Hobart is a place of light. Sitting neatly between the gleaming, mirror-calm waters of the Derwent River and the towering basalt columns of Mount Wellington, Tasmania’s capital city shimmers like a jewel. Hobart’s harbour is the world’s second deepest, and the fishing fleet based here make the waterfront, with its moorings of gaily-painted boats, a colourful and reflective place to wander. As you would expect, some of Australia’s best seafood comes from the waters surrounding Tasmania. Indeed, Tassie is famous for its food and in the cafés, restaurants and 5-star hotels of Hobart you will be able to experience this at first hand. The fascinating saga of Hobart’s sometimes violent colonial history is woven deeply into the city’s fabric. These days, however, areas such as Salamanca Place and Battery Point, once a part of the penal system but now lovingly restored, are home to some of the city’s best luxury hotels. You can spend hours exploring Hobart’s pleasant, leafy streets and with its compact layout you will never be far from a good coffee, a superb meal, and a place to see the light.
34 Murray Street, 7000 Hobart, Australia
Rating: 8.7 Fabulous
Hadley’s Orient Hotel, nestled in the heart of Hobart’s Central Business District, is close to all the action. Guests who stay at this luxury hotel can easily walk to many restaurants, coffee shops, and retail centres. Not only that, but it’s just a few blocks away from the Maritime Museum of Tasmania and Theatre Royal.
Guests can choose from six different rooms and suites, including the standard Hotel Room, Family Room, and Heritage Suite. All rooms and suites boast elegant décor and oversized furniture. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, a mini-refrigerator in each room, and coffee and tea makers. Visitors can also watch free in-house moves on large flat-screen TVs.
Hadley serves dinner in its Atrium, which is open from 5:30 to 8:30 PM daily. The venue features a robust selection of hearty Tasmanian flare. You can rent the Atrium if you’re hosting a private event at the hotel. At the Orient Bar, guests can sit back, relax, and sip on a glass of local Tasmanian wine or whiskey.
The historic hotel has ample conference and event facilities, ideal for wedding and corporate gatherings. Moreover, the staff serves complimentary tea from Friday to Sunday between 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM. There’s also a secure car-parking facility available for $10 per day.
110 Liverpool Street, 4200 Hobart, Australia
Rating: 8.9 Fabulous
Crowne Plaza Hobart is a luxe hotel that offers top-quality facilities and services. The hotel has a convenient location, especially for those without a car. Its central location means it’s only 2.6 km from Lords Beach. Guests can also walk to many nearby staples, including Next Door Deluxe Coffee and Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum.
The hotel features a wide selection of rooms, each with views of the surrounding cityscape or the harbour. Each room and suite have floor-to-ceiling windows that brighten the space, along with chic furniture and décor. You have the option to choose between a one-bed, two-bed, suite, or standard room.
Guests can dine at two of the hotel’s restaurants – Core Restaurant and Bar and The Deck. Core Restaurant serves palatable Tasmanian dishes and has a menu that changes by season. The Deck is an outside restaurant with breathtaking views of Mt. Wellington. Although it has a smaller menu, visitors can still enjoy some of Tasmania’s best wines.
The Crowne Plaza at Hobart features an on-site 24-hour fitness centre with elliptical machines, treadmills, stationary bicycles, and free weights. In addition, the hotel has a spacious business services centre for travelers away from the office.
321 Davey Street, 7000 Hobart, Australia
Rating: 9.3 Superb
Located only minutes from Sullivans Cove, Islington Hotel is a sophisticated and charming retreat for those traveling to Hobart. The hotel is a few blocks from Macquarie Street, where you’ll find various cafes and restaurants, including Bear with Me and Lupin Food and Wine. Furthermore, it only takes 30 minutes to get to Hobart International Airport from the hotel.
Islington is a small yet tranquil hotel that boasts a rich history and stunning garden. The hotel has eleven rooms, each with its unique twist. You’ll find extraordinary art from the bygone era scattered throughout the guest rooms and common areas. Rooms and suites come with free Wi-Fi, an iPad, and king-size beds fitted with imported fabric.
The hotel has a restaurant called Islington Kitchen. The eatery has a vibrant menu that focuses on seasonal delights and local Tasmanian produce, fun by Head Chef Fabio Luciano. Guests can enjoy a four-course meal in the Mountain View Conservatory from Wednesday through Friday.
It’s important to point out that this hotel is for adults only, making it a popular couple’s retreat. There’s also ample meeting space for special events and businesses conferences. Guests who are exploring Tasmania with a car can take advantage of secure off-street parking.
40 Swanston Street, 7008 Hobart, Australia
Rating: 9.5 Exceptional
Maylands Lodge is a luxurious hotel that’s inside a quintessential historic building. The hotel is just a few blocks away from New Town Road, where you’ll find numerous eateries– Dispatch Hobart, King Wah, and Sacred Bites Indian Asian Fusion. Reaching the waterfront only from the hotel takes less than ten minutes.
