Tasmania · Australia

Hobart and Port Arthur

The capital of Tasmania, between the estuary of the Derwent River and kunanyi, with sandstone warehouses, the MONA museum and the ruins of the former penal colony of Port Arthur.

Tasmania

In the photo: Arthur Circus, Battery Point, Hobart

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania, the island south of the Australian mainland, and the country's second-oldest city, founded in 1804. It sits on the banks of the Derwent River estuary, at the foot of kunanyi, also called Mount Wellington, which rises above 1,200 meters and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.

The port preserves 19th-century sandstone warehouses at Salamanca Place, where a farmers’ and artisans’ market happens every Saturday, and the Battery Point neighborhood keeps period houses. Up the river is MONA, a museum of ancient and modern art excavated into the rock, reachable by boat from the center.

About 95 km away, on the Tasman Peninsula, are the ruins of Port Arthur, the best-known penal colony in Australia, and the cliffed coast of Tasman National Park. Closer by, the village of Richmond preserves the stone bridge and the gaol built by convicts in the 1820s.

The region is also known for its food: oysters, salmon, cheeses, cider and cool-climate wines appear in the city’s markets and restaurants and in the Coal River valley near Richmond.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Hobart, Port Arthur, Richmond.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Hobart and Port Arthur is

Boundaries: Australian Bureau of Statistics / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Hobart and Port Arthur

✈ Hobart Airport (HBA), in Cambridge · 17 km to Hobart

Hobart Airport is about 17 km from the city center, with direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and other capitals. It is also possible to arrive by boat: the Spirit of Tasmania ferry links Geelong, near Melbourne, to Devonport, about 280 km from Hobart.

Suggested arrival point: Hobart

Tasmânia · Hobart and Port Arthur Capital Suggested arrival point

Hobart

Capital of Tasmania, founded in 1804 on the banks of the Derwent River estuary. The historic center is beside the port, with the sandstone warehouses of Salamanca Place and the houses of Battery Point. kunanyi dominates the landscape, and upriver is MONA, an art museum reached by boat. The city is a base for visits to Port Arthur and Richmond.

Tasmânia · Hobart and Port Arthur

Port Arthur

Small settlement on the Tasman Peninsula, about 95 km from Hobart, known for the ruins of the penal colony that operated there from 1830 to 1877. The historic site is a World Heritage Site as part of the Australian Convict Sites. The peninsula also has the cliffs and rock formations of Tasman National Park, such as Tasman Arch and the Tessellated Pavement.

Tasmânia · Hobart and Port Arthur

Richmond

Historic village in the Coal River valley, about 25 km from Hobart, with Georgian houses, the oldest stone bridge still in use in Australia (1823), and the 1825 gaol. Surrounding the village are cool-climate wineries and, on the way back to Hobart, the Bonorong Sanctuary where you can see Tasmanian devils.

The local experience

Things to do in Hobart and Port Arthur

Hobart · Tasmania · Museum

MONA (Museum of Old and New Art)

Museum of ancient and contemporary art dug into the sandstone of a peninsula on the Derwent River, about 12 km from Hobart’s center, reachable by boat from the city pier.

Richmond · Tasmania · Monument

Richmond Bridge

Sandstone arch bridge over the Coal River built by convicts in 1823, the oldest stone bridge still in use in Australia.

Port Arthur · Tasmania · Historic site

Port Arthur Historic Site

Ruins and restored buildings of the penal colony that operated from 1830 to 1877 on the Tasman Peninsula, a World Heritage Site, with a boat tour of the bay and guided visits.

Richmond · Tasmania · Historic site

Richmond Gaol Historic Site

The 1825 Richmond gaol in central Richmond, older than Port Arthur, with cells, solitary confinement and the history of the convicts who passed through the village.

See 6 more places in Hobart and Port Arthur

Hobart · Tasmania · Historic center

Salamanca Place

A row of 19th-century sandstone warehouses beside Hobart’s waterfront, with galleries, shops, bars and the Saturday market, at the foot of the Battery Point neighbourhood.

Port Arthur · Tasmania · Viewpoint

Tasman Arch and Devil's Kitchen

Natural rock arch and a cleft in the cliff near Eaglehawk Neck, in Tasman National Park, with viewpoints over the sea and coastal trails.

Hobart · Tasmania · Mountain

Mount Wellington / kunanyi

A 1,271-metre mountain behind Hobart, with a road to the summit, a viewpoint over the city and estuary, columnar rock faces and walking trails.

Richmond · Tasmania · Wildlife sanctuary

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife sanctuary near Brighton, about 20 km from Richmond, that rescues animals and displays Tasmanian devils, wombats, koalas and kangaroos.

Port Arthur · Tasmania · Rock formation

Tessellated Pavement

Rock platform by the sea at Eaglehawk Neck, cracked into almost rectangular blocks that look like a tiled floor.

Hobart · Tasmania · Historic site

Cascades Female Factory Historic Site

Ruins of the female prison that operated from 1828 to 1856 in South Hobart, at the foot of kunanyi, a World Heritage site as part of the Australian Convict Sites.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Summer, from December to February, has long days and mild temperatures, rarely hot. Autumn brings stable days and colorful trees. Winter, from June to August, is cold, with occasional snow on the high slopes of kunanyi, and hosts the Dark Mofo festival connected to MONA.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three or four days: one or two for the city, MONA and kunanyi, one for Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula, and half a day for Richmond.

Which city to stay in

The center and the port, near Salamanca Place and the quay, concentrate hotels and allow doing almost everything on foot. Battery Point has guesthouses in old houses. North Hobart and Sandy Bay offer quieter options, near restaurants. On the Tasman Peninsula there are accommodations for those who want to sleep near Port Arthur.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Hobart and Port Arthur

How many days to stay in Hobart?

Three or four days, including the city, MONA, kunanyi, Port Arthur and Richmond.

How to get to Hobart?

By plane, with direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney and other capitals, or by ferry from Geelong to Devonport and then by car.

Do you need a car in Hobart?

For the city, no: the center is walkable and MONA is reached by boat. For Port Arthur, Richmond and kunanyi, a car or an organized tour helps. In Australia you drive on the left.

When to go to Hobart?

Summer and autumn have mild, stable days. Winter is cold but features the Dark Mofo festival.

What time zone is Hobart in?

Tasmania time, UTC+10, with daylight saving time (UTC+11) from October to April.

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Hobart and Port Arthur

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.