Hobart

It's vacation time again and Australia is calling out to you, more specifically the city of Hobart on the island of Tasmania. Hobart is considered the second oldest city in Australia, next to Sydney, and is also the capital of Tasmania. What was originally designed as a penal colony in the early eighteen hundreds, the civilized population now easily exceeds two hundred thousand. As far as islands go, Tasmania is located in a zone where the high temperatures are warm and can range between 20/69 to 40/105 making it perfect weather for the beach and all activities that go along with it.

To much of the rest of the world, Hobart can be considered as "off the beaten path", which will naturally have a certain appeal to it. Because of where it is, getting there will require some transfers from one method of transportation to another, with the preferred means of transport, being an aircraft. Hobart is not presently set up to accept international flights directly, so any flight to or from the island will require a connection from the main continent of Australia. Once on the island, however, moving around for your adventure is as easy as renting a car, hopping on a bus or grabbing a taxi.

Finding the ideal place to park your family and yourself can be a daunting experience, especially if you are unfamiliar with the country that you are visiting. Hobart accommodation can range from hotels that stand right in the middle of the city and offer free parking and Internet, to B&B's that are quaint with about five to seven bedrooms, to cottages that are self-contained and provide all the amenities that travelers need, like cooking and the ability to wash your own clothes. Hobart hotels include free parking, are close to the water and are reasonably priced.

Unless you decided to secure your own rental car, chances are that you would be staying close to most of the attractions in the city. The first place you should begin your Hobart adventure is the Port Arthur Historic Site, which is where prisoners were incarcerated (like a jail within the prison) who had committed further crimes in the colony.

Salamanca Place is a must see point of interest on your agenda. Mark it off as seen after you have visited the art center where the expression of art comes alive, Make plans to visit on Saturday when the Salamanca Market is buzzing with a bevvy of vendors plying their trade of knitted sweaters, just picked vegetables and antique dish-ware. If chilling is more your speed than milling, Salamanca Square offers visitors the opportunity to sit and sip a cup of coffee while watching the people walk on by.

Although things may appear a little laid back in Hobart, that is certainly no excuse to miss out on some of the great available night life. While live party music may be the order of the day in some places like Republic Bar & Café, other venues such as Federation Concert Hall offer classical options by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. A visit to the Theatre Royal which was erected back in the early eighteen hundreds will impress you with anything from ballet, to opera to music and theatre.



Now that you know where to stay, what to do and where to go, the rest is up to you.


For more Hobart information, visit the Tasmania Tourist Information Centre