The charming lodge features various accommodations -the Hunter Two-Bedroom Studio, Hunter Suites, Pearce-Two Bedroom Studio, Pearce Rooms, and Brownell Rooms. All rooms and suites boast sophisticated furniture and decoration that blends elegantly with the building’s old-world charm. The accommodations also have eco-friendly bathroom products and complimentary tea and coffee.
Guests can dine at the lodge’s Restaurant Deodara, which means “Divine Tree.” The chefs that spearhead this restaurant source their ingredients from local Tasmanian farmers. Restaurant Deodara is open on Friday and Saturday from 6 PM, but the intimate venue can also host private groups during the week.
In lieu of a pool or spa, the Maylands lodge has a lively and lush garden. Most rooms either have views of the garden or nearby mountains. There’s also free private parking, making it easy to get to and from the hotel. Guests can enjoy the unique collection of Tasmanian art that decorates the common areas and guest rooms.
Elizabeth Street Pier, 7000 Hobart, Australia
Rating: 8.4 Very Good
Somerset on the Pier Hobart is a luxurious serviced apartment that sits directly on the Pier Hobart. These apartments are just a few blocks away from some of the highest-rated restaurants in Hobart – Daci & Daci Bakers, Samurai Knights, and The Brooke Street Stock Market Restaurant + Bar. Visitors can also walk to various state-of-the-art museums, including the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the Maritime Museum of Tasmania.
This accommodation is a 1930s pier later converted into high-end serviced apartments. Each room boasts breathtaking views of the waterfront and River Derwent. Somerset on the Pier Hobart offers one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments with free Wi-Fi, full-size kitchens, and modern furniture and décor.
Guests can choose from two dining options – The Lounge by Frogmore Creek and a generously stocked mini-bar with local treats. The Lounge by Frogmore Creek is a chic venue with an impressive collection of wines and lunch and dinner plates served from 12 to 3 PM and 5 to 9:30 PM, respectively. Happy Hour runs from Wednesday to Sunday from 3 to 5 PM.
Somerset on the Pier Hobart has an onsite guest service team that sells various tours and excursions. There’s also 24/7 on-call security, making for a more comfortable and enjoyable stay. Guests have complimentary access to a residents’ lounge with a communal computer and printer – perfect for business travellers.
20A Forest Road, 7000 Hobart, Australia
Rating: 8.8 Fabulous
Located in the heart of Hobart’s city centre, Stone Flower is a luxe hotel conveniently located 2.3 km from Lords Beach and just minutes away from Hobart Cruise Terminal. The accommodation boasts ample parking and features a picturesque garden. Albeit relatively small, Stone Flower is a converted 1830s barn that’s full of character and charm.
Inside the barn-turned-villa, you’ll find warm brick interiors, high ceilings, and large windows that let natural light flow into the space. Its mid-century furniture and décor creatively complement the old-world feel. There’s one bedroom, one bath, a stocked kitchen, and a generously sized living room.
Since this is a single villa, there are no onsite bars or restaurants. However, guests can easily access a wide selection of nearby restaurants and bars. Some of the most popular places for a meal or drink include Hamlet Hobart Café, Marquis Bistro & Buffet, and Yummy Inn City.
Guests tend to fall in love with the Stone Flower’s outside terrace – the perfect place to enjoy some Tasmanian sunshine. There are also various city views – both from inside the villa and on the patio. Located only 14.3 km Hobart International Airport, Stone Flower is easily accessible for travelers to Tasmania.
25 Hunter Street , 7000 Hobart, Australia
Rating: 9.1 Superb
The truly extraordinary Henry Jones Art Hotel is located just a few steps from Hobart Docks and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. In the luxury hotel, there are approximately 400 pieces of contemporary Tasmanian artworks, so staying here is like staying in an art gallery. It is full of elegance, sophistication and impeccable taste of décor.
The richly appointed rooms and suites are all different from each other but they are all in the same style. Coarse-looking stone and wood meet the softest textiles, while old and new creating a magnificent harmony. The elegant furnishings perfectly fit with modern paintings and technical tools that meet the expectations of the modern age and are standard equipments in all rooms and suites.
The 5-star hotel of course also offers 24-hour room service for those who want to dine in the privacy of their room. The luxurious hotel’s two restaurants, Peacock and Jones and Landscape Restaurant & Grill, offer premium dining possibilities in a modern environment with unique, typical Tasmanian cuisine, the finest artisan local beers and high quality service.
The Guest Lounge serves local high-quality wines in a pleasantly furnished area, with modern artworks hanging on the wall. The business facilities are suitable for any kind of meeting, with the highest quality technical equipment in a simple environment. In addition, a well-equipped gym is available to guests.
18 HUNTER ST, 7000 Hobart, Australia
Rating: 9.4 Superb
Located in the center of Hobart and right along the waterfront, the MACq 01 luxury hotel has won numerous awards in recent years for its high quality services. A few steps away is the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, surrounded by pleasant restaurants and parks, but the stay in the hotel itself is also an extraordinary experience.
