Hobart is the historic waterfront capital of the island state of Tasmania and sits on the estuary of the Derwent River on the south-east side of the state. The Hobart Harbour is the second-deepest natural port in the world and provides access to Richmond, Kettering, Bruny Island, Wineglass Bay and Tasmania’s national parks.

The Hobart landscape is characterised by stunning sandstone cliffs and canyons that were created by raging torrents lashing against the Blue Mountains many millenia ago. The Greater Blue Mountains Area is listed as World Heritage for its unique biological and geographical values, and forms part of the Great Dividing Range.

Places of Interest

• Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
• Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens
• Maritime Museum of Tasmania
• Queen’s Domain
• Anglesea Barrcks
• Cape Bruny Lighthouse
• Risdon Cove
• Iron Pot

Attractions

• Derwent River Cruises
• World Heritage Cruises
• Peppermint Bay Island Visit
• Bruny Island Day Tours
• Battery Point Visit
• Hiking/Cycling Tours to Mt. Wellington
• Brewery Visit

Transport
Hobart International Airport, located in Cambridge is 17km northeast of Hobart and is operated by the Tasmanian Gateway Consortium under a 99-year lease. Shuttle buses and taxis are available round-the-clock to drop passengers to their Hobart city accommodation. At the time of departure, you can book a shuttle bus about two hours in advance. The ride from the airport to Hobart city takes around twenty minutes or so.

Hobart has good roads, but most of them wind through mountainous country, so it takes longer to get around. If you’re adventurous enough, you can rent a bicycle, bike or car and enjoy the sights and sounds of Tasmania at your own pace.

Depending on what you want to do, there are regional buses plying between small towns, or you can book a coach tour or take a ferry to your destination.

Environment
Hobart is a city rich in maritime history and is shaped and defined by water. About 61 per cent of Hobart’s environment is bushland, with Mt. Wellington and the Derwent River being the city’s stand out features.

With eco-tourism being central to Hobart’s story, the Hobart City Council has stringent measures in place to ensure that all World Heritage sites are preserved and all development and activities for tourist purposes follow green guidelines with the lowest possible carbon footprint.

Demographics
Hobart’s population is a mix of cultures, however, the predominant nationality remains Australian. The population of Greater Hobart according to the 2011 census was 211,677 people of which 82.1 per cent were Australian born, 3.3 per cent were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and 6.4 per cent speak a language other than English at home.

Over the years, the number of people born overseas has remained relatively steady, while the number of indigenous persons has steadily increased.

Hobart also has the highest proportional population of young people aged 12-25, which is almost 19.8 per cent.