Winter in Hobart is characterised by old sandstone buildings, snowy mountains and warm drinks in local cafes.
With temperatures usually sitting between 3 and 11 degrees during the day, there are a range of indoor and outdoor activities on offer to help you embrace the cooler weather. Check out this list of the top winter activities in Hobart to celebrate in style.
Dark Mofo Festival
Running for two weeks in June, the Dark Mofo Festival is a midwinter celebration of ancient pagan rituals through music, light, art, food, and film. This dark and bold festival draws almost half a million attendants every year with a program of free and ticketed events.
The ever-popular Nude Solstice Swim is back this year, with crowds gathering on the longest night of the year to rush into the River Derwent as the sun comes up. The Winter Feast is another highly-anticipated attraction involving more than 70 vendors, live music and wandering entertainment almost every day of the festival.
Standout musical performances are expected from Beth Gibbons, lead singer of Portishead, as well as Baroness and Thelma Plum.
Expect dark delights and winter wonders at this festival like no other.
Tasmanian Whisky Week
Warm your body and soul this August with Tasmanian Whisky Week. For seven days only, enjoy exclusive access to some of the best whisky in the country, with more than 40 distillers attending 20 events.
While celebrations are spread all over the state, the main attraction is the Tasmanian Spirit Showcase in Hobart on 9 August. This exciting event allows spirit-lovers the chance to sample top quality and limited-release Tasmanian spirits from all their favourite distilleries.
Chat with the makers about their unique processes, purchase exclusive bottles, and discover a food plaza with heaps of local vendors. There will also be a cocktail bar and live music to keep the vibes going all day long. There’s no better way to beat the winter chills than over a glass of barrel aged whisky with friends.
Aurora Australis
The Aurora Australia, or ‘Southern Lights’, are a shimmering wave of green and red lights that appear in the night sky around the south pole. Winter is the best time to see this breathtaking natural display, with long nights providing more time for the lights to dance across the sky.
Favourite aurora-watching spots include Carlton Beach, 40km east of Hobart, and the summit of kunanyi/Mount Wellington. However, if you can’t escape the city, the lights can often be seen at Goat Bluff on South Arm Peninsula, which is only a 30-minute drive from the CBD.
Battery Point
Battery Point was Hobart’s first suburb, named in 1818 after the defence station guarding Derwent Bay. Today, it is one of the best examples of colonial-era architecture in Australia and boasts a rich history thanks to its draw for merchants, jailers, and sailors since colonisation.
Your first stop on any visit to Battery Point should be Jackman and McRoss bakery. Enjoy a warm treat straight from the oven, including fresh-baked bread, tarts, and slices. However, it is most famous for the delicious scallop pie, which includes a salty scallop and wakame curry filling. There’s nothing better on a chilly day than biting into one of these guys.
A great way to see this historic suburb is on a one hour horse and carriage ride with Heritage Horse Drawn Carriages. It’s easy to imagine yourself living in 19th century Hobart when relaxing in the back of this beautifully restored carriage and being driven by a host in authentic livery. You will gallop past all the major attractions, stone mansions and workers cottages while stopping for photos. Plus, on cold days, you can even enjoy a hot chocolate or coffee delivered straight to the carriage.
Kunanyi/Mount Wellington
Aside from serving as a great place to see the Aurora Australia, kunanyi/Mount Wellington is a place to hike, take in a view, and play in the winter snow. It sits an impressive 1271 metres above the city, boasting breathtaking views of Tasmania from its summit. Boardwalks and lookout platforms make enjoying this view convenient and relaxing.
Nature lovers should check out The Organ Pipes, a popular walk that winds beneath the mountain’s dolerite cliffs formed during the Jurassic period. In winter, the mountain is regularly covered in snow, with locals often making the 30 minute journey to build snowmen and throw snowballs at friends.
Salamanca Markets
Every Saturday from 8:30am-3pm, Salamanca Markets welcomes locals and tourists for hours of shopping fun. With more than 300 stallholders selling fresh produce, jewellery, homewares and clothes, you can lose hours discovering gorgeous products from small Tasmanian businesses.
The market also features live music, and puppy parking run by the RSCPA to mind your furry friends while you explore. Along with clothing, arts, crafts and gifts, you will also find a range of food and drink vendors serving up mouthwateringly good meals. Enjoy boutique seafood sausages from Silver Hill Fisch with freshly baked focaccia and lettuce, or bite into a warm, cheesy truffle toastie at Tasmanian Truffles. Another standout is the homemade empanadas from Cantine Latina, perfect for a warm treat on a winter day.
Spas
There’s nothing better than a relaxing spa or massage on a freezing winter day. Savoy Day Spa is a communal bathhouse and wellness facility offering walk-in experiences designed to revitalise and rejuvenate. The bathhouse features a magnesium pool, steam room, sauna and spa, and can be accessed without a booking. If you’re looking for a therapeutic massage, facial or body treatment, however, you will need to book. The skilled staff use only the best local ingredients to ensure a rewarding experience every time.
Another popular spot is The Sanctuary, an organic day spa catering to all guests with a range of massages, facials and packages. The signature package combines a 60 minute full body massage and Sodashi Pure Radiance Facial for an escape from the chaos of everyday life.
To check out the best dog friendly breweries and bars in Hobart, click here.
