In early December we had two nights in Hobart. Over the last decade we have noticed the changes as the city transforms itself into a most agreeable meld of old and new; where nothing much seems to jar. It is by any standards one of the most impressive waterfront cities anywhere. It is an almost perfect destination: easy to drive and walk around, terrific souvenir shopping, great restaurant choices, music (Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra), art (MONA and the city museums), wine regions nearby and great drives in all directions. A place where you could easily spend a week or more.
We use the link below as evidence: a New York Times article about Tasmania. It came to us from Tourism Tasmania whose email said:
New York Times columnist, Jada Yuan, recently visited the state as part of the paper’s 52 Places to Go in 2018 list.
It’s clear the journalist had an amazing trip, with the article recommending many Tasmanian restaurants and produce, as well as our wildlife, scenery and cultural experiences. She spent over six days in the state and “ate better than any other single destination on this 52 Places trip”.
For the full article see: Two Very Different Sides of Australia and make sure you read right to the end for restaurants, etc.
So we won’t write about the Hobart food scene here as the article says much of what we would say. Instead below we will just add a few snippets and photos as tempters.
Our sightseeing began with a visit to Salamanca Place to buy a wedding gift of Tasmanian handmade glass for a Melbourne couple. On our return to our hotel we opened the front door of Parliament House and learnt that there was a guided tour at 2.30 pm. There is much history and intrigue there, with Hobart being the second oldest Australian capital. Our guide took us through both houses of Parliament and through the connecting corridors and adjoining reception rooms.
There is more “old” to be found around the city.
Hadley’s hotel was the preferred lodging and meeting place of the “establishment” of years gone by. The main reception on the first floor is where our University honours group had their end-of-year dinner. Downstairs they have created an eye-catching palm court.
Also old but now very new-looking is the Henry Jones Art Hotel. Check this link from their website and scroll down to find the 360o virtual tour of the Hobart waterfront.
That end of the waterfront is dominated by the former Henry Jones IXL factory, with the older buildings gradually being renovated and brand new ones appearing.
And around Constitution Dock the older world of the seafarer remains.
We could have stayed for a week but we had another water-based site to visit. See: We head to Hobart to Strahan.