18 Famous Landmarks in Hobart, Australia
Capital of Tasmania, Hobart is a city with a friendly atmosphere and a picturesque colonial charm. Established in 1804, it is the second oldest city in Australia after Sydney.
With just over 200,000 people, it’s a human-sized city full of history, and a great place to live. Unlike most Australian capitals, you won’t find huge skyscrapers, but you’ll have several landmarks and attractions to visit.
Do you know what are the most famous landmarks in Hobart?
Here is the list of the best 18 landmarks you can find in Hobart and nearby!
Full list of the 18 Most Famous Landmarks in Hobart
In Hobart, you’ll find both natural and man made landmarks. Of course, as it’s a city, you’ll find much more man made landmarks though. Find below the full list of Hobart landmarks 👇
Man made landmarks:
- Tasman Bridge
- Salamanca Place & Salamanca Market
- Port of Hobart
- Battery Point
- MONA
- Theatre Royal
- St. David’s Cathedral
- Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
- Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
- Cascade Brewery
- Mount Nelson Lookout
- Richmond Bridge
- Cascades Female Factory
- Port Arthur Historic Site
Natural landmarks:
- Mount Wellington
- Secret falls
- Derwent river
- Bruny Island
So here they are! If you want to get more info and details about these landmarks, keep reading below!
Man made Landmarks in Hobart
Although the capital of Tasmania is quite a small city, you’ll find lots of attractions that need a visit if you’re in town. Some of them aren’t in the center and are best enjoyed with a car, but they’re all accessible by public transportation.
Let’s discover the man made landmarks in Hobart!
1. Tasman Bridge
The Tasman Bridge is certainly the most distinctive landmark of Hobart. Completed in 1964, the Tasman Bridge spans the Derwent River from Queen’s Domain to Montagu suburb and carries most of the traffic between the 2 shores.
You can have a beautiful views over the bridge from the 2 shores, but the most beautiful one is the Rosny Hill Lookout on the eastern shore.
The bridge is sadly famous because of the Tasman Bridge disaster that occurred in 1975: a boat collied with pylons of the bridge and part of the bridge collapsed into the river. No worries, the bridge is safe since then!
2. Salamanca Place & Salamanca Market
Located 5 min walk from downtown, Salamanca Place is a paved plaza in Sullivans Cove on Hobart’s waterfront.
Salamanca Place is a cultural hub with performing arts venues and galleries where producers and artists from all over the country come to meet.
The market is the largest on the island with more than 300 booths: you can buy handicrafts, food, merino wool clothing, wood and antiques. It’s a cool place to get together with friends, relax in a café and enjoy some local food.
3. Port of Hobart
Not far from the city center, you’ll find the port of the city near Salamanca. Here you can take a stroll along the wharf, taste fresh fish and chips from the morning’s catch and chat with local fishermen.
At the beginning of February, the Port of Hobart hosts the Australian Wooden Boat Festival: vintage wooden boats are gathered in the harbor and give it a special atmosphere.
This free festival is quite famous and offers a great day out. Food trucks, live music and a refreshment stalls are set up along the harbor.
4. Battery Point
Located 10min walk from Hobart center close to Salamanca, Battery Point is the oldest part of Hobart with beautiful lanes and quaint streets. Strolling there will certainly make you step back in time!
The district was named Battery Point because it was part of the Hobart coastal defense; battery of guns were established there in 1818 for this purpose.
The area is now mainly residential, but you can find lots of cafes, bookstores and antique shops. The best way to start your visit is via Kelly’s steps from Salamanca Place.
5. MONA
With more than 400,000 visitors every year, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is a must-see in Hobart. Located on the banks of the Derwent only 20min drive from the city center, you can also access the museum by ferry.
Founded in 2011 by David Walsh, the MONA is one the few museums in the world that has ancient, modern and contemporary arts in its galleries.
The museum architecture is very unique: composed of 3 underground levels connected by spiral staircases, you’ll have an amazing experience visiting it!
6. Theatre Royal
Located in the heart of Hobart, the Theatre Royal is an architectural gem. Designed by John Lee Archer and laid in 1834, it’s the oldest theater on the continent.
You’ll be impressed by its Neoclassical façade and its delicate interior design.
The theater hosts many international events including opera, ballet or musicals. The best way to visit the Theatre Royal is the attend one of these events, so go for it if you have time!
7. St. David’s Cathedral
Located close to the Theatre Royal in downtown, St David’s is a beautiful neo-Gothic Anglican cathedral built between 1868 and 1874.
The building is beautiful inside out: the square bell tower, the sand stone columns, the colorful stained-glass windows, everything is beautiful.
Religious or not, it’s a lovely place to relax and take some out!
8. Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
Like most Australian cities, Hobart has a botanic gardens, the Royal Tasmanian Botanic. Located in the heart of the city on the banks and established in 1818, it’s the 2nd oldest botanic gardens in Australia just after Sydney‘s.
Covering 14 hectares, a walk in this garden will make you travel, whether it is to Japan or Antarctica. The greenhouse dedicated to the sub-Antarctic vegetation is unique in the world.
The walk to the gardens offers a stunning view of the Derwent river and the huge Tasman bridge that joins the two banks. It’s a nice place to relax while discovering more of Tasmania and its native plants.
9. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Located in the heart of the city in front of the harbor, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) was created in 1848 by the Royal Society of Tasmania, the oldest royal society outside England.
The museum is mainly dedicated to the Tasmanian Aboriginal heritage and Tasmanian colonial art. The museum has many rooms with ancient and modern artifacts tracing the history of the region.