The 5-star hotel has 114 well-appointed rooms and suites, all overlooking the River Derwent, with a balcony and sophisticated décor using premium ingredients. Each room and suite has a spacious, truly elegant and intimate bathroom with a large stone bath, the best place to relax after a busy day.
This luxurious hotel is home to the Old Wharf Restaurant, which serves real Tasmanian specialties in simple but modern style. And if guests are looking to be pampered, there’s no better place than Evolve Spirits Bar, where rare spirits are paired with intimate environment, impeccable service and ornate design.
One of the MACq 01 Hotel’s most special venues is the Lounge, decorated with traditional Tasmanian aboriginal ornaments, with a cozy open fire in the middle of the comfortable round sofa perfecting the ambiance. In addition to 24-hour room service, in-room massage is also available, ensuring complete relaxation in truly discreet environment.
17A Castray Esplanade, 7000 Hobart, Australia
Rating: 8.6 Fabulous
Salamanca Wharf Hotel, located near the waterfront and the main attractions of Hobart, offers the opportunity to relax in luxury in an unusual setting. The exterior of the building itself already shows that this place is different from other luxury hotels in the city. Sophisticated and simple, but modern and bold at the same time.
Entering the luxury boutique hotel, guests will find elegant rooms with exceptional taste of design. King and queen sized comfortable beds, vibrant colors mixed with discreet wood furniture and timber floors, spacious mosaic-tiled bathrooms equipped with luxurious bathroom amenities, these are standard equipments in all rooms and suites. Just like the minibar, which is fully stocked with the finest Tasmanian wines and spirits.
The ground floor of the hotel houses the upscale Salamanca Wharf Café, open to hungry guests every day of the week. Local ingredients, seasonality, the work of knowledgeable hands, paired with carefully selected wines and beers of Tasmania, all these make this Café a perfect place to take a break. These are complemented by a bright and spacious space and modern furnishings that perfectly matches the luxurious style of the hotel.
Right next to the hotel is the elegant MOVE Massage, where you can choose from the most magnificent treatments for tired body and soul. Infrared saunas and yoga classes are also available, and you are guaranteed to step out the door after treatments like a new you. If you want to spend more active time, you can book many exciting tours of Hobart and the surrounding area through the hotel desk staff.
One of the oldest capital cities in Australia, Hobart is a place where history, nature and modern life intersect. After choosing your luxury hotel, it is time to think about exploring the city and seeing what Hobart has to offer. To help, we have compiled a list of eight of the most unique and interesting things to see and do in Hobart.
Overlooking Hobart is Mount Wellington, part of the stunning Wellington Park nature reserve. To reach the summit, visitors can drive up the winding Pinnacle Road or enjoy a hike through nature on one of the many walking tracks. Once you are there, you can enjoy sweeping views of Hobart and the surrounding natural environment. To see more of the nature reserve, you can arrange to explore it on foot, by horse, on a mountain bike or in a 4WD.
The cold waters surrounding Tasmania are renowned for producing some of the finest fresh seafood in Australia. It would be remiss for any seafood lover not to sample some of the locally caught fish, scallops, mussels, oysters, rock lobster and abalone. Constitution Dock and Sullivans Cove are both home to some of Hobarts fishing fleet, and are lined with seafood eateries, ranging from stalls to fine dining restaurants.
Every Saturday the Salamanca Markets are open. It features products from over two hundred local artisans and producers, including Tasmanian made whisky, truffles, jewellery, and woodcrafts. On Sundays the Farm Gate Market brings locally grown produce into the heart of Hobart. The market organisers ensure that everything sold at the market is Tasmanian made and is sold by the person who grew, cooked, or produced the goods.
MONA, The Museum of Old and New Art, is Australia’s largest private museum. It was built by David Walsh to share his large collection of ancient, modern, and contemporary art. Patrons can explore the galleries with the assistance of a purpose built, handheld device called the O, which explains each of the artworks. If you work up an appetite, there are vibrant onsite restaurants and bars.
Like many of the early British settlements, Hobart’s history is entrenched with the stories of early convicts. Over 5000 female convicts were incarcerated at Cascades Female Factory to be reformed. Today this UNESCO Heritage site shares the largely untold stories of these women, making it an excellent destination for those who are curious about Australian history.
To take in the sites of Hobart from the comfort of a vessel, why not take a lunch or dinner time cruise up the Derwent River. There are two options for route: the North Cruise Route and the South Cruise Route. The northern route passes the Botanical Gardens, Government House, Tasman Bridge and Rose Bay, while the southern route goes past Battery Point, Sandy Bay, Bellerive Bluff and Kangaroo Bay.
Theatre Royal is the oldest continually operating theatre in Australia, with the first performance being back in 1836. Within its historic walls you can enjoy a range of performing arts shows, from modern musicals and contemporary concerts to Shakespeare plays, opera, and ballet.
Within an hour of Hobart is Bruny Island, a natural escape that exemplifies the beauty of the Tasmanian wilderness. Explore the island by land, sea, or air, taking in the stunning landscape and spotting local wildlife. Then, sample the wide range of gourmet food and wine produced on the island.