Sightseeing in Hobart - what to see. Complete travel guide

The island state of Tasmania, which is situated not far from the Australian continent, is a place of wonders. Despite its small size, Hobart, the center of this region, is an incredibly interesting place to visit from a historic and cultural point of view. The nature of this region is ideal for comfortable and trouble-free recreation. Tourists of different ages enjoy staying longer in this wonderful city in order to see all of its landmarks and get acquainted with the history of the green continent.

As a city, Hobart has been famous starting from the beginning of the 19th century. The British tried to be ahead of the French and be the first ones to establish a new colony in Tasmania. When searching for a suitable area for a settlement, the British chose a picturesque area not far from Mount Wellington where the River Derwent meets the Bass Strait. Initially, this was a small settlement consisting of tented houses. This was mostly home to soldiers, prisoners, and first settlers who had come to explore the new land by their own initiative.

As the town was situated near a bay, it started developing quickly, steadily turning into a famous Australian port. Year after year, the popularity of Hobart was growing, and this fact had a positive impact on its economy. Hobart officially became a town already in the 40s of the 19th century. The city got its current name in 1875 in honor of Lord Hobart, the British secretary of state for the colonies. Despite the fact that Hobart was initially nothing but a penal colony, the city’s authorities managed to develop its economy and make the city important for the whole continent. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is one of the most popular landmarks in Hobart. In addition to many rare species of plants, this botanical garden is famous for its interesting buildings, many of which are very old. In 1818, Lieut-Governor William Sorell ordered to establish a botanical garden with a limited entrance. To take care of the garden, it was decided to appoint superintendents, and William Davidson became the first superintendent in 1828. Local people tell that prisoners worked over the creation of the gardens. They made a wall that is hollow inside to heat fruit trees and a special protective wall against locusts. Later, the Royal Society of Tasmania started managing the botanical gardens.

If you visit the Botanical Gardens, you will notice that they consist of several separate areas. There are zones that mimic Japanese flora, tropical forests, and various fruit trees. Naturally, it is impossible to fail to notice a beautiful old pond with tender lilies. After that, don’t forget to check out a greenhouse with subarctic plants. If you visit this park in spring, you have an opportunity to attend an incredibly beautiful event – the festival of tulips that takes place in the Royal Botanical Gardens every year.

Do you want to learn more about the heritage of the aboriginal people of the Australian island? In this case, make sure you visit the museum and picture gallery in Hobart that has been open since 1843. The collection of the museum keeps growing every year. Initially, the exhibits in the museum halls were dedicated only to the life and culture of local people. However, the collection has been growing year after year, and now visitors to this museum can learn about the island’s nature, the industrial part of Hobart, main crafts, and even artworks made by local colonists.

The collection of furniture is usually one of the most popular. The furniture pieces are made from Juan’s pine. This wood is so strong and durable that it is suitable for shipbuilding. This collection is absolutely unique and doesn’t have copies anywhere else in the world. An exhibition dedicated to silver items is no less impressive. All the items here were made by people imprisoned in Hobart. Finish your visit to the museum with an Ice exhibition and solve the mysteries of Antarctica. Finally, the zoological hall will get you acquainted with the Tasmanian tiger. Unfortunately, this species is already extinct.

Every year, tourists from all over the world visit Hobart in order to visit Hastings Caves. This is a true underground kingdom, and tourists are welcome to explore its halls and passages. Gorgeous stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites are a true pride of Hastings. After an interesting excursion, everyone is welcome to swim in the thermal spring that is located not far from the cave.

To get to the Australian city of Hobart on the famous island of Tasmania, tourists need to use airline services. This is currently the only way to get to the capital of the state. It is possible to make a change in Melbourne and then fly to Hobart Airport. Of course, tourists can always fly to Sydney first. Upon arrival at Hobart airport, tourists can use a taxi or bus to get to the city center.