The readers' guide to Hobart, Tasmania

HOBART, with its mountain-meets-the-sea location, vies with Sydney for the most beautiful physical setting of any Australian city.

Hobart Readers Escape

HOBART, with its mountain-meets-the-sea location, vies with Sydney for the most beautiful physical setting of any Australian city.

But what Hobart and its surrounds lack in size, they make up for in charm, calm and small-city convenience. 

-- See

MONA

The world-class Museum of Old and New Art is a must-see. Be prepared to be confronted, shocked, amused and overawed. Arrive by the MONA ferry, which leaves from Constitution Dock on the Hobart waterfront. Eat at the Source Restaurant at Morilla for the full experience.

See mona.net.au

- Kim 

-- HobARTwalks

We recently went on the North HobARTwalk with Christine Scott, curator of art at the Henry Jones Art Hotel, and enjoyed the behind-the-scenes view of the Hobart art scene. The tour was fun, informative and reasonably priced.

See hobartwalks.com

- Diana 

-- Peppermint Bay Cruise

This cruise from Hobart's Brooke Street Cruise Centre took us down the River Derwent and d'Entrecasteaux Channel to the beautiful Peppermint Bay restaurant at Woodbridge. We saw a pod of dolphins and a sunbathing seal but we weren't fortunate enough to spot migrating whales on the journey down.

See peppermintbay.com.au

- Julie A. 

-- Cockle Creek

Drive to the southernmost point in Australia, just two hours south of Hobart. Here you can explore the beautiful, untamed wilderness of southern Tasmania, as well as the history behind this once busy whaling port. There are several walks of interest, most notably to South Cape Bay, the most southern track in Australia. It's also great for camping and fishing.

See discovertasmania.com

Melissa

-- Bruny Island cruise

A must is a trip with Bruny Island Cruises. All protective clothing is provided as you go on a high-speed adventure into the Southern Ocean. There's amazing wildlife, such as hundreds of fur seals basking in the sun, but it's not for the faint-hearted.

See brunycruises.com.au

Rosalie 

Stay

-- WareHaus Apartments

An old warehouse converted into gorgeous, funky New York-style apartments with lots of light, plants and a real homey feel. Full gourmet kitchens make these new apartments a much more attractive accommodation option than a hotel room. It's close to the city and waterfront and a three-minute stroll to the cosmopolitan Elizabeth St, North Hobart, restaurant and cafe strip.

See warehausapartments.com

Kim

-- The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel

The Old Woolstore is at Hobart's beautiful Sullivan's Cove. A variety of room types is offered at reasonable prices, ranging from hotel rooms to executive apartments. It's within easy walking distance of the historic Constitution Dock, Salamanca Place, Battery Point and Hobart's CBD.

See oldwoolstore.com.au

Julie A. 

-- Grand Mercure Hadleys Hotel

Whenever I'm in Hobart, I stay at Hadleys Hotel. It is the oldest hotel in Tassie and the rooms are large and beautifully decorated. It is so close to all the great dining and shopping spots, such as Salamanca Place, and it is well priced. The high tea is to die for.

See grandmercurehadleyshotel.com.au

Julie H. 

-- The Elms of Hobart

The Elms is a National Trust-listed mansion about 1.5km out of the city centre, our room was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was plentiful, fresh and filling and the garden beautiful and well-maintained. The location is excellent, being close to restaurants, cafes and the city centre.

See theelmsofhobart.com

Denis and Pat 

-- Driftwood Cottages

Driftwood Cottages in Dover is an excellent base for all the activities on offer in southern Tasmania. We stayed in one of the studio cottages, with a stunning view over Port Esperance Bay. The cosy studios are self-contained, with lovely front decks where you can unwind and enjoy the view. We found this a very relaxing place to stay.

See driftwoodcottages.com.au

Melissa

Eat

-- The Stackings restaurant

The Stackings, about 35 minutes' drive south of Hobart on the Channel Highway, looks across Peppermint Bay and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel to the northern end of Bruny Island. It combines exquisite local fare and sophisticated dining, with magnificent views over a pristine waterway.

See peppermintbay.com.au

Julie A.

-- Jackman and McRoss Bakery/Cafe

A fabulous Parisienne-style cafe with emphasis on freshly baked breads, croissants, pastries and cakes. Friendly and professional service and consistently good food and coffee, Jackman and McRoss have been in the bakery/cafe business for years in Hobart and have it down to a fine art.

Kim

-- Mures Upper Deck

The multi-award-winning restaurant Mures Upper Deck at Hobart's famous Constitution Dock has superb seafood, with much of the fresh fish being caught by Mures' own fishing boats. The service, views and good company make for a wonderfully memorable experience.

See muresupperdeck.com.au

Julie A.

- Eat street

For foodies, the hottest area now is one block north of the CBD around Murray, Bathurst and Elizabeth streets. Look for: Garagistes, a restaurant with wine bar called sidecar; Westend Pumphouse, a restaurant/bar with great coffee all day; and Ethos, with tapas, great for lunch or dinner.

See garagistes.com.au, pumphouse.com.au or ethoseatdrink.com

Susan 

-- The Shipwright's Arms

From the cosy dining room to the covered beer garden, the 160-year-old "Shippies" offers true but modern pub fare, a traditional bar and a great atmosphere. Make sure you book and check out the naval memorabilia on display.

See shipwrightsarms.com.au

Julie 

 Tips

-- Farm Gate Market Farm

Gate Market is held every Sunday morning, regardless of the weather, in the Melville St outdoor carpark. In order to have a stall there, you must grow or produce your product in Tasmania.

See tasfarmgate.com.au

Anne 

-- Mt Wellington

A visit to Mt Wellington, which towers over the city, is a must. Remember to wear your warmest jackets, scarves and gloves to ensure you are comfortably dressed to take in the magnificent views.

See discovertasmania.com

Julie A. 

 Culture

MONA is a gem but one other joy is to do the sculpture walk around the waterfront. Don't forget the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, which is also near the waterfront.

See hobartcity.com.au or tmag.tas.gov.au

Lynne 

- Music

On Fridays from 5.30pm to 7.30pm behind the Peacock Theatre in the courtyard (Salamanca, near Kelly's Stairs) there is free live music, a bar selling beer, wine, cider, gluhwein in winter and sangria in summer all for $5. Loads of fun.

- Anne 

-- Seven Mile Beach

If you have some time to kill before catching your flight, visit Seven Mile Beach, southwest of the airport. This amazing stretch of beach is covered in black, brown and white shells of all shapes, sizes and varieties.

See discovertasmania.com

Cathy

-- Next: London You've revealed your Hobart secrets now share your recommendations of where to stay, eat and what to see, along with any general tips, for our next Readers' Guide to London, to coincide with the 2012 Olympics.

You can provide multiple recommendations in the one submission across the categories.

A limited selection will be published and may be edited. Email [e-mail]