5 of the best activities to try in Hobart
<p>Great food and wine, incredible art, picturesque islands and rugged scenery – Tasmania has it all. Here are the best things to do in and around the capital.</p>
<p><strong>1. Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)</strong></p>
<p>It’s the coolest, quirkiest and downright strangest museum in the country – and also one of the best. This museum itself is a work of art, a vast steel and rock structure that is carved right into a bank on the Derwent River. Inside, it has an incredible collection that ranges from 2,000 year old mummies to innovative light installations. There’s even an R-rated section full of sexy pieces and a decidedly spooky death room. Plus it’s on the grounds of the Moorilla Winery, perfect for a post-gallery pick me up.</p>
<p><strong>2. Salamanca Market</strong></p>
<p>Down on Hobart’s waterfront, the Salamanca Market is a Saturday institution. There are more than 300 stalls offering fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, wine and spirits, local crafts, clothes, timber design pieces and organic cosmetics. Then there’s a delicious range of hot food, like bread, pies, pastries and more, and coffee to warm you up. Leave some space in your suitcase for the inevitable purchases.</p>
<p><strong>3. Beer, wine and whisky</strong></p>
<p>Do you know where the best whisky in the world is made? Hobart. Sullivan’s Cove French Oak cask was named best single malt in the world at the World Whiskies Awards in 2014 – and the distillery is in the Hobart suburb of Cambridge. Take a tour and sample some of the best. Tasmania’s famed Cascade brewery sits just outside central Hobart at the foot of Mt Wellington and also offers tours, with the obligatory tastings. Then there is the endless supply of delicious Tasmanian wine to be drunk – we recommend the Ninth Island pinot noir.</p>
<p><strong>4. Visit the islands</strong></p>
<p>The gourmet paradise of Bruny Island is just a short ferry ride from Kettering, 45 minutes southwest Hobart. Spend the day sampling cheese, smoked meats, fresh oysters and ice cream, all washed down with a glass of local wine. To the northwest, Maria Island is ruggedly beautiful, with pristine beaches, hiking trails and unique wildlife, including Tasmanian devils. Both islands are easily accessible in a day trip from Hobart and well worth the journey.</p>
<p><strong>5. Climb Mt Wellington</strong></p>
<p>Scale the 1,300 metre peak of Mt Wellington for an unbeatable vista of Hobart and the surrounding Derwent Valley. You can take the easy option and drive to the summit or there are a number of walking trails (of varying difficulty) as well as options for horseriding, mountain biking or rock climbing. Whichever you choose, the view from the top will take your breath away.</p>
<p><strong>Related links:</strong></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/05/10-things-to-do-on-bruny-island/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 things to do on Bruny Island</span></em></strong></a></p>
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