Things to do in Hobart on your day ashore

The Museum of Old and New Art, better known as MONA, is one of Hobart’s most talked-about attractions. Much of its provocative collection is displayed in underground galleries carved into the sandstone of the riverbank, creating a setting as distinctive as the artworks arrayed there. At times, you might feel like you’re in a mine shaft, a maze cut into solid stone or the lair of a James Bond movie villain.

The Princess® MONA On Your Own excursion begins with an easy 15-minute walk from the pier to Brooke Street Pier. From there, you board a fast ferry for a scenic 30-minute cruise up the River Derwent to MONA.

At the museum, you’ll have approximately 1.5 hours to explore its unconventional galleries and thought-provoking collection independently. If you get immersed in the collections and want additional time, you can choose a later return ferry (be sure to confirm available times on the day of your excursion).

The return cruise provides another opportunity to enjoy views along the River Derwent as Hobart’s skyline comes back into view. After disembarking at Brooke Street Pier, you can take your time walking back to the ship, enjoying the sights and offerings of the waterfront as time permits.

Salamanca Place is one of Hobart’s most atmospheric districts and an easy walk along the waterfront from the cruise pier. Its distinctive sandstone warehouses were built during the city’s early maritime era and have since been transformed into galleries, cafés, restaurants and shops, making this precinct an appealing area for cruise guests to explore on foot.

Just up the hill from Salamanca Place, Battery Point offers another glimpse of historic Hobart. Narrow lanes wind past colonial-era cottages, heritage homes and quiet neighborhood streets. Guests can easily combine the two areas on a leisurely walking route near and around the harbor.

On Saturdays, Salamanca Place becomes even livelier as it hosts the Salamanca Market, with typical open hours from 8:30 AM to 3 PM local time. Stalls fill the open areas with local produce, prepared foods, arts, crafts and other Tasmanian-made goods.

On a clear day, the summit of this local peak (officially named Kunanyi / Mount Wellington) offers one of the most memorable views of Hobart and its surroundings. From high above the city you can see across the Derwent Valley and the surrounding areas toward the Southern Ocean to the south and the Tasman Sea to the east.

Situated on the shores of the River Derwent just north of central Hobart, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens feature more than 6,000 plant species across beautifully landscaped grounds. Guests can stroll among diverse collections while taking in highlights such as the picturesque lily pond and displays of native plants suited to Tasmania’s generally cool climate.

Guests can see both on the Royal Botanic Gardens and Views of Hobart excursion, which includes a photo stop at the summit and a guided tour of the gardens. In poor weather, a photo stop at Mt Nelson Lookout may replace the summit stop.

Tasmania’s well-deserved reputation for fresh local seafood, cool-climate wines and artisan foods takes center stage for guests who book the curated Tempting Taste Trail to Richmond excursion. Guests meet local growers and producers and sample some of the island’s signature flavors, including wild abalone and oysters, gourmet cheeses, handcrafted chocolates and wine from a local vineyard.

The excursion also takes you to Richmond Historic Village, where well-preserved architecture provides a glimpse into Tasmania’s early European colonial history. Among its landmarks are Richmond Bridge, Australia’s oldest bridge still in use, and St. John’s Catholic Church, the oldest Catholic church in Australia.

This excursion is an elegant and easy way to be introduced to Tasmania’s food scene without requiring you to research, locate and travel between individual producers independently, bringing regional specialties and flavors, local craftsmanship and colonial heritage together in one half-day guided tour.

Guests who enjoy history and military heritage can visit the Army Museum of Tasmania on the City and Anglesea Barracks excursion. The museum sits within the historic Anglesea Barracks, one of Australia’s oldest colonial military sites, where a guided tour covers military memorabilia, uniforms and other artifacts that trace Tasmania’s military history.

Along the way, the route passes several of Hobart’s historic landmarks, including Cascade Brewery, an enduring reminder of the city’s early industrial heritage, and Battery Point, where colonial-era cottages and narrow streets preserve one of Hobart’s oldest neighborhoods. It also passes the Hobart Cenotaph, a prominent war memorial overlooking the River Derwent.

Combining city sightseeing with the museum visit gives guests historical context in a single guided outing, without arranging transportation between individual sites.

Guests who want to get out of the city and explore Tasmania’s wildlife and rural landscapes will enjoy the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Mount Field Park and Curringa Farm excursion, traveling aboard an air-conditioned motorcoach. At Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, guests can meet Forester kangaroos that may eat from their hands and encounter native animals.

The tour continues into Mount Field National Park for a walk through lush rainforest to Russell Falls. Surrounded by towering trees and dense vegetation, the multi-tiered waterfall represents a particularly scenic portion of Tasmania’s protected wilderness.

At Curringa Farm, the tour’s focus shifts to Tasmania’s agricultural traditions. Guests can watch working sheep dogs demonstrate their herding skills and experience a sheep-shearing demonstration while learning about life on a working farm before returning to the ship.

The former colonial correctional facility of Port Arthur is about a 1.5-hour drive southeast of Hobart, on the Tasman Peninsula. At this location you can explore the open-air ruins as well as more than 30 restored buildings at the former penal settlement, which has a fascinating (and often disturbing) history. The Port Arthur On Your Own excursion includes a motorcoach ride to and from the site. Guests can explore independently or join a guided walking tour at their own expense.

The Tasman Island Wildlife Cruise is an eight-hour excursion that includes a 2.5- to 3-hour voyage along the Tasman National Park coastline. Guests pass towering sea stacks such as the Totem Pole and Candlestick, glide through sea caves and see Tasman Island’s slender white lighthouse.

Bruny Island combines rugged coastal scenery with some of Tasmania’s distinctive local flavors. After a scenic drive to Kettering, the Best of Bruny Island excursion crosses to the island by ferry, with views across the surrounding waterways.

A highlight is the Neck Lookout, reached by climbing to an elevated viewpoint overlooking the narrow strip of land connecting North and South Bruny. Nearby dunes provide nesting habitat for small, blue-plumaged fairy penguins.

Bruny Island is also known for its local produce. At the included lunch, guests sample freshly shucked oysters and local fish with a choice of local wine, beer or cider. The tour also includes tastings of handcrafted Tasmanian whisky or gin.

Guests visiting Hobart will be well-satisfied whether they choose to explore the city and waterfront on their own, or book one of the available curated excursions. Browse through the available Princess Australia cruises and discover your dream itinerary.