Small enough to make it manageable but big enough to never get bored, the quaint capital of Tasmania was made for weekends away.
The city centre hums with action while still maintaining that distinct small-town charm: clean streets, close-knit communities, a slightly slower lifestyle, and waitstaff that are on nickname basis with their regulars. Just out of the CBD, Hobart’s rugged natural wonders are easily accessed, with mountain summits, incredibly fresh air, flowing falls, and coastal heaths right on its doorstep.
If you’re wondering where to begin when planning a weekend away in Hobart, use this (non-exhaustive) list of what to pack, eat, and do as a starting point. Here’s how to spend a weekend in Hobart, with Henry Jones Art Hotel as your base.
First up: packing
If you’re expecting mild winters or hot-as-hell summers that are generally synonymous with Australia, think again. Tasmania is considerably cooler than Australia’s sunnier states, with temperatures hitting a max of around 23 degrees in summer and a bitter 11 degrees in winter. To pack accordingly, forgo your linen sets and instead pick up your puffer (known by locals as the Tassie tuxedo), trench coat, waterproof shoes, and a beanie. Wooly socks, fast-drying layers, and a waterproof jacket might also be appropriate for any imminent hiking adventures, depending on the time of year. A good pair of jeans to dress up or down and some polished boots for nights out will never go astray.
All packed? Let’s get checked in
There’s a lot to love within the beguiling sandstone walls of the Henry Jones Art Hotel. Being right on the water in the heart of the Hunter Street Precinct, there’s easy access to the harbour, ferry, Salamanca Market, Mona, and more. The original Georgian heritage facade of the former jam factory has been restored, with elements from the original interiors evident in the stone walls, remnant wallpaper fragments and timber trusses. These nods to the past are contrasted against the sleek, contemporary features and vibrant burnt orange, deep red, and royal blue hues throughout. The entire building is more like a gallery than a hotel — fitting, for Australia’s first dedicated art hotel. Head on up the Henry Jones Art Hotel’s grand staircase to your room, one of just 56 individually designed and furnished rooms within the hotel, and settle in your art-informed space complete with a king-size bed, sweeping harbour views, and organic Tasmanian toiletries.
Explore the art gallery at your home-away-from-home
With more than 400 pieces of Tasmanian art and a rich history spanning two centuries, you could spend hours marvelling at the beauty of the Henry Jones Art Hotel. To get acquainted with your accommodation, we’d recommend starting with the Henry Jones Art & History tour, taking place every day at 4:00 pm and free for in-house guests. As you sip and savour a glass of bubbles, the hotel’s knowledgeable Art Curator and Storytellers provide expert commentary, sharing in-depth stories of the hotel’s history, art, and namesake.
Get A Taste Of Tasmania’s Vibrant Dining Scene
Pigeon Hole Cafe
Husband and wife duo, Richard and Belinda Weston, take the whole ‘paddock to plate’ concept very seriously at Pigeon Hole Cafe. Almost every ingredient that you can see on the menu is grown at their very own Weston Farm, and anything else that the farm can’t provide is sourced from local producers. The menu runs the whole breaky-brunch gamut, from polenta porridge to the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich (a trio of cheeses and Granny Smith apple sauce, served with a side of palate-cleansing pickles). Wash it all down with a potent espresso or start the day strong with Bloody Mary.
Dana Eating House
High energy, refined dishes, innovative cocktails, and fresh flavours, Dana Eating House is Hobart’s Southeast Asian-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar bringing all of the above and more to the heart of the CBD. Both the food and drink menu heroes local and sustainable producers, with inventive share plates, local craft beers, and Tasmanian spirit-based cocktails. Skip the post-dinner coffee and go for the Vietspresso Martini instead: 7k Distillery coffee liqueur, 666 Wattleseed Vodka, Vietnamese coffee, spiced chai, and coconut syrup.
Pitzi Pasta Bar
While we’d all love to nab a table at Tassie’s highly-coveted eatery Fico for the nine-course dégustation, sometimes something a little more lowkey is the way to go. Pitzi, the fresh-to-Hobart aperitivo and pasta bar from the Fico family, is the charming, casual sibling restaurant of Fico. Less formal but just as delicious, the concise a la carte menu is small enough that, with a couple of friends in tow, you can just about order one of everything. Expect four refined pasta plates, sea urchin spaghetti, or tagliatelle alfredo topped with lashings of truffle, plus a generous list of smaller starters to share.
New Sydney Hotel
Quaint, cosy, and oozing Irish charm, New Sydney Hotel is our top pick for a pint in Hobart. Despite the playful Guinness paraphernalia lining the walls, the food and drink offering is serious at New Sydney, with 15 tap beers and over 200 whiskies on offer. From the kitchen, expect elevated pub classics such as the Cape Grim beef and Guinness pie and the Lamb Of Tasmania pulled lamb shoulder, with a strong number of vegetarian dishes available, too.
Shipwrights Arms Hotel
What is Hobart’s Battery Point without Shipwrights Arms Hotel? The old-school pub, affectionately known as Shippies, has been serving cold pints and hot parmis since 1846. Given its harbourside location, it’s no surprise the menu is loaded with Tasmanian seafood, from Shippies’ signature chowder to the panko-crusted local scallops. When the sun is shining, take a jug of beer out to the covered courtyard, or pull up a pew around the indoor fireplace when the weather isn’t playing nice.
The Winston
This much-loved local hangout has everything you’d expect from an American dive bar. There’s an old-school pinball machine, a slightly battered pool table, a wall of number plates from all over the US and live music throughout the week. The extensive menu follows suit, with mac’n’cheese sticks, New York-style hotdogs, wings, loaded fries, and some of the state’s best burgers. Behind the bar, 12 rotating tap beers and another 100 in tinnies and bottles keep guests well hydrated.
Work off last night’s wine and hike Hobart’s walking tracks
Hobart Rivulet Walk
If the hangover is heaving, the Hobart Rivulet Walk is a good place to start. The flat 5km return route begins in the CBD, following the Hobart Rivulet upstream past the world-heritage-listed Cascades Female Factory. The lush green gardens and the soothing flowing river will heal the most brutal wine-induced headaches, and, if all else fails, a well-deserved pint from the Cascade Brewery should fix you right up.
Hartz Peak
For the more experienced hikers, Hartz Peak will reward you with one of the most breathtaking views of Tasmania’s southwest. You’ll walk through rugged, rocky bushland, across a timber boardwalk and past alpine terrain carved by glaciers so be prepared to break a sweat: the 8km track has some intense inclines that are not for the faint-hearted, with a 400m climb getting you around 1,255m above sea level at its peak. Check the weather before you take off, it’d be a damn shame to get to the top and have clouds covering that view.
