All the adventures awaiting you in the Apple Isle start here at Hobart Airport – make your way to our friendly, helpful staff and they will get your Tasmania car hire sorted in a flash. Whether it’s a sleek sports car or something you can fit the whole family in, we’ll be able to find you the perfect match for your driving adventure in no time. With our streamlined systems you’ll soon be on your way to explore this beautiful city and its surroundings.
Circle the city centre and find an abundance of culture and culinary delights around every corner
Start where you’ve landed, and zip around Hobart with ease in your hire car. Immerse yourself in art and culture at The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), one of the world’s most interesting and eccentrically curated museums with a wide range of exhibits to delight visitors of all ages. Wander the world-famous Salamanca Markets and find yourself a special souvenir to take home. And don’t forget to feast in Hobart’s many amazing cafes and restaurants – there’s plenty of choices for every budget and cuisine preference.
In recent years, Hobart’s culinary reputation has rapidly grown to become a strong contender against bigger cities, becoming nationally renowned for its fresh, locally sourced foods, and rising degustation culture. Hidden within various pockets of Hobart, you’ll find an array of unique and alluring restaurants for whatever it is that you’re craving. Pair up your trip out to some of Hobart’s most loved tourist destinations with some of the city’s most popular restaurants nearby:
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MONA: At the gallery itself you’ll find the contemporary French restaurant The Source, offering a variety of simple and seasonal dishes and offering one of the most extensive wine lists in the country.
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Argyle Street: A couple of streets back from the water’s edge, Franklin provides an array of hearty modern roasts along with an enviable seafood menu.
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Salamanca Markets: For a romantic, elegant and semi-traditional Italian meal, Maldini Italian Café & Restaurant located by the markets down Salamanca Place is a popular staple for locals who appreciate a more relaxed approach to fine dining.
With a rising coffee culture, Hobart is teeming with charming cafés dotted about the CBD and surrounding suburbs, serving up great tasting coffee, with unlimited breakfast and brunch menus to choose from. Be sure to check out Born in Brunswick, a swanky, Melbourne-inspired café that serves cheesecake for breakfast because, why not? Other local favourites include Pigeon Hole Café, Dandy Lane Food & Speciality Coffee, and Criterion Street Café.
Hire a car and explore the charming countryside towns that are just a short drive away
Once you’re ready to get on the road, you’ll be spoiled for choice - almost every road in Tasmania is scenic, and there are so many charming small towns to explore along the way, each one with their own galleries and shops, their own natural beauty and unique culture. Whatever your interests and preferences when it comes to travel, with a hire car you can take your time, set your own pace and experience this amazing destination exactly the way you want to. Whichever route you choose, you’re sure to have some unforgettable experiences along the way.
The spectacular beaches and forests of the North West Region is a drive you’ll never forget, winding along the coast road between Burnie and Devonport past Ulverstone and Penguin – stop to stretch your legs and be sure to take an iconic photo at the Big Penguin while you take in the sweeping sea views. Once you’ve breathed in some fresh sea air, hop back in the car and drive through the Narawntapu National Park. With its varied scenery encompassing wetlands, beaches and forests, it's one of the best places to see Australian animals in their natural habitat. From the treasures to be found in the galleries and shops of Devonport, to marvelling at the two thousand ancient trees of the Tasmanian Arboretum at Eugenana – your hire car can take you there in style.
If rolling green hills and pastoral wonderlands are more your scene, then head East – wineries, galleries and unforgettable destinations await you at every turn. Immerse yourself in colonial history along the Convict Trail where many colonial-era buildings still exist, staffed by knowledgeable guides so you can find out all about Tasmania’s colourful history, and get up and close to Australian animals while you explore a real convict site at Maria Island. From the Fossil Cliffs to the vineyards and wineries of Darlington there is something to delight all the senses here.
Whichever way you choose to plan your route, no Tasmanian driving holiday is complete without a visit to the heart of Tassie where you can take in one of the most spectacular natural wonders of Australia – Cradle Mountain National Park. In addition to the mountain itself the surrounding area is a paradise for nature lovers with walks for every outdoor enthusiast, from gentle strolls to intrepid treks.
When you’ve had enough of the great outdoors, head back to the capital for some well-deserved rest and recuperation. You can plan your course from the high ground if you head to the scenic lookout at Mount Wellington, and then take your pick from Hobart’s many attractions – from the Cascade Brewery tour to Port Arthur, there are a wealth of day trip opportunities in and around the city, and your hire car can take you to all of them.
