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Plan your perfect 3 days in Hobart! If you’re looking for the best things to do in Hobart, Tasmania, you’ll be spoiled for choice. With so many attractions and activities on offer, it can be tough to decide what to do during your 3 day itinerary. From exploring the city’s vibrant arts scene to discovering the area’s natural beauty, there’s something for everyone in Hobart.
We help you put together the perfect Hobart itinerary with some of the best attractions and activities that the city has to offer.
This Port Arthur and Tasman Island Cruise tour was our favourite Hobart day trip!
How To Plan The Perfect 3 Day Hobart Itinerary
There’s no shortage of things to do in Hobart, but with only 3 days in the city, you’ll need to plan your itinerary carefully.
Here are some tips on how to make the most of your time in Hobart:
- Decide what type of activities you’re interested in: Whether you’re looking to explore the city’s history and culture or get out into nature, there are plenty of things to do in Hobart to suit your interests.
- Create your Hobart must-visit list: Creating an itinerary for any city is always easiest once you know the essential attractions and experiences you don’t want to miss! Start with the basics and add in any other activities that interest you.
- Choose your accommodation wisely: When deciding where to stay in Hobart, make sure to choose a location that’s close to the things on your must-see list or suitable to the type of transport you plan to use.
With that in mind, let’s look at the basics for a visit to Hobart, Tasmania before you get too deep into the itinerary planning!
A Brief History Of Hobart
The city was founded in 1803 as a British penal colony and has since grown into a thriving metropolis with a population of over 250,000 people.
Despite its relatively small size, Hobart is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a rich history and culture.
The city is also surrounded by stunning natural beauty, making it the perfect base for exploring Tasmania’s many national parks and wilderness areas.
Where Is Hobart?
Hobart is the capital city of Tasmania, Australia and is located on the island’s southeastern coast. Hobart is located approximately 200km from Tasmania’s other major city, Launceston (around a 2.5hour drive).
How To Get To Hobart
There are many ways to get to Hobart, depending on where you’re coming from.
The city is serviced by Hobart International Airport, which has regular flights to and from major Australian cities and the rest of the world.
Where To Stay In Hobart
There is no shortage of places to stay in Hobart, whether you are looking for budget or luxury accommodation. You can find a wide variety of hotels, motels and apartments throughout the city centre and neighbouring suburbs.
For those planning an extended visit, there are also plenty of vacation rentals available such as beach houses and holiday homes too.
Here are some great options for accommodation in Hobart:
Getting Around Hobart
Hobart is a relatively small city and is easy to get around on foot. In fact, it’s easily one of the most walkable cities in Australia! However, there is also an extensive public transport system consisting of buses and ferries.
If you’re planning on exploring further afield, renting a car is a good option.
3 Days In Hobart Itinerary
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get into the fun part: planning your 3-day Hobart itinerary!
You can easily substitute activities from our Hobart 3 day itinerary with ideas from the list below if there are things you would rather do instead. This is a great starting point to help you plan though!
Day One In Hobart: City Sights & Culture
Arrive in Hobart and check into your accommodation. If you’re staying in the city centre, you’ll be within walking distance of many of the best attractions.
Start your day with a wander around Salamanca Place, home to a weekly market and some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. The Salamanca Markets have a similar vibe to the Southbank Markets in Brisbane and were a total foodie delight with so many great food stalls and fresh produce too.
The markets are especially popular on a Saturday morning if you planning a Hobart weekend itinerary!
It was bratwurst and jam doughnuts for lunch for our visit… the strange urges of a pregnant woman, since we were visiting Hobart on a Tasmania road trip during our babymoon!
If you arrive early enough in the day, this is a perfect chance to jump in your hire car and head up Mt Wellington. It’s only a short drive from town.
The mountain is located really close to Hobart town and offers stunning 360-degree views of Hobart and the surrounding area.
Make sure you bring your camera because this is one photo stop you won’t want to miss! There are also some wonderful hiking tracks if you love the chance to explore the outdoors.
