Hobart Tasmania

 

In September 2024 I finally got to explore my final state of Australia. A little embarrassing considering I have been to every USA state on a roadtrip in 2018, most of which you can check out here edibiasutti.au.

Well Tasmania was a delight and a surprise. So much to see and do that I will break it down into areas. Tasmania is often forgotten on maps, but this gem should never be considered an inferior place in any way. I would put it on my list of first places to explore after Sydney. I would be so happy to go back there, even though I am not a fan of cold weather, Tasmania is beautiful, quirky, stunning, historical, modern - a must go to place.

I had wonderful company on this almost 2 week trip with Tess, who had started as my Airbnb guest in October 2023 and she just never left. Tess was on a work holiday visa and used my Sydney home as a base to live and learn the Aussie city culture but went off on trips around Australia for weekends and a week at a time.  I was fortunate to have her company for her last few days in Australia on this wonderful trip.

We picked up our rental car at Hobart Airport. I get my rental cars through the broker billiger-mietwagen.de with whom I always get amazing deals. They are a German company and most of the information is in German but I have had no difficulty getting translations with Google and communication by email is efficient in English.

We based ourselves in the Waterfront Lodge Motel just outside of Hobart city for the first three days. Warm, clean, comfortable and good communication with management.  

Hobart has it all. Great food, history, culture, beautiful waterfront, mountains and wildlife. A must do is the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). You can either drive or I highly recommend taking the ferry and you can go as a Pleb or a Posh.  Tess and I decided to go Posh.  

This Museum requires a bit of a warning that some things may offend if a bit prudish, but we loved it all. I loved the resident composer. It was his last day. He had been there for 360 days. Every day he composed a piece of music for a quartet. Every day a new quartet would come in and perform the piece he composed.  What an amazing piece of art! 

There are many walks around Hobart including the Battery Point Sculputure Trail or the In Bobby's Footsteps are self guided walks. These walks show you some beautiful old residential areas, Salamanca Markets area and the beautiful waterfront. And it is where the Sydney to Hobart yacht race ends on New Year's Eve.

We got up close and fed some Aussie wildlife at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary  Highly recommend the after hours tour. 

    

Mount Wellington is an amazing drive. Be aware not to look over the edge of the road if you suffer vertigo. It is bitterly cold and windy but the views are spectacular.