Things to do in Southern

For 50 years, Salamanca Market has welcomed Hobart residents and visitors every Saturday. Local lore says the market was created in 1972 because Hobart was considered a dead city on Saturdays and the mayor and aldermen wanted to liven things up. Come any weekend to see just how animated the area now becomes every Saturday.

The warehouses that make up Salamanca Place were built during the 1820 and ’30s using sandstone quarried by convicts on site. The warehouses were used to store whale products, wool, timber and fruit. The wharf at Salamanca was a hub for whaling industries, and the huge cauldrons used to boil whale oil can still be seen today in Salamanca Square. As Tasmania’s fruit growing capabilities took off, the warehouses were used to produce jam and tinned fruit for export. 


Stroll past historic buildings, enjoy a meal at a waterfront restaurant or grab a snack from a fresh seafood stall at Hobart’s Constitution Dock.

Enjoy the scenic coastline and pristine habitats of Freycinet National Park. Relax with a glass of Tasmanian wine and oysters fresh from the farm as you watch the sun set over the Hazards mountain range. Keep an eye on the horizon to spot whales. The park is also home to some of Australia’s other iconic species, such as potoroos, echidnas, quolls and wombats.

Mount Wellington has been popular with locals as a recreational park since the mid-1800s when huts were built at strategic sites for hikers. Remnants of these huts exist, and some of those built in the 1900s are still in use. Charles Darwin climbed the mountain in 1836 when he visited Hobart on his round-the-world trip on the HMS Beagle. Today the area offers all sorts of outdoor pursuits, from mountain biking to rock climbing.

The UNESCO-listed Port Arthur was one of the British Empire’s most brutal penal settlements. Located on the stunning Mason Cove, the natural beauty of the landscape stands in stark contrast to the history of convict prisoners who were sent here, condemned to hard labor. See these stunning ruins at your own pace or on a guided or themed tour.

Explore preserved tracts of ancient forest and secluded alpine landscapes and walk through shady fern gullies to some of the world’s tallest trees in Mt. Field National Park. It is part of a larger World Heritage-listed national park that has been protected for over a century. Come here to see some of Tasmania’s rugged and remote landscapes within an easy drive from Hobart.

Plan a day trip to take in the vast collection, and grand design, of Australia’s largest privately owned art museum. MONA stands for Museum of Old and New Art and the galleries showcase emotive and sometimes shocking modern art along with old artefacts and antiques.