Hobart Overview
By Roz Andrews
Hobart is the capital of the mountainous, sparsely populated island of Tasmania, approximately 150 miles off the south-east coast of Australia.
Founded in 1804, Hobart was originally a penal colony for some of the worst criminals from Great Britain and, unlike most other Australian cities it retains many reminders of its colonial past. At nearby Port Arthur, you can explore extensive ruins of the first penal colony in the area.
Take a walking tour around the colonial village of Old Hobart. Quaint houses and shops line the streets and the areas of Battery Point and Arthur’s Circus are reminiscent of an English village.
The New Town area includes St. John’s Church, which was shipped from England in the mid-nineteenth century and painstakingly rebuilt.
The impressive Tasman Bridge spans the Derwent River and connects the city center with the suburbs. The city is sheltered by Mount Wellington. Great views of Hobart and a large part of the south and center of Tasmania can be enjoyed from its peak.
One of the highlights of the year is the end of the 620-mile long Sydney to Hobart yacht race, which finishes at Constitution Dock in Hobart in late December. The Hobart Summer Festival is held at the same time and continues into January, featuring New Year celebrations, a regatta and the Taste of Tasmania food and wine event. Go!
