The 12 most epic things to do in Hobart this winter

If curling up by the fire with freshly baked croissants sounds like your cup of tea, then we suggest checking yourself in for a wintery weekend at Lumière Lodge. Set in the foothills of West Hobart, this charming Victorian-era homestead looks like something straight out of a fairytale with its lovingly restored fireplace, stained glassed windows, shimmering chandeliers and two clawed foot baths. Whisk yourself away for a girls’ weekend, with beds to accommodate up to six guests, or romanticise your life with a private getaway for two. 

Hobart’s hottest restaurant opening of the season brings the heat in more ways than one. Taking up residence directly below sister restaurant Aløft, Restaurant Maria is a love letter to the Mediterranean coastline. The centrepiece wood-fire grill sees seasonal Tasmanian produce and local proteins cooked over fire, then ramped up with punchy sauces and hand-foraged Indigenous ingredients. You can walk in for a casual wine or housemade Limoncello Spritz, or settle in for the chef’s tasting menu, featuring Campari-cured crudo, cheese-stuffed garlic bread, marinated lamb shoulder, and Greek lemon filo cake. 

Tasmania’s clean air and geographical location mean that it has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best places in the world to see the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights. While it’s down to sheer luck whether or not the geomagnetic conditions will lead to a spectacular aurora show during your time here, you can maximise your chances of spotting one by joining the Aurora Australis Tasmania group on Facebook where 300,000 members share tips on everything from the best secret locations with a clear view of the night sky, to the best camera settings to ensure that perfect shot.

Nothing will warm your soul quite like a visit to Hobart’s most wholesome café, located just minutes from the city centre, right by the Hobart Rivulet track. Hamlet doesn't just dish up an ever-changing menu of brunch favourites – think red pepper eggs, harissa chicken flatbread and pan-fried mushroom buns – it has immaculate vibes too. The café doubles as a social enterprise hub dedicated to providing training and employment opportunities for those living with a disability. To date, they’ve worked with more than 750 participants, delivered almost 50,000 hours of training and supplied more than 45,000 warm meals to those sleeping rough. How’s that for heartwarming?

Australia’s first dedicated art hotel delivers much more than just a place to crash from its prime location on Hobart’s historic waterfront. Henry Jones doubles as an art gallery, with more than 500 pieces of contemporary Tasmanian art displayed throughout the hotel lobby and suites. You can uncover the stories painted onto the walls by embarking on Henry Jones’ signature Art and History Tour, which runs at 4pm most days. You’ll also learn about the hotel’s past life as the original IXL Jam Factory, along with facts about Henry Jones – who took over the IXL Jam at 27 and became the world’s first person to tin food.

The temperatures may be low but the vibes are always high at MONA – Australia’s most bizarre yet beautiful art museum. Half the fun is reaching this wonderland of old and new art, located a scenic 30-minute ferry ride from the Brooke Street Pier. We can’t really prepare you for what’s to come after disembarking the ship, but know that each twist and turn will lead to another weird yet dazzling masterpiece. 

Time Out tip: Experience fancy food, plated as art, at Faro Restaurant and Bar. Suspended over the water, this impressive restaurant offers unreal views over the River Derwent. It also houses MONA’s two centrepiece experiences by James Turrell, including Unseen Seen + Weight of Darkness, and Event Horizon.

Seasonality shines on the menu at Tasmania’s award-winning restaurant and cooking school in New Norfolk, around a 30-minute drive from Hobart CBD. Begin your seasonal adventure in the gorgeous one-acre garden, which grows 90 per cent of the produce showcased in the restaurant and cooking school. From there, settle into the light and airy dining room where you’ll sample the best of winter’s bounty on the ever-changing, eight-course set menu. From woodfired breads and handmade cheeses to smoked meats and freshly picked herbs, The Agrarian Kitchen represents Tasmanian produce at its best. Alternatively, opt for a casual bite from the outdoor kiosk or join a cooking class run by big-name Aussie chefs, including Peter Gilmore (Quay, Bennelong), Danielle Alvarez (Sydney Opera House) and Lennox Hastie (Firedoor).

As far as dream jobs go, getting paid to sleep surely tops the list. Tasmania’s fabulous five-star hotel, MACq 01, is rewarding tired Aussies with a winter's worth of free stays, just for getting a good night's sleep. You won’t exactly be pocketing cash, but the more you sleep in, the less you pay, with $100 slashed off your hotel bill for every hour of continuous sleep over six hours (up to $300). 

Perched right on the River Derwent, MACq 01 is easily the shining star of Hobart’s famously stunning waterfront district. You’ll be wrapped in a cloud of warmth from the moment you step inside the luxuriously repurposed warehouse, which boasts 114 snug yet spacious rooms and suites. Picture yourself sipping tea on the balcony overlooking the shimmering seas, sinking into a luscious bubble bath, sprawling out on the plush king bed in a fancy robe, and carving into a piping hot seafood pie at the downstairs Old Wharf Restaurant. Trust us, leaving the hotel each day will be a chore.

When you’ve just about had it with the cold, check yourself in for a pamper session at one of Hobart’s most luxurious spas and bathhouses. Warm up in the infrared sauna at White Sage Skin and Wellness, fully switch off with a Himalayan salt stone massage at Lavada, or steam yourself silly in the steam room at Savoy Day Spa.

It’s up, up and away at this fine-dining restaurant, located on the top floor of Hobart’s majestic waterfront Brooke Street Pier. Diners lucky enough to score a table right by Aløft’s floor-to-ceiling windows will enjoy the sparkly views over the Derwent River. However, we’d fight for one of the restaurant’s prized bar seats, where you can watch head chef Christian Ryan and his team transform seasonal produce, local seafood and small-farm poultry into an extravagant nine-course degustation with a pan-Asian twist. It’s hands-down one of the best tasting menus in the country.

Pull on those puffer jackets for a morning meander around Hobart’s best markets, including the Saturday Salamanca Market and Sunday Farm Gate Market. Start your market adventure with a steaming cup of coffee, hearty bowl of porridge or melty cheese toastie, made with love by Tasmania’s talented gourmands. Then weave your way through the stalls, chatting to the talented local makers and shakers, selling everything from crunchy apples and sourdough crumpets to toasty socks and sheepskin hot water bottles. 

Whisky and winter are quite the dynamic duo. When the frosty air comes out to play, escape to the warmth of Hobart’s award-winning Evolve Spirits Bar for its Drinks with the Distiller experience. During this intimate one-hour tasting session, you’ll sample three premium single malt whiskies from the core range of one of Tasmania’s oldest distilleries, Overeem, with one surprise whisky reserved for the end. Whisky tastings are hosted every Tuesday and Thursday at 5.30pm, and Friday at 4.30pm for $45 per person. Keep the drinks flowing late into the night, as you explore Evolve’s fascinating fossil collection, including artefacts dating back 550 million years ago.