Hobart is the capital of Tasmania with a population of over 250,000 people spread out around the edge of the Derwent River. Over looked by Mt Wellington, the people of Hobart embrace both their cafes and nightlife as well as the nature surrounding Hobart. On the drive south to Margate and the Channel area, you can actually see a rock that was ejected from Mount Wellington when it was a volcano, catapulted over 30km to its new resting spot.
The city of Hobart itself is charming and historical with the Battery Point waterfront, Salamanca and North Hobart areas being the most popular. Salamanca has plenty of well-priced cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs and art galleries. On Saturdays it also hosts the renowned Salamanca Markets, which are a great place to pick up a souvenir and taste some pristine local products. The sheds next to Salamanca and the waterfront play host to the Taste of Tasmania from the 28th Dec to the 3rd Jan of every year, and at the same time the harbour will be filling up with the finishers of the annual Sydney-Hobart yacht race, where there are always some amazing Maxi yachts and other varying types of sailboats.
Up in North Hobart, you can experience some great live music at the Republic Bar and Café. With a warm and welcoming atmosphere, it is a great spot to start a night out and renowned even on mainland Australia. The area has a lot of nice cafes and La Torta Café on Elizabeth Street has amazing coffee with a great little outdoor area. There are a few art galleries if you want to see some local artwork and a couple of other pubs worth a visit, including The Alley Cat and the Brisbane Hotel.
Located at the northern end of the Hobart suburbs, the Moorilla National Museum for the Arts, or MONA, is a spectacular privately run museum that has been getting rave reviews nationally and internationally, even being compared to the Guggenheim museums of Bilbao and New York. Currently offering free entry to the general public, the museum showcases both contemporary arts as well as ancient antiquities. Owner and founder David Walsh is also responsible for the Moorilla branded wines and Moo Brew boutique beer.
Dominating the skyline of Hobart you have Mount Wellington. Rising 1270 metres above Hobart’s harbour, it has a spectacular view of greater Hobart and the surrounding wildness. On your way to the top you go from temperate rainforest to sub-alpine flora and glacial rock formations.
On the way up to Mount Wellington, in South Hobart, you also find the Cascade Brewery, Australia’s oldest continually-operating brewery, established in 1824. They offer 90min tours of the brewery, which includes a tasting at the end of the tour. At the visitor centre you can grab a bite to eat and sample some of the best beers I tasted in Australia - a truly historic beer company in a magnificent old building surrounded by peaceful gardens. Be sure to try the blue label Lager and the Pale Ale, both popular amongst the locals and great mild climate beers. (Vice beer is not really popular in Australia, so if you are European appreciate the smooth, subtle flavours for warm summer days!). Moo Brew and Two Metre Tall are two other local beers worth a try.
The botanical gardens are a great spot to go for a few beers a picnic and a kick of the football or some cricket! Located right near the city it is within walking distance, and has great views of the river and the gardens. You can also take a tour of the Lark Distillery by the Waterfront to sample some Tasmanian-made spirits
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