Discovery directory: things to see, eat and do in Hobart

Discovery Directory: Things to See, Eat & Do in Hobart

Discovery Parks – Hobart is just 15 minutes from the CBD and waterfront with everything you need for a comfortable stay. Our park's location provides easy access to main roads, the airport, the beach and a heap of tourist attractions. Tiptoe through local history, get up close and personal with native animals, wander around picturesque gardens, take a cruise down the Derwent River or browse galleries and shops.

We know you’ll have your own Hobart bucket-list but, here are a few of our favourite See, Eat and Do delights - you’ll soon start to understand why the Destination Tasmania catchcry is “Come Down For Air” and why Discovery Parks – Hobart is the ideal accommodation base.

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SEE

Take the short drive from our holiday park to Sullivan’s Cove and get ready for the perfect Hobart excursion on the River Derwent with Peppermint Bay Cruises. Departing from Brooke Street Pier, you’ll sail the harbour on a luxury catamaran with dolphins by your side and a fresh, local produce lunch on your plate. Take in the picturesque view of the city landscape and Bruny Island while sipping on local Tasmanian wine and craft brews.

Get up close and personal with Tasmanian wildlife at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. The wildlife park is open daily with free guided tours throughout the day where you can meet wombats and koala and learn about the Tassie mascot, the Tasmanian Devil, are they really a devil or just misunderstood?!

Wander around 14-hectares of picturesque landscape at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Stroll through The Conservatory, admire the Lily Pond, take an insta-worthy pic under the Anniversary Arch or Arthur Wall and, finish the day with a meal at Succulent Restaurant with vista views of the river and garden.

EAT

The Apple Isle is a foodie’s paradise with so much local food and beverage to make you salivate. Whet your appetite with the various food and wine trails to sample cider and craft beers, fresh seafood, handmade chocolates and cheeses. But, if you want all the flavours in a single stop, head to Salamanca Place with its cafes, galleries and boutiques. Every Saturday, wander around 300 stalls at the famous Salamanca Market for all sorts of crafts and foods.

Gourmets will love to watch their meal being crafted in the kitchen from local produce at Peacock and Jones, in an old sandstone warehouse on Hobart’s iconic waterfront. The menu and wine list are carefully curated featuring every taste from Tassie including seafood to farm-fresh lamb to a cheeky chardonnay.

Mum, dad and the kids will love the hustle and bustle of the Urban Greek. This restaurant brings big Greek family hospitality with their Cretian food designed to be shared. Lick your lips at traditional meze items, family recipes with a modern twist and even something for the vegetarian eater – no wonder this place gets rave reviews!

For a pint of beer with a cider of history (see what we did there!), head to the Cascade Brewery Company. Tour Australia’s oldest operational brewery, enrol in beer school or, have a long lunch with accompanying ale and, if you’re there at the right time, even some live music.

DO

People come from everywhere to visit the playful and edgy Museum of New and Old Art (Mona) with its out-there exhibitions, including the Pharos light exhibition, billed as a refresher course in being a child and there’s Tim, the former tattoo parlour manager from Zurich whose tattooed back is a work of art. He’s sat for the museum for 3,500 hours since 2011 – odd but strangely compelling! Impress the kids with a visit to the giant poo machine and the room filled with rainbows at Mona. Drive from our holiday park or, take the 25-minute Mona ferry ride from Brooke Street Pier for two, fun tourist experiences in one.

** MONA is closed indefinitely due to the current uncertainty regarding COVID-19. Please check the museum’s website for updates (posted 17 March 2020).

National parks areas are littered across this tiny state and none are more impressive than Mount Wellington. With its wealth of picturesque wilderness and outdoor activities, it’s well worth the 30-minute drive from our holiday park. With a heap of different tours and trails to follow, your sight-seeing adventure will be ever-changing where you explore the reserve on foot, horse or maintain bike. Just make sure you stop at the historic huts dotted through the park for a picnic with a view.

For a hit of horrible history, creep yourself out at the Cascades Female Factory with a guided tour that re-enacts female convict history or, head to explore the underground tunnels, solitary cells and gallows of the Hobart Convict Penitentiary.

Looking for something a little paranormal? Head to the Port Arthur Historic Site and feel the eeriness of the ruins with interactive exhibits, displays and experiences. The sites guided tours aren’t for the faint-hearted; freak out with an adults-only night encounter and some serious ghost hunting with paranormal testing equipment or, live a walking true crime novel “meeting” the convicts who attempted to escape the prison walls.