Local Attractions

Salamanca Market

Every Saturday (except Christmas Day or Anzac Day) from about 8.30 am until 3.00 pm, Salamanca Place comes alive with the famous Salamanca Market.  Over 300 stallholders sell fresh and gourmet produce, arts, crafts and handiwork from all over Tasmania, interstate and overseas.  As one of the top attractions in Tasmania, the Salamanca Market is another good reason to make your stay in Hobart last more than just a few days.

Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)

MONA is located within the Morilla winery in Berridale.  It is the largest privately funded museum in Australia.  The museum presents antiquites, modern and contemporary art from the David Walsh collection.  Walsh has described the museum as a “subversive adult Disneyland”.

Mount Wellington

Kunanyi/Mount Wellington provides the backdrop to Hobart and is a short distance by vehicle.  It is a 20 kilometre or 31 minute drive from Russell House.  With a sealed road to the summit, the mountain offers spectacular walking and mountain bike trails, excellent views of southern Tasmania and a rich natural and cultural history.

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG)

TMAG is a combined museum, art gallery and herbarium which houses the State Collection of Tasmania. It is located in Hobart and was established in 1846 and receives 300,000 visitors a year.  TMAG aims to provide an environment that both stimulates and educates the general public.  It collects and conserves material evidence within the areas of humanities, including visual arts, history and anthropology, and the biological and physical sciences.

Cascades Female Factory

The Cascades Female Factory is Australia’s most significant historical site associated with female convicts.  It was a purpose built, self-contained institution intended to reform female convicts and is the place to discover the stories of Australia’s convict women.  Thousands of women and children were imprisoned here, and many never left, due to high rates of illness and infant mortality.  Visiting the site can be both emotional and rewarding, creating a connection with the stories of female convicts in Australia and their children – stores that are often tragic, but also inspire hope and resilience.

Zoodoo Wildlife Park

Just 25 minutes drive from Hobart, Zoodoo is a fantastic place to spend the day with plenty of attractions for kids and adults alike.  The safari bus tours that run all day are a favourite among visitors who enjoy travelling into the paddocks and coming incredibly close to the larger animals, watch out for the emus, ostriches, camels and plain zebras.

Maritime Museum of Tasmania

The Maritime Museum’s mission is to promote an understanding of the maritime heritage of Tasmania and its importance to people’s lives through research, interpretation and presentation of our maritime history to the community.  You will find informative displays about aboriginal watercrafts, early European explorers and whalers.  You can learn how important sailing and steam ships were for developing Tasmanian industries that exported the raw materials and products of the island, such as apples, minerals and timber.