Battery Point historic precinct: walk around an intact genuine Georgian era village. Retaining the character of a Cornish fishing village of the last century, the inner Hobart suburb of Battery Point began life as a home for mariners who worked out of Hobart Town. It is still mainly a residential area, with many historic homes and shops, some which are open for inspection as folk museums and art galleries. At its heart is Arthurs Circus, a ring of old cottages surrounding the old village green. Named after a Battery of guns established on the point in 1818 that have long since been removed, it retains much of the character it have over a century ago. Battery Point is a short walk from the centre of Hobart and Salamanca Place, to which it is linked by a set old colonial era stairs.
Location: south of Hobart city centre. How to get there: via Kelly Steps from Salamanca Place, or walk along Davey Street from the city, left into Harrington St, left into Hampden Rd.

Salamanca Place historic precinct: historic buildings and wharves and iconic weekend markets. Once a hive of maritime activity with sailing ships loading and unloading their cargo on the wharves of Sullivan Cove nearby, today it still buzzes, but as Hobart's foremost entertainment hotspot. The rows of Georgian era sandstone warehouses that serviced the clippers have been converted into a plaza of restaurants and shop, with pubs, artists, galleries, craft shops and nightlife adding to the relaxed atmosphere of the place after sundown. Every Saturday, Salamanca Place takes on a totally different look and carnival atmosphere when it hosts the famous Salamanca Markets. Over 300 stallholders congregate to sell produce and crafts from all over Tasmania as buskers, artists and performers keep the crowd entertained. At the northern end of Salamanca Place is St. David's Park, a popular lunchtime relaxation spot for the city's workers. Parliament House adjacent to Salamanca Place.
Website. Online Salamanca Guide.
Location: Salamanca Place, Hobart. How to get there: from city centre, walk south down any cross street to Franklin Wharf, then head right towards Castray Esplanade.

Mt. Wellington: panoramic views of the city of Hobart and the River Derwent. No other Australian capital city has a lookout like Mt. Wellington. Towering 1270 metres behind the city, it is high enough to not only give views across Hobart and the upper and lower River Derwent, but Storm Bay in the east and the southern section of the vast World Heritage Tasmanian Wilderness areas are also visible from its peak. A road leads to a lookout at the summit. In good weather the Mt. Wellington lookout is less than a half-hour leisurely drive from Hobart city centre. When bad weather closes in, fog or ice and snow on the road make the journey slow and hazardous. At the best of times, it is nearly always windy, so make sure you are wear warm clothes for when you leave your car at the lookout, even if the weather down in Hobart is warm and pleasant.
Location: Pinnacle Rd, Wellington. How to get there: leave Hobart via Macquarie St travelling west, follow road signs to Mt. Wellington summit.

Cascade Brewery: tour and visitor centre of Australia's oldest continuously operating brewery. Australians love there beer so you'll always find plenty of Aussies around here sampling the wares of Australia's oldest brewer. Nestled in the rolling hills of South Hobart, these historic buildings came into being when, in 1824, Peter Degraves vowed then to produce "genuine beer... beer that cannot be excelled in this colony." One-and-a-half hour tours are conducted by guides several times per day, 7 days a week from the Visitors Centre; bookings are essential, tour charges apply. As it is a fully operational brewery, visitors are advised to wear appropriate clothing, particularly footwear.
Contact: (03) 6224 1117. Website. Location: 140 Cascade Rd, South Hobart. How to get there: by car, travel south from Hobart along Macquarie St, then Cascade St. The brewery is on the left past Wellesley Park.

Taroona Shot Tower: Used in the manufacture of lead shot for muskets, the tower was built in 1870, at which time it was the tallest man made structure in Australia. One of three surviving in Australia (the most well known is in the heart of the Melbourne CBD), it is a remarkable tapered structure 48 metres tall and features an internal spiral staircase of pit-sawn timber and an external gallery at its top which was probably used to store firewood for the upper cauldron. The gallery is now a viewing platform. I won't tell you how many steps there are to the top, as those who make the trek and get the count right are given a certificate to say they climbed it. Entry fees apply.
Location: 234 Channel Hwy, Taroona. How to get there: travel south from Hobart along Sandy Bay Rd, the tower is one the left on the outskirts of Taroona just before a sharp bend.

Mount Nelson Lookout: Though not as well known or frequented as often as its higher and more famous neighbour, Mt. Wellington, Mt. Nelson is the perfect place to get an alternate bird's eye of Hobart and surrounds, particularly on the days when Mt. Wellington is shrouded and mist or snow, which is quite often. This lookout provides a dramatic panorama of the city even on days with relatively poor visibility. During the day a visitor can experience the beauty of the city, river and harbour and at night the city is studded with twinkling lights. Lunch or teas can be taken at the restaurant.
Contact: (03) 6230 8233. Location: Nelson Road, Mt. Nelson. How to get there: by car, travel south out of Hobart via Davey St and the Southern Outlet, take the Mt. Nelson exit at Tolmans Hill along Olinda Grove and on to the lookout at the end of Nelson Rd. As an alterative return route, return down Nelson Rd, ignoring Olinda Grove, making the zig zag descent down Nelson Rd.