Visiting this museum is a good introduction when starting your trip in Tasmania. Plus, entrance is free!
10. Cascade Brewery
Established in 1824, Cascade Brewery is the oldest brewery still in operation in Australia, and an iconic brand of Tasmania.
You can take a tour of the brewery’s facilities to learn more about the history of the place, and end the visit with a tasting of the beers and ciders brewed on site. Also, allow time to walk around the beautiful garden that surrounds the on-site bar.
Located in Hobart at the foot of Mount Wellington and 5min drive from downtown, it’s a very cool place to have a fresh beer after the day.
11. Mount Nelson Lookout
Mount Nelson Lookout is one of the best panoramic view you can have in Hobart. Only 10min drive from the heart of the city, this signal station offers a beautiful view over Hobart’s CBD, River Derwent, Storm Bay and Bruny Island.
Right next to the lookout, there is the Truganini Reserve, a conservation area that protects native bushland, and a memorial dedicated to the Aboriginal culture and people.
Go spend a nice afternoon visiting the Truganini Reserve and enjoy the cool barbecue and picnic spot in Mount Nelson Lookout until sunset to admire the wonderful view!
12. Richmond Bridge
Richmond Bridge is a major landmark in Hobart. Located 25min drive northeast from Hobart, it’s the oldest stone span bridge still in use in Australia.
The story behind it is quite sad as it was built with forced labor in 1823. But today, the bridge is a must-see for photographers, and a cool place to picnic in a magnificent setting.
13. Cascades Female Factory
You’ll have another look at Australia’s history at Cascades Female Factory. Situated in south Hobart, this place is a former workhouse where over 25,000 women prisoners had been taken to between 1828 and 1853.
Costumed guided tours inside the site tell the story of these women and their living conditions. Since 2010, the site is listed as a Unesco World Heritage.
Visiting this site is moving and will take you to the time when Australia was a penal colony.
14. Port Arthur Historic Site
Located 1.5 hour drive south-east from Hobart, Port Arthur Historic Site is the most famous and visited attraction of Tasmania. Because of several fires, the site has been ravaged but the story behind this landmark is fascinating.
Port Arthur is the Australian Alcatraz: while it used to be a lumberyard when established in 1830, the site became a penal colony for recidivist prisoners with heavy punishment in 1833.
Closed in 1877, the prison has been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2010.
Natural landmarks in Hobart
The best natural attractions in Tasmania are a bit far from Hobart. But there are a few that are close to the city, and they definitely are well worth a visit.
Let’s see the best Hobart natural landmarks below!
15. Mount Wellington
Rising at 1200 meters above the sea level, Mount Wellington is Hobart’s most characteristic landmark.
Located about 30min drive from downtown, you can either drive to the top or, for the bravest, hike a 20km trail.
If you choose walking up to the Mount, you’ll be able to see columns of dolerite and forests of eucalyptus on the way. The view on the top is definitely worth the effort: a breathtaking 360° view over Hobart, the mountains and the sea. You can even see the Freycinet National Park on clear days.
16. Secret Falls
Located only 13min drive from Hobart city center in the foothills of Mount Wellington, Secret Falls are a 3-meter water drop that can be easily missed when hiking around as it’s in an isolated part of the trail.
The falls are in a small gully where visitors have to climb to have a look to the falls. It’s really worth the little effort as the falls are breathtaking!
But today, the falls aren’t really secret anymore, lots of tourists come to it, which damages the surroundings.
17. Derwent River
About 240km long, the Derwent River is the longest river of Tasmania. Besides adding to the stunning views from Hobart’s shores, the Derwent is a major waterway in the island.
There are many ways to enjoy the river: you can cruise on it using one of the operating companies, try fishing breams or mackerel along the river, or even watch whales! Indeed, whales come during the winter to feed or give birth.
18. Bruny Island
Located about 30km from Hobart, Bruny Island must be on your list! Accessible via a free ferry from the town of Kettering, the paradise island is composed of two parts connected by a narrow passage called The Neck.
The southern part offers hiking trails in the heart of the island’s unspoiled nature. You can easily find yourself on dreamy beaches with white sand and crystal clear water.
The island has also an abundant wildlife. In addition to the countless species of birds and reptiles, Bruny is one of the few places in Australia where you can see albino wallabies! On the Neck, you can also see penguins coming out of the sea to return to their nests every evening.
Map of Hobart Landmarks
Here is a map of Hobart with all the listed landmarks in this post. To get it, click on the image below to open it in Google Maps. Then click on the “star” icon to save it to your own maps.
So here are the 18 best landmarks in Hobart! I hope you’ve found what you were looking for!
More Landmarks in Australia
Want to discover more famous Australia landmarks? Well, I have other posts that you might like!
Here is the main guide of all famous Australia landmarks 👉 The Very Best Landmarks in Australia.
Find the best landmarks in Australia by state:
- Famous landmarks in New South Wales
- Famous landmarks in Queensland
- Famous landmarks in South Australia
- Famous landmarks in Northern Territory
- Famous landmarks in Victoria
- Famous landmarks in Tasmania
Find the best landmarks in Australia by city:
- Famous landmarks in Sydney
- Famous landmarks in Brisbane
- Famous landmarks in Darwin
- Famous landmarks in Cairns
- Famous landmarks in Adelaide
- Famous landmarks in Wollongong
I hope you could’ve made your list of the must-see places in Australia thanks to these guides. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback!
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