In the summer months, you will find plenty of great options for a picnic area to bring some of the yummy goodies you found at the markets.
Note: During the winter months, it gets dark early so make sure you head up early enough to enjoy your time exploring Mount Wellington. It also means taking care on the winding roads if you are coming back down the mountain as the daylight fades.
Afterwards, head back down into the city for dinner and drinks. Hobart has a thriving restaurant and bar scene, so you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding somewhere to eat and drink.
If you’re after something a little more low-key, there are plenty of pubs and bars serving up delicious food and pub meals.
Day Two: Wildlife and Pub Visits
If you love wildlife, get an early start and head to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in the morning. This wildlife reserve is a reasonable drive from Hobart, however, it is a perfect place to see the beautiful and highly endangered Tasmanian Devil up close.
This is a great place to spend some time getting up close with native Australian wildlife and hearing wildlife talks from knowledgeable rangers. The reserve is focused on rescuing and rehabilitating injured animals.
Afterwards, head to Australia’s oldest brewery, Cascade Brewery, for lunch and possibly a beer tour if you have the time and interest to learn more. The brewery has been around since 1824!
They have the most amazing stout pie. This pie was easily THE BEST PIE EVER!
The food is great and it is set in some lovely gardens for an after-lunch stroll.
Near the Cascade Visitor Centre and Brewery, you will find the Cascades Female Factory, which is a historic site that was the female convict accommodation in Hobart.
Thousands of women and children were accommodated here in the past and it has some interesting history about the female convicts.
You can wander around the ruins of the historic site, but better still is if you time your visit during one of their historical reenactments which happen at intervals throughout the day.
For dinner, head to the popular Drunken Admiral Seafood Restaurant down by the Hobart harbour. The restaurant is award-winning and has been decorated with a rustic boat theme, making it a lot of fun if you are looking for places to eat in Hobart with kids.
Our booth consisted of upright boat halves. And the food was great so it is a wonderful place to dine if you enjoy seafood!
Day Three In Hobart: Port Arthur and Tasman Island Cruise
After a very early breakfast, head off early to experience one of the most popular things to do in Hobart – a day trip to Port Arthur!
You can either drive to Port Arthur yourself or book a full-day tour from Hobart instead. The drive is around 2 hours from Hobart to Port Arthur, hence the early start!
Start your day with a Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys. This is one of the best things to do in Tasmania and an experience you will never forget! It was the highlight of our Tasmania trip.
The 3-hour cruise will take you around Tasman Island National Park via their specially designed boats where you will see the spectacular coastline, birds, sea lions and maybe even some dolphins playing in the water.
This is a fantastic experience and highly recommended while you are in the Tasman Peninsula! You can read our full experience here.
Afterwards, head over to the Port Arthur Historic Site, which is a World Heritage site and one of Australia’s most significant convict settlements.
We started off having lunch in the Port Arthur Historic Site cafe before taking a look around.
The area is rich in history and there are plenty of things to see and do. We highly recommend joining one of the walking tours which is included with the standard entry ticket to Port Arthur Historic Site.
On the tour, you will hear the history and see many of the important buildings – Separate Prison, the Dockyard, the Convict Church, the Commandant’s House and much more. Then enjoy exploring the remaining parts of the grounds at your own pace.
There are also ghost tours which are meant to be very good if you enjoy getting scared during your travels! These run at night if you have the time to fit it into your Hobart itinerary. This is an extra cost to the standard entry tour.
There are also many hikes and nature walks nearby if you did have time spare to explore the Port Arthur region for longer.
Then make your way back to Hobart, stopping for dinner at one of the many English-inspired pubs along the way. We dined at Hadley’s Hotel Restaurant and Bar which was near our accommodation.
Then prepare to head off to your next destination or catch your flight home in the morning.
We did a combined Port Arthur and Tasman Island Cruise package for our visit! This is one of our favourite day tours in Australia!
Best Things To Do In Hobart If You Have More Time
Three days in Hobart is enough to fit in a lot of wonderful places and experiences, yet there are plenty more top things you could easily fill your days with!
