Bus brings tours up to speed

WITH its waterfront location, colonial heritage and mountain backdrop, Hobart rightly takes its place among the world's most picturesque small cities.

Red Decker Open topper bus in Hobart

WITH its waterfront location, colonial heritage and mountain backdrop, Hobart rightly takes its place among the world's most picturesque small cities.

Now sightseers can feel the harbour breeze in their hair as they view the Tasmanian capital in a whole new light with a custom open-top bus leaving now for a ride through Salamanca, Battery Point, Cascade Brewery and the Botanical Gardens.

Red Decker tour operator Jonathon Gregory said his company's 90-minute hop-on, hop-off loop would meet the needs of Hobart's increasingly international clientele, with similar outings a tourism staple in London, Barcelona, Belfast and Sydney.

"This will be the first open-top travel experience in Tasmania since Hobart phased out its trams in the 1950s," Mr Gregory said.

"Cruise ship customers especially have an expectation that the cities they visit will have an open-top sightseeing option.

"They have this type of bus all over the world now, and we thought we'd bring Hobart up to speed."

The latest addition to Hobart's Red Decker fleet was custom-made in China, and includes AdBlue pollution-capturing technology that reduces the diesel-powered vehicle's emissions to almost zero.

With seating for 80 passengers, 57 on the top deck, Mr Gregory said he was confident the bus's $30 three-day ticket would prove a winner with city visitors, particularly with 20 stops dotted across Hobart, from The Domain to the casino.

"What we are doing is spreading the spend around the city," Mr Gregory said.

Tickets can be bought online at reddecker.com.au, from the Visitor Information Centre on Davey St, or from the driver on the day.