Hobart, Tasmania
Guide to Hobart
Aboriginal name: nipaluna (pronounced nip-ah-loona)
In Hobart, you can see world-renowned art, eat freshly caught seafood and climb a mountain all in one day.
The Tasmanian capital of Hobart is a dynamic city that surpasses expectations at every turn. Australia’s southernmost capital is brimming with history and bursting with creativity (hello MONA). It boasts an incredible food and wine scene with local produce making the short journey from farm to table, and is fringed by scenic wilderness.
Long before Hobart was called Hobart, the local muwinina and palawa peoples called this area of Tasmania ‘nipaluna.’ No capital letters are used in palawa kani (the traditional language), including place names.
To learn more about Hobart’s First Nations history, take the takara nipaluna – ‘Walking Hobart’ Aboriginal tour. Run by palawa/warlpiri woman Nunami Sculthorpe-Green, this special tour will give you a rich understanding of the palawa experience.
- Traditional name: nipaluna (pronounced nip-ah-loona)
- Indigenous Peoples: muwinina and palawa peoples
- Traditional languages: palawa kani
- How to say g’day in palawa kani: ya
The easiest way to reach Hobart is by air. Flights arrive daily from several Australian cities.
- Hobart Airport (HBA) is 18km (11mi) from the city and services international and domestic arrivals
- Hire cars, rideshare services and taxis are available from passenger terminals
- The SkyBus shuttle service to Hobart's city centre departs every 30 minutes
Hobart is a relatively small city, so making your way around is easy. There is a clean and safe public bus network as well as a private ferry to take you to waterfront art museum MONA. You can easily walk to many attractions, and car hire is available for driving further afield on a road trip. Find more information about getting around Hobart.
Hobart has four distinct seasons and each is uniquely beautiful. Luckily for travellers, Hobart’s weather is relatively predictable, making it easy to plan. Overall, expect cooler temperatures year-round when compared with Australia's other capital cities.
- High season: Summer (December to February) and winter (June to August)
- Low season: Spring (September to November)
- Don’t miss: Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (December)
There are great accessible options for accommodation and attractions throughout Hobart.
- Arrival: Staff and facilities are available at Hobart Airport to provide accessibility assistance, including for travellers with hidden disabilities.
- Getting around: All public buses are wheelchair accessible in central Hobart. Use the ‘Wheelchair accessible routes only’ option on the Trip Planner tool for buses outside of the city.
- Accessible experience highlights: The popular kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus is wheelchair accessible, and the Museum of Old and New Art has a range of accessible facilities, including an app that supports voice-over and screen reader functionality.
- Helpful resources: Travellers who are blind or have low vision can access a range of immersive audio guides to Hobart via the Vacayit app. The City of Hobart’s handy mobility map is a great tool for those with limited mobility.