Kangaroo Bluff: an historic fort built to protect Hobart. The Kangaroo Bluff Battery was built to support the Queens Battery (located at the Domain in Hobart) and the Battery Point battery. It was developed to stop any enemy vessels from shelling Hobart Town from just outside the range of the Domain and Battery Point batteries. Although the proposal was mentioned in the early days of settlement, procrastination was the order of the day. It is thought that the appearance in the River Derwent of two Russian warships in 1873 prompted plans for the construction of the Kangaroo Bluff Battery. The Kangaroo Bluff Battery was manned by the Tasmanian Artillery Company volunteers until its closure in the 1920s, though a shot was never fired in anger. The site, which has four gun mounts, tunnels and underground munitions storage areas, offers extensive views across the River Derwent to Hobart and its southern suburbs.
Information sheet. Location: How to get there: From Hobart, head east over the Tasman Bridge, take Bellerive exit (Rosny Hill Rd), right into Cambridge St, then Victoria Esp. and Gunning St.

Risdon Cove historic area: site of first European settlement in Tasmania. The European settlement of Tasmania had a false start, and it happened at Risdon Cove in 1803 on the eastern bank of the River Derwent. Lieutenant John Bowen was sent to establish a settlement in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) with 48 free settlers. The Lady Nelson anchored at Risdon in September 1803; it was followed five days later by the whaler Albion with Lt. Bowen on board. In 1804 Lieutenant Colonel David Collins arrived in the Derwent from Port Phillip with instructions to take charge of the colony. Within a few days he rejected Risdon Cove as a suitable settlement site and moved his party across the river to Sullivan's Cove. The military and convicts disembarked near Hunter Island on the 20–21 February 1804 and thus beginning what is now Hobart. The Risdon colony struggled on for some months with Collins and Bowen in disagreement as to who was in charge and which was the official colony. Eventually it was abandoned. A cairns marks the spot where settlement took place. Risdon Cove was the site of the massacre of around 100 Moomairremener Aboriginal people by white settlers in 1804. The Tasmanian Aboriginal community met at Risdon Cove in 1992 determined to win back their land. In 1995, they were successful and Risdon Cove was returned to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land Council. The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre now administers it. The site today includes a visitors centre, picnic area and walking tracks.
Location: Risdon 10 km east of Hobart. How to get there: by car, cross the Tasman Bridge, drive north along East Derwent Hwy., left into Saundersons Rd.

• Elizabeth Street, North Hobart - wide range of ethnic cuisines
• Salamanca Place, Hobart - wide range of cafes and restaurants
• Hampden Road, Battery Point - restaurants and pubs
• Sullivans Cove, Hobart - seafood, waterside dining

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens: on the fringe of the city centre, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are Australia's second oldest botanical gardens. Prior to European settlement local Aboriginal tribes used the site, and traces of their occupation are still apparent. A number of historic structures, including two convict-built walls, date back to the Gardens' earliest days. The sheltered, landscaped grounds of the hold historic plant collections and a large number of significant trees, many dating from the nineteenth century. It also has an increasing number of important conservation collections of Tasmanian plants and the world's only Sub-Antarctic Plant House.
Location: The Gardens are located on the Queens Domain approximately 2 km from the heart of Hobart. The Gardens are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The Gardens' Visitor Centre offers facilities and Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre and Restaurant services to make your visit even more enjoyable.
More information: Website

Inverawe Native Gardens and Nature Trails: an impressive display of over 6000 water wise, low maintenance plants on the shores of North West Bay.
The gardens were created primarily as a showcase for the natural flora of Tasmania. Plants have been placed in a semi formal landscaped design and walking paths give access to the vast array of plants in its two distinct areas - a natural woodlands remnant and a former tidal swamp that has yielded to rich, grassy flats. Rabbit Hill, at the northern end of the grasslands, affords views across the gardens down North West Bay to Bruny Island. Being a fringe habitat, where forest and pasture meet the shoreline, the wetlands and the tidal flats is an ideal place for bird watching. Entry fees apply.
Contact: (03) 6267 2020. Website. Location: 1565 Channel Highway, Margate. How to get there: take the Southern Outlet from Hobart, then join the B68 toward Margate. Take the Margate Train exit 1 km north of Margate. Park in the laneway. Entry to Inverawe is clearly marked. By bus, Metro Bus No. 93, 94, 96, 98.