Here are some more ideas of great things to do in Hobart if you have more time or want to change up your itinerary a little:
- Take a day trip to Bruny Island
- Go hiking or mountain biking around Mount Wellington Park
- Explore Battery Point
- Stroll through Royal Tasmania Botanical Gardens
- Visit one of the most beautiful beaches in Tasmania
- Check out MONA the Museum of Old and New Art
- If in town on a Sunday morning, head to the Farm Gate Markets
- Sample the local wine and food scene with a tour or tasting
- Taste your way around Street Eats @ Franko every Friday night from 4 pm in Franklin Square
- Check out the views from Mount Nelson
- Learn about the history at the Hobart Museum and Art Gallery
- Take a cruise on the Derwent River
- Eat a scallop pie – the Hobart speciality!
These are just some more ideas for your Hobart short stay. There is plenty more to do in and around Hobart!
Fun Things to Do in Hobart with Kids
Hobart, Tasmania is a fantastic destination for a family vacation, offering a wide range of attractions and Hobart activities for families that will keep kids excited.
If you’re planning a trip to Hobart with kids, here are some fun things to do in Hobart for kids, that the whole family will enjoy:
- Explore the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is a great place to start your family adventure in Hobart. The museum offers interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and displays that showcase the natural and cultural heritage of Tasmania. Kids will have a blast learning about dinosaurs, maritime history, and indigenous culture.
- Explore the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA): While it may not sound like a typical kid-friendly spot, MONA offers unique and interactive exhibits that will captivate curious young minds. From thought-provoking art installations to engaging workshops, MONA provides a stimulating and memorable experience for the whole family.
- Enjoy a day at the beach: Hobart is surrounded by beautiful beaches, perfect for a family day out. Kids can build sandcastles, splash in the water, and enjoy a relaxing day by the sea.
- Visit Pooseum: Yes, it’s a museum about poo! This quirky science museum is dedicated to all things poo. It’s the only one of its kind in Australia and is sure to entertain the kids while you also get a unique education!
- Tasmanian Devil Unzoo: Take a Devil Tracker Adventure, a guided 4WD tour in the native forest near the Unzoo to see how the Tasmanian devils of the isolated Tasman Peninsula are being tracked and monitored with special hi-tech infrared night cameras.
Best Day Tours From Hobart
If you’re looking for guided tours or all-inclusive day tours for your short stay in Hobart, there are plenty of options. These are perfect if you don’t have your own private transport.
- Bruny Island Full-Day Food, Lighthouse & Sightseeing Tour
- 2.5-hour Iron Pot Lighthouse Cruise
- 24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket
- Summit of kunanyi and Mt Wellington Explorer Bus Pass
- Bruny Island Wilderness Coast Eco-Tour
- Mt Wellington, Mt Field, Bonorong & Richmond Day Trip
- Tasman Peninsula Day Trip with Cruise & Devils
- Port Arthur Tour & Cruise Day Trip from Hobart
- Wineglass Bay & Freycinet National Park Via Richmond
- 3-Hour City Sightseeing Tour by Tram
We always book tours and attractions via Get Your Guide as most come with free cancellation within 24 hours of your booking.
Tasmania is a great family-friendly destination to visit with all ages! Find winter inspiration for more great things to do in Tasmania. And don’t miss your chance to check out some of Tasmania’s best beaches and coastline!
We hope you have enjoyed reading our 3-day Hobart itinerary and that it has given you some inspiration for planning your own trip. With so many great things to do in Hobart, you can easily fill 3 days or a week.
Hopefully this guide has helped you with what to do in Hobart if you only have 3 days, plus ideas for longer stays in Hobart too!
Find more planning inspiration for your Tasmania trip:
- Tasmania self-drive road trip itinerary
- Best beaches in Tasmania
- Road trip packing list
- How to plan a road trip
- How to plan a camping trip
- Best road trips in Australia
- Tasman Island cruise review
- Port Arthur day trip guide
