
Hobart ( HOH-bart; Southeast Tasmanian: nipaluna) is the capital and most populous city of the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Located in Tasmania's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, it is the southernmost capital city in Australia. Despite containing nearly half of Tasmania's population, Hobart is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-smallest by population and area after Darwin if territories are taken into account. Its skyline is dominated by the 1,271-metre (4,170 ft) kunanyi / Mount Wellington, and its harbour forms the second-deepest natural port in the world, with much of the city's waterfront consisting of reclaimed land. The metropolitan area is often referred to as Greater Hobart, to differentiate it from the City of Hobart, one of the seven local government areas that cover the city. It has a mild maritime climate.
The city lies on country which was known by the local Muwinina people as nipaluna, a name which includes surrounding features such as Kunanyi / Mount Wellington and Timtumili Minanya (River Derwent). Prior to British colonisation, the land had been occupied for possibly as long as 35,000 years by Aboriginal Tasmanians, who generally refer to themselves as Palawa or Pakana.
Founded in 1804 as a British penal colony, Hobart is Australia's second-oldest capital city after Sydney, New South Wales. Whaling quickly emerged as a major industry in the area, and for a time Hobart served as the Southern Ocean's main whaling port. Penal transportation ended in the 1850s, after which the city experienced periods of growth and decline. The early 20th century saw an economic boom on the back of mining, agriculture and other primary industries, and the loss of men who served in the world wars was counteracted by an influx of immigration. Despite the rise in migration from Asia and other non-English speaking regions, Hobart's population is predominantly ethnically Anglo-Celtic and has the highest percentage of Australian-born residents among Australia's capital cities.
Today, Hobart is the financial and administrative hub of Tasmania, serving as the home port for both Australian and French Antarctic operations and acting as a tourist destination. Well-known drawcards include its convict-era architecture, Salamanca Market and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), the Southern Hemisphere's largest private museum.
Background information about Hobart adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Next 7 days at Hobart
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Updated each time the page loads.
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Best time to visit Hobart
Based on 30 years of weather data. Sweet spot: May, Sep, Oct — mild temperatures, low rainfall and plenty of sun. Avoid Jun, Jul if you can — typically the wettest or hottest stretch of the year.
Jan
35°
8° low
56mm
Feb
32°
8° low
44mm
Mar
33°
7° low
57mm
Apr
26°
5° low
53mm
May
22°
4° low
55mm
Jun
17°
1° low
65mm
Jul
16°
2° low
60mm
Aug
18°
1° low
75mm
Sep
22°
2° low
67mm
Oct
27°
3° low
64mm
Nov
31°
5° low
63mm
Dec
34°
6° low
61mm
Daytime high (large) · overnight low (small) · monthly rainfall (blue bar). Climate normals: 1991–2020 from Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis.
Beach & ocean conditions at Hobart
Typical wave height around 0.1 m over the next two weeks. a wetsuit makes winter swims much more pleasant.
Avg wave height
0.1 m
Sea-surface temperatures from Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Wave forecast from the GFS Wave model — check official sources before swimming, paddling or boating.
What else is around Hobart
Points of interest within 25 km, pulled from OpenStreetMap. Distances are straight-line; check road access before heading out.
🎡 Attractions (20)
- 0.7 km
- 0.8 km
- 0.8 km
- 1.9 km
- 11.6 km
- 12.0 km
🏖️ Beaches (7)
- 21.8 km
- 21.9 km
- 22.4 km
- 23.6 km
- 24.3 km
- 4.6 km
🔭 Lookouts & viewpoints (31)
- 1.1 km
- 10.9 km
- 12.4 km
- 13.1 km
- 13.7 km
- 14.1 km
⛰️ Peaks & summits (82)
- 10.1 km
- 10.2 km
- 10.4 km
- 10.4 km
- 10.6 km
- 10.8 km
🏰 Historic sites (43)
- 0.2 km
- 0.5 km
- 0.6 km
- 0.6 km
- 0.6 km
- 0.6 km
🏛️ Museums & galleries (8)
- 0.1 km
- 0.3 km
- 0.3 km
- 0.8 km
- 0.9 km
- 1.9 km
🎭 Theatres, cinemas & markets (5)
- 0.2 km
- 0.5 km
- 0.8 km
- 13.1 km
- 3.8 km
🕳️ Caves (3)
- 24.8 km
- 5.0 km
- 7.0 km
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Drive times to and from Hobart
Real road distance and driving time to other destinations in the state. Click through for fuel estimates, suggested overnight stops, and tours along the way.
Frequently asked about Hobart
- Where is Hobart?
- Hobart is in Hobart Region, Tasmania, Australia.
- When is the best time to visit Hobart?
- Based on 30 years of weather data, the most pleasant months at Hobart are typically September, October, May — mild temperatures and lower rainfall. School holiday periods can also fit if you don't mind the crowds.
- What's the weather like in Hobart?
- Summer daytime highs average around 35°C and winter overnight lows can drop to about 1°C. See the climate panel above for the month-by-month breakdown.








