A week Tasmania, Australia- 5/11- 5/16/2024

Day  1-Hobart -5/11/2024

Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is one of Australia’s most charming and scenic cities. It is  a place where history, nature, and creativity meet. Nestled between Mount Wellington and the Derwent River, it has a striking setting: the mountain rising steeply behind the city, and the sparkling harbor stretching out in front. Hobart is one of Australia’s oldest cities, founded in 1804 as a British penal settlement, and much of its colonial heritage remains beautifully preserved. The historic waterfront is lined with old sandstone warehouses that once stored goods from whaling and trade ships; today, they’ve been transformed into cafés, galleries, and restaurants serving local seafood and Tasmanian produce.

Today we flew from Melbourne to Hobart in Tasmania.

We are heading to the waterfront and on the way we passed by Collins street, one of the main street in downtown Hobart.

As we are leaving Collins street, he streets gradually open up toward the General Post Office (GPO), one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.

The General Post Office building stands proudly at the corner of Elizabeth and Macquarie Streets, its sandstone façade glowing a soft golden hue in the Tasmanian light.

Built in the early 1900s, the GPO reflects a grand Federation Free Classical style, with tall arched windows, decorative stonework, and a prominent clock tower that rises above the streetscape. The tower clock, installed in 1905, still chimes across the city, a familiar sound that ties Hobart’s busy center to its colonial past. It’s surrounded by a lively mix of cafés, shops, and pedestrians, blending the charm of old Hobart with the pace of a modern city.

Ahead is Franklin Square, the gentle slope of the street ahead draws your eyes toward the waterfront.

The trees lining the way are magnificent, tall plane trees whose leaves have turned rich shades of gold, yellow, and soft green, creating a warm canopy above the path.

 We are now at Hobart Port, the atmosphere instantly shifts, the soundscape opens up with the rhythmic creak of boats, the cry of seabirds, and the soft lapping of water against the pier.

Long wooden pier with boats are moored along the docks.

A boat painted in bright blue and yellowis gently bobbing with the tide.

We are now walking along one of the pier, it is a perfect part of the Hobart waterfront to explore  as it captures both the city’s maritime heritage and its relaxed, café-lined charm.

Moored nearby is the Lady Nelson, a graceful tall ship with white sails neatly furled and masts rising high against the sky.

The vessel is a full-scale replica of the original 18th-century ship that once explored Australia’s southern coast, and it serves as both a training ship and a symbol of Hobart’s deep maritime history. Seeing it here among the modern yachts and fishing boats feels like stepping briefly back in time.

The atmosphere on the pier is peaceful and beautiful.

Lots of boats are docked on the pier.

Panoramic view of the Pier.

As we continued along the pier, the path widens into a small open area where a bronze statue stands prominently against the harbor backdrop.

This is the Bernacchi Tribute, a monument dedicated to Louis Bernacchi, one of Tasmania’s most famous Antarctic explorers. He was the first Australian to winter on the Antarctic continent, and the statue celebrates both his courage and Hobart’s long-standing link to polar exploration. The seals and penguins at the base represent the wildlife of the Southern Ocean, a reminder of the wild, icy world that begins just beyond Tasmania’s southern horizon.

Bronze sculptures of seals and penguins are part of the Bernacchi Tribute as well, and they really bring a playful, lifelike touch to the waterfront scene.

The seals look as if they’re basking on the stone ledge, their smooth metal bodies glinting softly in the sunlight.

While the penguins are gathered nearby, caught mid-waddle or looking curiously toward the sea. These sculptures celebrate Tasmania’s close connection to Antarctic wildlife and exploration. Hobart has long been a departure point for scientific expeditions to the Southern Ocean, and these charming figures serve as both an homage to that heritage and a reminder of the fragile beauty of the polar ecosystems.

The huge wooden building you see is part of the historic Macquarie Wharf Sheds, once used for shipping and cargo storage during Hobart’s busy port years. Today, many of these sheds have been transformed into cafés, restaurants, and event spaces, but they still retain their rugged maritime charm.  The timber planks, large windows, and exposed beams all echoing the city’s seafaring past. The outdoor seating areas are lively, especially in the afternoon, with people enjoying coffee or seafood while overlooking the sparkling harbor and nearby ships.

Along the promenade, there is a series of bronze statues known as the “Convict Trail” sculptures.

These figures depict scenes from Hobart’s early colonial days with men, women, and even children who arrived in Tasmania as convicts in the 19th century.

The statues are placed as if they’re walking along the wharf, their faces etched with expression and their bodies frozen mid-step, inviting you to imagine what life might have been like when ships carrying convicts first docked here.

View from MacQuarie square.

Elizabeth pier is one of Hobart’s most picturesque and lively spots along the waterfront. Originally built in the mid-19th century, Elizabeth Pier served as one of Hobart’s main shipping and passenger wharves, where vessels from across Tasmania and the mainland would dock. Over the years, it evolved from a bustling maritime hub into a beautifully redeveloped promenade, now home to restaurants, cafés, hotels, and cruise berths, yet it still keeps the soul of its seafaring past.

