10,000 steps
Explore the heritage charm of Hobart’s historic and botanical surrounds
Explore Australia's coolest capital – Hobart
Australia’s southern city of Hobart is becoming a favourite hotspot for its culture, food, history and natural beauty. To discover the best of this city, we’re starting today’s adventure at The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Sandy Bay. This club – which hosts the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race - has more than 130 years of service to the community and is located along the beautiful banks of the Derwent River, which you will enjoy from various points along the walk.
When you’re ready to get going, follow Marieville Esplanade towards Battery Point – one of Australia’s most fascinating historic precincts. Settled in the early 19th century, you’ll be amazed by the colonial and Georgian architecture lining the winding streets of this area.
Follow Napoleon St, turning left onto Trumpeter St, where you will find the Shipwrights Arms Hotel – or ‘Shippies’ as the locals call it. Established in 1846, Shippies has remained a traditional old-school pub with a sit-down restaurant out the back.
Make a right onto Colville St, and then head right again on Hampden Rd, where you will arrive at Princes Park. This is the perfect opportunity for you to sit down and enjoy a picnic, catch your breath or simply enjoy the weather (remember to regularly apply sunscreen throughout the
day). This park was once home to defence batteries that protected the settlement. About 1880, the batteries were dismantled, and in the following years the site was passed to the Hobart City Council as a public space.
From the public park, turn left onto Runnymede St before approaching a circle of old single frontage cottages taking you back to Old Hobart Town. Known as Arthur Circus, these small houses were originally constructed for the officers of the garrison, and their attraction and value continue to thrive today, just as they did in the 1840s. Take a moment to appreciate the uniqueness of these heritage homes, from the park within the Circus, with Mount Wellington as a background.
Exiting the circus, turn right onto Hampden Rd – Battery Point’s main street – where you will discover an array of cafes and restaurants that were once hotels, dressmakers, shoemakers, butchers, bakers and general stores. As you make your way down the road, you will turn right onto Kelly St. On the corner of the two roads lies Jackman & McRoss.
Fun fact: this building has always been home to a bakery. Prior to Jackman & McRoss, this corner store was known as the Cripps Bakery (c1930s).
Walking past quaint cottages, you’ll be transported to the ➤
19th century as you wander up Kelly St. Don’t worry, we haven’t steered you into a dead-end. At the end of this street you will find the landmark historic steps known as Kelly’s Steps. Created from sandstone in 1840, this narrow flight of steps was crafted to join Kelly St and Salamanca Place for easy access to the waterfront.
Once you’ve reached the bottom, turn left onto Salamanca Place. Originally the stomping ground for the workmen, sailors and whalers (as well as plenty of nefarious types) of Hobart’s historic waterfront, today this strip is a vibrant cultural and dining scene among heritage sandstone buildings.
Admiring the Australian colonial architecture dating back to the 1830s, this is a great place to find galleries to explore, theatre shows to watch, and pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes galore.
Opposite Salamanca Place lies the Tasman Memorial – a monument commemorating Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who named the island ‘Van Diemen’s Land’ (before it was renamed as Tasmania). Continuing past the memorial, along the waterfront you will discover Constitution Dock, where yachts that have completed the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race moor. Take a stroll along the pier, grab a bite from one of the seafood stalls, then carry on down Argyle or Campbell streets, before turning right onto Liverpool St.
Veering away from the water, you will find a tunnel that will take you safely underneath the road and into the Railway Roundabout. Constructed in the early 1960s, it was named one of the world’s best roundabouts by the Roundabout Appreciation Society in the UK in 2015 – and you can see why. Once you’re inside the roundabout, you will be exposed to well-kept gardens and an interesting UFO-like, bowl-shaped fountain for you to relax in, in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
Next it’s time to enter the Queens Domain. A habitat of native flora and fauna, the Domain is the perfect escape from the city. Begin by walking through the subway, on the other side of the roundabout, into the University Rose Gardens. Take the time here to literally stop and smell the roses on the grounds of Tasmania’s first university campus. Carry through the roses,
past the aquatic centre to the Soldiers Memorial Avenue to stroll through the Avenue of Honour – comprised of more than 500 trees planted in 191819 commemorating soldiers who died in World War 1.
Continue wandering through the Domain towards the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Established in 1818, the 14-hectare gardens showcase 6500 species and variety of plants – including more than 400 native Tasmanian species. From crossing the shiny red wooden bridge within the Japanese Garden to immersing yourself in the icy environment of the Sub-Antarctic Plant House, there is plenty to admire.
Across from the main entrance of the gardens lies the original site of the Beaumaris Zoo (Old Hobart Zoo). A private collection (started in 1895) before it turned public, the zoo closed in 1937 – less than one year after the last captive Tasmanian tiger, which once called this zoo home, died. In September 2000, on World Threatened Species Day, a colourful gate featuring sadfaced sculptures (including the Tasmanian tiger) was installed. Commemorating the animals that were once here, today the gates and only a couple of ruins of enclosures remain.
By now you should have reached your 10,000 steps. If you’re excited to continue exploring this area, the
Domain is also home to natural woodlands, the Hobart Cenotaph, Government House and an array of sports centres, bicycle and walking tracks for you to discover. Otherwise, head back into the city or back home to relax after a day of historic and natural beauty along Hobart's waterfront. ■