Hobart, Tasmania was home for the Mouheneener Peoples for about 35,000 years before the British started shipping their prisoners there. Then, it was a penal colony until the 1850s before becoming the city of Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. Today, Hobart is a popular tourist spot with lots of attractions for the whole family.
The mild winters and cool summers make Hobart a fun place for outdoor activities and the city boasts plenty of beaches and parks. You can go on a wilderness journey, climb Mount Wellington, or visit the zoo. Wherever you decide to hang out, drop off your bags at one of the luggage storage sites in Hobart first before visiting these awesome tourist attractions.
Check Out the Art at MONA
You and the kids will have to travel underground to see the artworks in this subterranean art gallery. One of the best museums in Hobart is The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is found in the basement of the Moorilla Winery on the Berriedale Peninsula, so you have to walk down a long, long spiral staircase down to the three lower levels.
The museum was originally built for the 1972 Snake Mural of over 1,600 paintings done by Sidney Nolan but you’ll also see the sarcophagus of Iret-Heru-Ru from 600 BCE, a trampoline on the rooftop, and the Madonna Room where you can sit in bean bag chairs and watch a bunch of people sing like Madonna. Definitely a venue that’s a little different. And weather permitting, you’ll find live music outside on the lawns.
Take a Wilderness Journey
Pennicott Wilderness Journeys range from a three-hour boat ride off Bruny Island along the cliffs and crags to a three-day cruise and bus ride all over the Three Capes Track. Depending on how much time you have and what you and your kids want to do, you can find the perfect journey for all of you.
The most popular journey with the kids closest to Hobart is the Bruny Island Cruise on a custom boat that takes you along the coast and out to sea. Keep your camera or phone handy because you are almost guaranteed to see whales, dolphins, or seals, making this an epic day out. Spend three hours touring the waters along the cliffs.
Visit the Animals at Zoodoo Zoo
Zoodoo is more than just a zoo, it is a wildlife park where you and the family can go on an interactive safari on 220 acres. Unlike the zoos in the US, this interesting place lets you get up close and personal with all the animals. Feed critters like the serval cats, marmosets, meerkats, and even the king of the jungle.
Anyone 7 and older can be a keeper for a day too, spending the entire day (9 AM to 4 PM) taking care of the critters and learning more about them. They also have daily animal presentations, a walk-thru aviary, and a barnyard farm. They have a playground for younger children with a jumping castle too.
Learn About the Flora and Fauna of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
One of the top attractions in Hobart allows your kids to learn all about the endangered animals of Australia at Bonorong where they take in sick animals and get them healthy enough to go back into the wild. Some of the animals you can see include koala bears, quolls, wombats, and Tasmanian devils. You even get a free bag of food to feed the kangaroos.
You can take a guided tour to learn all about the animals or enjoy one of the animal encounters for a really exciting experience. With the short animal visits, spend 10 minutes with the tawny frogmouths, wombats, possums, or echidnas. Or try the 2.5-hour feeding frenzy, night tour, or a three-hour private tour.
If you’re visiting North East England then a visit to this Northumberland Zoo is a must.
Play Around at Intencity
All kids (and most adults) enjoy playing games and at Intencity they certainly have a huge variety of them. The main foyer boasts over 55 games including many of the most popular like the Big Bass Wheel, Dance Dance Revolution, Transformers, Terminator Salvation, Mario Kart, and Deal or No Deal.
It has several kids activities including air hockey tables, claw machines where the kids can win stuffed animals, and the Wizard of Oz where they can win jewelry and other fun gifts. Get the Family Pass and you all will get to spend hours playing games, winning prizes, and enjoying some great snacks and drinks after your family activities.
Climb a Mountain at Wellington Park
If you want to climb a mountain, you can start at the foothills of Mount Wellington (Kunanyi) at Wellington Park. The summit is over 4,170 feet above sea level and often covered by snow, but there is a road that takes tourists up to the Pinnacle Observation Shelter. From there, you can see for many miles and get some cool photos of the panoramic views.
The mountain climate is much colder than the ground climate so dress warmly if you are going up. Other spots that are not as hard to get to include the Springs, Sphinx Rock, Wellington Falls, and the Organ Pipes. The park has dozens of trails from easy to extreme so there is something for everyone.
Get Some Sun at the Beaches
You cannot leave Hobart without visiting at least one of the fabulous beaches. Even if it is not warm enough to swim when you are there, the beaches are all beautiful and most have activities for all seasons. Some of the best beaches for kids include Cornelian Bay, Short Beach, Long Beach, Red Chapel, Lords, and Nutgrove.
Long Beach is the most popular family beach for swimming. The waters are calm and there is a diving pontoon, changing rooms, and concessions. Nutgrove is more of a sightseeing beach where you can watch yacht racing and play in the sand. And the kids will love Long Beach where they have a huge playground. A really good addition to your day hanging out with the kids in Hobart.
Good Food
Hobart has a wide variety of delicious cuisines utilising local produce including seafood, Australian beef, scallop pie, and even wallaby. The best kid-friendly eateries include Fish Frenzy or Flippers for seafood, Solo Pasta for pizza, Zero Davey Café for burgers and fries, and the Texas Pantry for everything else. Whatever venue you choose you’ll be sure to get some really good food.