Across the street from McQuarie square is the Hobart’s most iconic heritage landmarks, the H. Jones & Co. IXL Jam Factory, a symbol of Tasmania’s industrial and entrepreneurial past.

The H. Jones & Co. factory, founded by Henry Jones in the late 1800s, was once a thriving center of Tasmania’s jam-making industry. Henry Jones started out as a poor factory boy who labeled tins for a penny a day, but through hard work and innovation, he eventually became one of Australia’s most successful businessmen. His brand "IXL", which stands for “I excel” , became famous worldwide for its fruit jams made from Tasmania’s high-quality local produce.

We are now right in the Hunter Street precinct, one of the most vibrant and historic corners of Hobart’s waterfront. The pink building is part of the University of Tasmania’s Centre for the Arts, which houses studios, exhibition spaces, and classrooms for visual and performing arts students.  Right next to it is the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) complex. The glass façade you see is part of its modern extension, which connects beautifully with the older 19th-century buildings behind it.

View of the harbor and the city from MacQuarie square.

It is very common to see commercial fishing boats docking on Victoria dock which is the main home for most of Tasmania's commercial fishing fleet, as it's an active working port. These boats are used for various types of fishing.

 In the back you are seeing rock lobster pots (also called traps or creels). These are large, often rectangular or dome-shaped cages designed to catch Rock Lobsters (often called crayfish in Australia) which are a highly valuable catch in Tasmania. They are usually brightly colored (often red or blue) and stacked up on the deck when the boat is in port. The huge coils of rope are what the fishermen use to lower and retrieve the lobster pots from the seafloor. Each trap has a length of heavy rope attached to it, and the rope is often marked with floats to indicate the trap's location in the ocean.

We are now leaving the harbor and headed to downtown Hobart.

We are right in the heart of central Hobart, where the historic charm of the waterfront gives way to the city’s modern commercial core. The area between Collins Street and Argyle Street is one of the busiest and most built-up parts of town, lined with tall office towers, hotels, and civic buildings that define Hobart’s small but vibrant skyline.

We are now on Liverpool Street, one of Hobart’s main thoroughfares that cuts right through the city center. It’s a lively and diverse street,  part shopping strip, part historic corridor, where old and new Hobart meet in an easy blend of everyday life and local character.

Walking on Liverpool street.  Fall is here and the trees are beautiful with all the fall colors.

The building, located on Macquarie Street, dates back to 1807, only a few years after Hobart itself was founded. Its Georgian-style architecture with solid sandstone walls, arched windows, and a gabled roof that gives it a timeless, colonial character. The exterior feels almost frozen in time, standing modestly yet proudly amid the more modern city buildings surrounding it.

The Hope & Anchor Tavern isn’t just a pub; it’s a piece of living history. In fact, it’s recognized as Australia’s oldest continuously licensed pub, making it one of Hobart’s true historical treasures.

 Inside, the Hope & Anchor has a warm, old-world atmosphere, cozy and dimly lit, with low timber ceilings supported by thick beams that have darkened beautifully over the years.

  The bar area glows warmly under amber lights, its polished wooden counter reflecting rows of Tasmanian whiskies and local craft beers.

Pictures of old ship wheels, framed maps, and antique bottles displayed along the walls and shelves, a reminders of the days when sailors and traders made this their regular stop.

 The pub has changed names and owners over the centuries, but it has never lost its role as a welcoming gathering place for locals and travelers alike.

Today, Hope & Anchor is known for its classic Tasmanian fare, local beers, and cozy charm, a perfect spot to unwind after a day exploring Hobart.

Sitting down for dinner here, we are not just enjoying a meal; we are taking part in a story that’s been unfolding for over 200 years.

In the dining rooms, wooden tables are tucked into intimate corners and alcoves, giving the place a welcoming, almost home-like feel.

Seafood chowder, creamy potato and leek, prawns, scallops, white fish, served with sourdough.

The seafood clam chowder came steaming hot, served in a deep bowl that filled the air with the rich aroma of the sea. The broth was creamy and full-bodied, with chunks of seafood. Each spoonful tasted comforting and hearty, the kind of dish that feels made for a cool Tasmanian evening.

Fish and chips, tartare sauce, and salad were equally inviting with a generous fillet of local white fish, lightly battered to a crisp golden finish, paired with thick-cut chips and a side of tangy tartar sauce. The fish was delicate and flaky inside, the batter perfectly crunchy, and a squeeze of lemon brought out its fresh ocean flavor.

Light diner tonight with two classic pub dishes.

Eating by the warm light of the old tavern, with its wooden walls and maritime décor, made the meal feel even more special. It was simple, classic food served in a place steeped in centuries of history.

Hoa ending the meal with Whisky from Tasmania

NEXT... 5 day tour of Tasmania