not a ranking.
What can I do in Hobart for free?
General entry to TMAG is free, and so is entry to Wellington Park on the mountain. The Sculpture Trail at Battery Point is a walking route you can follow at your own pace.
Which day trips need a Parks Pass?
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. A Daily Person pass costs A$24.55, with under-5s free.
Can I visit Port Arthur and Richmond in one day?
Both are day trips. Port Arthur is about 90 minutes by car and Richmond about 25 minutes, and both sites are open from 09:00 to 17:00. One trip per day is the simplest plan, so check the closing times before you try to combine them.
What should I do when it rains?
MONA and TMAG are indoor options, and Salamanca Market goes ahead in the rain. The mountain is the entry most affected by weather, so check conditions before you go up.