Hobart

The capital of Tasmania, Hobart is a historic city boasting gorgeous scenery and cultural attractions. To soak in some history, visit Salamanca Place, a street lined with sandstone warehouses constructed in the 1830s that now house restaurants, entertainment venues, and boutique shops. Here you’ll find The Salamanca Market, which has been running every Saturday for over fifty years and is one of Tasmania’s most visited attractions.

Explore the great outdoors in Hobart by climbing Mt. Wellington, hiking through Wellington Park, which offers an array of trails at varying difficulties, or paying a visit to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens (historic architecture, a native plant collection, and a community garden are only a few of its claims to fame). You could also consider a more hands-on approach to exploring nature: test your skills on a ropes course through the treetops, or cruise around the coast on a yacht tour.

Hobart is home to many cultural attractions, including the Museum of Old and New Art (catch the ferry here and enjoy a drink at one of the museum’s bars and wineries), the Narryna Heritage Museum, the Tasmanian Museum and Gallery, and the John Elliott Classics Museum.

While Hobart is one of Australia’s smallest capital cities, it has plenty to offer for LGBTQIA+ travellers. If you visit in February, you can experience TasPride, an annual queer festival that has been running for over two decades. Later in the year, stop by the annual Artfully Queer art exhibition, which showcases the best of LGBTQIA+ arts and crafts in Tasmania. If you can’t make it for either festival, Judy’s Drag Dance Party is held on the last weekend of every month at Altar, Hobart’s premier music venue and nightclub. You can also find local queer events through LGBTQIA+ Hobart.