Tasmania Cruise: Best Cruises to Hobart, Tasmania

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Hobart Cruises Port Guide

A Tasmania cruise takes you to the gorgeous island state of Australia, located southeast of the mainland. With an interesting history as an old penal colony, and its massive national park reserves, Tasmania sometimes seems like another world. However, cool Hobart will bring you back to the present day with its cutting edge cuisine, world-class museums and shopping, and wine tasting rooms. Visitors on a cruise to Australia will have a blast exploring the city and its surrounding nature.

Cruises to Hobart, Tasmania

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Top Sights & Attractions for Cruises to Hobart

Mount Wellington Lookout

For one of the best – if not the best – views when you cruise to Tasmania, you’ll want to leave the city center of Hobart behind and drive to the top of Mount Wellington, a towering peak on the southeast side of the island. Mount Wellington stretches 4,170 feet into the air and has a lookout point at the top that boasts views of the city of Hobart below and the adjacent Bay of Hobart.

Wildlife

You don’t want to miss seeing the wildlife in Tasmania, particularly the Tasmanian devils, which are endemic to the island. Two excellent places to see them during Hobart cruises are at the Unzoo in Taranna near Port Arthur and the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby Brighton. Other wildlife you can see in Tasmania include kangaroos, koala bears, and penguins.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Garden

If you love flowers and gardens, or simply enjoy a leisurely walk in a beautiful setting, you’ll love visiting the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens during your Tasmania cruise. The gardens are located just over a mile from the city center of Hobart and date back to 1818. The features of the garden include historical aspects as well as botanical flora.

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Top Things to Do in Hobart

MONA Museum and River Ferry

The MONA museum is a huge attraction for those on Hobart cruises, both literally and figuratively. MONA stands for the Museum of Old and New Art and is the largest privately funded museum in Australia. It has a contemporary vibe and houses unique pieces of artwork as well as engaging art exhibits. Outside of art, the museum is set in a picturesque location on the edge of the Derwent River. Located north of Hobart in Berriedale, taking a 25-minute river ferry from Brook Street Pier to MONA is a memorable way to get there.

Port Arthur Tour

One of the most interesting ways to learn about the penal colony past of Tasmania during Hobart cruises is to actually visit the former prison, Port Arthur, that housed the convicts. Take a tour with a guide to learn about what it was like to be prisoner or prison guard there over a century ago.

Wine Tasting

The countryside you’ll see on a Tasmania cruise includes beautiful vineyards and lovely wineries offering tastings. The wine country of Tasmania is especially known for its sparkling wines. The Riesling and Pinot Noir coming out of the wineries of Tasmania are also highly lauded.

Top Food and Drink Spots Near the Hobart Cruise Port

Don’t miss out on the varied and fresh cuisine in Tasmania. Hobart is home to a plethora of restaurants offering just about every type of cuisine. The restaurant scene is both edgy and traditional, and you’ll find the restaurateurs in Hobart serve up their food in settings like nothing you’ve experienced before. Look for seasonal menus featuring locally grown food and freshly caught seafood.

Culture & History of the Hobart Cruise Port

Hobart is the second-oldest city in Australia, settled just 16 years after Sydney. It’s situated on Tasmania, an island state of Australia located southwest of the mainland and surrounded by the deep blue Pacific Ocean. Once a timber station and previously a penal colony, today Tasmania is an island rich in culture and nature, and Hobart is at the heart of it all.

Hobart Port Facilities & Location

The cruise terminal for Hobart cruise ships is at Macquarie Wharf. All ship berths at Macquarie Wharf are within walking distance to downtown Hobart. Right outside the Tasmania cruise terminal, you’ll find shops selling crafts, souvenirs, and food.

Transportation in Hobart

The bus system in Hobart goes all around the city and beyond to the rest of the Tasmania. Most bus routes depart from Franklin Square or Elizabeth Street between Macquarie Street and Collins Street. In addition, you can take the Red Decker bus around, which is a hop-on, hop-off bus that stops at many of Hobart’s main attractions.

Shopping Near the Hobart Cruise Port

Hobart has many places to shop, including several shopping complexes that offer a lot of variety in one destination. The Cat and Fiddle Shopping Arcade offers fashion boutiques, specialty stores, and an animated clock that you can’t miss seeing at the top of every hour. Another mall worth visiting is Elizabeth Street Mall, which has many high street brands as well as national chain stores. For fashion outlets, head to Eastlands Centre in the Rosny Park area of Hobart, or Glenorchy Central Shopping Centre in the Glenorchy suburb of Hobart.

If you cruise to Hobart on a Saturday, you don’t want to miss spending some time at Salamanca Market. The market features over 250 stalls selling souvenirs, food items, jewelry, arts and crafts, and much more. Haggling is welcome. If you aren’t there on Saturday, but instead cruise to Hobart on a Sunday, you can find more bargains at the Northgate Flea Market, which operates every Sunday in the car park of Northgate Shopping Centre.

Local Currency & Tipping Customs

Tipping isn’t obligatory, but it is appreciated, and a standard tip for good service while dining out in Hobart is 10% of your total bill. Generally, you won’t find a service charge already added to bills. Most businesses accept credit cards here. If cash is needed, the accepted currency in Tasmania is the Australian Dollar.