Hobart & MONA Weekend
Ferry to MONA, Salamanca Market, kunanyi summit drive and a Constitution Dock oyster.
Hobart does more with its weekend crowd than any Australian city — a Saturday market, a major museum on a vineyard, a mountain you can drive up in 20 minutes and a waterfront that still lands the day's catch at dawn. Fly in Friday night and you'll barely need a car.
Highlights
- MONA — Museum of Old and New Art, accessed by camo-patterned catamaran
- Salamanca Market — 300 stalls along heritage sandstone warehouses
- kunanyi / Mount Wellington summit drive + lookout
- Constitution Dock fish punts for fresh oysters and flake
- Battery Point heritage walk and Jackman & McRoss bakery
Suggested itinerary
- Saturday · 8am
Salamanca Market
Coffee at Jackman & McRoss, then market browse before the coach tours arrive. Runs 8:30am – 3pm every Saturday.
- Saturday · 11am
MONA ferry + visit
Catch the catamaran from Brooke Street Pier. Allow 3+ hours at MONA — the gallery is vast and the winery lunch is worth it.
- Saturday · 4pm
Back to town + rest
Return ferry, coffee at Pilgrim, or a drink at Evolve in Salamanca Place.
- Saturday · 7pm
Dinner — Franklin or Templo
Franklin for the hatted kitchen, Templo for a 14-seat Italian pasta moment. Both book out weeks ahead.
- Sunday · 8am
Mount Wellington summit
20-minute drive from the CBD. 1,271m summit often above the clouds. Dress for 10°C cooler than the city.
- Sunday · Midday
Constitution Dock + Battery Point
Flake and chips on a bench, then walk Battery Point's Arthur Circus and Kelly Steps back to Salamanca.
Getting there
Virgin, Jetstar and Qantas all run Hobart (HBA) routes from mainland capitals, 1–2 hour flights. Car hire from the airport is cheap; otherwise rideshare and ferry covers 80% of a weekend.
Eat & drink
- Franklin — Tasmania's most-awarded kitchen, on a heritage steel foundry
- Templo for a tiny-room Italian dinner
- Dier Makr for adventurous tasting menus in North Hobart
Local tips
- MONA tickets are free for Tasmanian residents — bring ID
- Salamanca is busiest 10am–noon; go early or stay late to browse without the crowd
- Mount Wellington can close for snow any month of the year — check the DPIPWE road status
- The Sullivan's Cove whisky distillery tour is a legit rainy-afternoon backup