LONG WEEKEND iN HOBART
DAY 1 FRIDAY
– Indulgence at MONA
DAY 2 SATURDAY
– Markets and Quaint Cottages
DAY 3 SUNDAY
– Food Market and Wine Tour
DAY 4 MONDAY
– Mountain views and Art
DAY 1 MONA
FRIDAY
Indulgence at MONA
Get the Mona ferry from the Hobart Waterfront at Brooke St Pier (pre-booked ticket). Feeling fancy? Pay the extra $ for Posh Pit entry to get Moorilla wine and nibbles included. If you can neck 2+ glasses of bubbles in 30 mins – it’s money well spent. Otherwise, standard entry gives you access to the rear of the boat, providing great views of Hobart and Mt Wellington – fear not, there is a bar here too.
There's plenty to see at Mona – including the grounds. When disembarking, walk up 99 steps and explore the various installations before heading inside via the trippy mirror entrance on the top floor.
There's a good selection of bars and eateries to pick from. Start from the ground floor where you'll find the Void Bar – featuring Australia's Earliest Happy Hour, served between 10am-12pm. The idea is start at the bottom and gradually make your way back upstairs to the entrance and return ferry ride.
A must see for first-timers is the Cloaca a.k.a. ‘poo machine’– which defecates at 2pm daily. Yes, it’s poo. Yes, it stinks.
Be sure to check out Faro Bar & Restaurant suspended over the river in for a bite and beverage – perhaps before the Cloaca.
It's also worth exploring some of Mona's newish separate-ticketed experiences. Most can only be booked onsite and/or online 28 days in advance.
Whatever you do, prepare to be weirded-out in the most delightful way.
SATURDAY
Markets and Quaint Cottages
Start your day with breakfast at the Salamanca Market where you'll find a great selection of fresh produce, locally handmade arts and crafts. Personal faves include Bratwurst, fresh oysters, curried scallop pie from Smith’s pie van, Spiky Bridge peanut butter, and merino wool socks.
If you prefer to sit down at a cafe, walk up Kellys' Steps to Battery Point. Jackman & McRoss is popular – they do a scallop pie with wakame (as well as other yummy pastries). Otherwise, grab a takeaway order from one of the cafes along Hampden Rd and head to Princes Park, a hidden gem just 400m away with views of the Derwent.
Explore the historic and picturesque streets of Battery Point and finish at Preachers for a drink where you'll find a great selection of Tassie beer, wine and cider. There's even an old bus with tables and seats parked onsite. Way fun!
DAY 2 Salamanca Market, Battery Point
DAY 3 CBD and Richmond
SUNDAY
Food Market and Wine Tour
Head to Farm Gate Market on Bathurst Street. This outdoor food market is fairly small but offers a diverse range of Tassie produce. Popular with locals and tourists alike, there's a good selection of stalls making brekkie favourites like coffee, egg and bacon rolls – but you’ll also find lots of vegan options, even octopus and curry in a cone.
Now if you're hiring a car, there's plenty of wineries a short distance from the city near Richmond and Cambridge. But if you'd prefer someone else do the driving – there are several quality wine tours, including the Coal River Valley with Ageing Barrel Tours.
Frogmore Creek Winery, Puddleduck and Pooley are popular, so is Coal Valley Farm who specialise in cheese and chocolate, but also have goats and pigs onsite. But the humble standout is Every Man and his Dog – a tiny, welcoming, grassroots operation with a delightful Labrador.
And if you get the chance – explore Richmond. Park the car and walk around town for some convict history – including the oldest bridge in Australia.
MONDAY
Mountain views and Art
Get your blood-pumping with drive up the mountain! A mere 25 minutes from the Hobart CBD, traverse narrow roads and sharp bends up the hill to incredible views of Hobart from the top of kunanyi/Mount Wellington.
This place has famously seen snow on Christmas Day, so whatever time of year you visit – take a jacket, it will be cold.
And if you don't have a car –the Mt Wellington Explorer Bus can take you there.
Now, for your last jaunt before flying home – visit the Tasmanian Museum and Gallery. It’s not as wacky, trendy or new as Mona, but there are some beautiful old paintings of early Hobart/Tasmania with super knowledgeable staff. Best of all it’s free, and puts you right in the centre of town before heading home.
