One of the biggest drawcards of the island state is Mona, Australia’s most boundary-pushing collection of art. You won’t want to miss it. Of course, David Walsh isn’t the only creative mind pulling together fascinating talent in the world of visual art. Bett Gallery, in the centre of the city, is one of the country’s leading contemporary art spaces, known for supporting established and emerging talent in the fields of painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and more.

Mainland cafés could learn a trick or two from Tassie’s brunch scene. Pigeon Hole Cafe, which sources almost all its menu items from a family farm in the island’s south, is your go-to in West Hobart, while in North Hobart, Born in Brunswick is known for its brunch cocktails, such as Hairy Mary with heirloom tomato juice.

A lovely, low-key way to spend a morning or afternoon is wandering the two-kilometre Battery Point Sculpture Trail, a series of nine artworks designed as numbers. Each has a different meaning, such as the caged rocks that spell out 1833, the year convicts built the wharves at the end of Salamanca Place, or 1909, the year screen idol Erroll Flynn – one of the most famous Tasmanians – was born.

Tasmania’s capital city has gained a reputation for boundary-pushing museums, eclectic cultural festivals and a world-class dining scene. Start planning your visit now at qantas.com.

If Tasmania had a state dish, it would have to be its traditional scallop pie and the one to try for newcomers (or anyone) is the veggie-packed and lightly curried version from the Jackman & McRoss bakery in Battery Point. For an Italian-meets-Indian spin on the classic, head to Harbour Lights Cafe on the wharf for its winter-only curry scallop calzone – a hearty combination of mild curry sauce, garlic, cream and Tasmanian white wine in a crispy pizza pocket.

The imposing Kunanyi (Mount Wellington) gets all the press for its vistas but there’s a lesser-known gem on the other side of the city. Rosny Hill Lookout has views to the city, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and the Tasman Bridge. Clink drinks as the sun sets in pink rays.

Every luxury hotel has an elegant design, chic places to drink and dine, plus impeccable service. The Tasman, Australia's first Luxury Collection hotel, on the Hobart waterfront – a two-minute walk from the buzzy Salamanca neighbourhood – has all these things and more. From the outside, the 152-key property is a standout: fusing an 1840s Georgian sandstone wing with a 1940s Art Deco building and a modern glass-encased prism. Inside, you'll find Peppina – the accommodation's award-winning Italian restaurant, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar and glamorous interiors that match the exterior. If you stay between 1 May to 31 August 2025, you'll also have the opportunity to book the "Awarded and Rewarded" package, which includes a guided tasting session of Tasmanian wines or whiskies in the hotel's sandstone cellar.

You might find a hotel with character, but one with three? That’s rare. Book your trip now at qantas.com.

Kunanyi, which sits right on Hobart’s doorstep, is one of those impressive natural landmarks that awes locals just as much as tourists. Drive to your starting point – only serious hikers dare to climb the whole thing – then pick your track. The 3.4-kilometre Springs to the Pinnacle walk includes trekking through lush forest that opens out to broad city views at the top. And as Hobartians will tell you of Tasmania’s famously mercurial weather: check the forecast and always take a jacket.

If history lessons and adventure aren’t enough to convince the family to join you on a 2.5-hour Hobart Waterfront tour with Roaring 40s Kayaking then fish and chips from a floating punt may do the trick. For something a little less strenuous, a trip along the Derwent with Iron Pot Cruises begins in the bustling harbour then heads out to the seabird-nesting oasis of Betsey Island.

The first thing you need when picnicking is the food. Two great choices are Wursthaus Kitchen near Salamanca Place for fish pies, fresh bread and French Lescure butter; and city café, provedore and wine shop Johnston & Miller for toasted sandwiches and bubbles. Now head to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and stake out a patch of lawn, preferably with views over the Derwent.

There are several easy daytrips worth leaving Hobart for, from historic Richmond to the produce-rich Huon Valley. But it’s New Norfolk that feels… new. That has a lot to do with upscale diner The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery, which has a kiosk open on the weekends with the menu changing weekly.

Hire a car and drive in any direction from Hobart – chances are you’ll happen upon history, wilderness or your favourite new eatery. Book flights now at qantas.com.

It’s the moreish plates – think Piedmont peppers with stracciatella or fried eggplant in green chilli yoghurt – that bring people through the door at Hamlet, next to Hobart's Rivulet Walk. But just as comforting as the food itself is the knowledge that by dining at Hamlet – which is both a registered charity and training café – you're supporting its mission to create employment opportunities for people living with disabilities.

At Gold Bar, a cosy speakeasy hidden in an old flour mill at Hobart’s heart, they don’t do menus. Just let owner and bartender Ian Reed pepper you with questions – Do you like a lemony gin or a botanical one? Something fruity or spicy? – and he’ll create your new favourite cocktail.

Ask Ian Reed to distill Hobart into a cocktail – the results should be interesting! Book flights now at qantas.com.

It may look like an unassuming vintage pub from the outside but Shipwrights Arms in Battery Point is a Hobart institution – and has been for more than 175 years. Beyond the original main bar, ‘Shippies’ (as it’s affectionately called by the locals) features multiple dining areas within, including Shoal, a glass-walled garden restaurant; Hold, an intimate cocktail lounge; and Slip, a relaxed fireside diner. The menu is largely the same across each one, with fresh Tasmanian produce and seafood occupying the starring roles – the Tassie Calamari with lemon, lime and saltbush salt is a crowd-pleaser.

Battery Point is where to head for handmade curios, often tucked into the storybook-pretty colonial cottages that characterise this part of the city. Habeo (pictured) is just one of the hidden gems you'll find, stocking a collection of Aussie treasures such as fashion, homewares and toys. If you’re the type who likes to buy fresh new pyjamas while travelling – nothing feels better in crisp hotel sheets – Smitten Merino in Salamanca Place makes the softest Tasmanian wool sleepwear and robes.

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