BY RILEY WILSON
Escape the heat this summer; head to Hobart for a cool change.
The quirky, confident capital city at the edge of Australia, Hobart is not short of boundary-pushing culture (hey, Mona!), epic vistas or a thriving, adventurous food scene.
As the weather warms, Hobart’s natural beauty is the backdrop for wild walks, long harbourside afternoons and dishes showcasing exceptional local produce.
Taste a Hobart summer at these restaurants and bars…
Delectable catch-of-the-day specials feature at the harbourfront’s bobbing fish shops.
In North Hobart, Born in Brunswick’s hotcakes or pork belly soba salad kick off a great day; dinner at Trophy Room promises exemplary modern Australian dishes artfully prepared in a cosy cornerfront.
Hit izakaya Bar Wa’s happy hour for half-price oysters, and grab a bowl of tomatoey mussels among locals at The Whaler after a Saturday stroll at Salamanca Market.
Hit snooze at these Hobart stays…
In Battery Point, Moss Hotel is a luxurious, foliage-filled adventure. Perfectly appointed loft rooms enjoy sandstone walls so thick you’re guaranteed a quiet night’s sleep.
Out of the CBD, the seven newly renovated rooms at The Waggon offer king-size beds and boutique furnishings one block from the Elizabeth Street strip. (Airbnbs are first-rate, too, especially in eclectic West Hobart.)
Hobart’s summer to-do list
Sydney to Hobart Race aside, the city comes alive with the Taste of Summer, a week-long celebration of food and fun.
Scenic wanders around the city’s beloved natural landmark Kunanyi/Mt Wellington and her Organ Pipes, enjoyed via a three-hour walk; the tunes of the Cygnet Folk Festival; and languid afternoons spent with a schooner of local beer in the dog-friendly beer garden of Boodle Beasley.
Our hot tip: Pop on comfortable shoes to make the most of Hobart’s walkable (albeit hilly) streets, stopping by weekly produce markets – stocked by local growers – to fuel up.
Spend the day at Clifton Beach, 30 minutes south of downtown, for soft yellow sand and quality swell. You can see the stunning aurora australis year-round down here, too; drive 10 minutes out of town to Rosny Hill Lookout to catch it.
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