Around Hobart

Bruny Island

Bruny Island is in the southeast of Tasmania and is almost two islands. It's a beautiful and sparsely populated retreat with varied wildlife like fairy penguins. You shouldn't miss the "South Bruny National Park" with superb coastal scenery, fine swimming, surf beaches, good fishing and some walking tracks. There is also the "Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration" and south Bruny's "Lighthouse".

Cygnet

Cygnet is a small town in the southeast of Tasmania and it's named after the numerous swans spotted on "Port de Cygne Noir" (Port of the Black Swan). From November to March are a lot of fruit-picking jobs available and the region offer also excellent fishing, bushwalking and good beaches with safe swimming conditions. The "Huon Valley Backpackers" offers a night in a dorm for A$ 19.

Dover

Dover is a picturesque fishing port in the southeast of Tasmania, 21 kilometres south of Geeveston. It is the region's main tourist base and has some fine beaches as well as excellent bushwalks. You can get a night in a dorm in the "Far South Backpackers" for A$ 22.

Kingston

Kingstown is a town 11 kilometres south of Hobart. Its main attraction is the "Australian Antarctic Division", which has a fine display on the exploration and ecology of the frozen continent. A popular swimming beach and sailing spot is the "Kingston Beach" with spectacular cliffs and a lot of white sand. The "Boronia Beach" is smaller and more secluded and the "Blackmans Bay" has a blowhole. You can go snorkelling along an underwater trail marked with submerged information plates in the "Tinderbox Marine Reserve".

Mt Field National Park

The Mt Field National Park is 80 kilometres northwest of Hobart. It is well known for its spectacular mountain scenery, alpine moorland, dense rainforest, abundant wildlife and waterfalls. The most magnificent falls are the "Russell Falls". A night in a dorm offers the "National Park Youth Hostel" for A$ 17.

New Norfolk

New Norfolk is an interesting historical town in the lush Derwent Valley, northwest of Hobart. This area is dotted with old oast houses and has rows of tall poplars planted to protect crops from the wind. Worth-seeing is the "Oast House", a hop museum, craft store and pancake café and the "Old Colony Inn", a museum of colonial furnishings and artefacts. The "Bush Inn" is one of Australia's oldest continuously licensed hotels. A 30-minute jet-boat ride offers the "Devil Jet" for A$ 50.

Richmond

Richmond is a historic town 24 kilometres northeast of Hobart. It was once a strategic military post and convict station. Nowadays it is popular for day trips from Hobart. Famous is the "Richmond Bridge" and the "Richmond Gaol". Also worth-seeing is the "Model Village", which is designed from original plans of Hobart Town as it was in the 1820s.