Hobart Hotels

Hobart is the capital city of the Australian state of Tasmania. Hobart is small and intimate (population 250,000) compared to larger mainland Australian cities, reflecting the small size of the state. The metropolitan area stretches north and south along the Derwent River, crossed by several bridges. It has a mild temperate oceanic climate, with four distinct seasons. Australia's second-oldest city and southernmost capital, Hobart lies in the foothills of Mt Wellington, humping reluctantly down to the slate-grey waters of the Derwent River. The town's rich colonial heritage and natural charms are accented by a spirited, rootsy atmosphere: festivals, top-notch restaurants and hip urban bars abound. Laid-back to near-horizontal, Hobartians hang out in cafés joking about the daily rush-minute, dressed ready to plunge into the wilderness at any moment. On summer afternoons the sea breeze blows and yachts tack across the river; on winter mornings the pea-soup ‘Bridgewater Jerry' fog lifts to reveal the snow-capped summit of the mountain. Founded in 1804 by Colonel David Collins, Hobart is the second oldest city in Australia. It grew out of the penal settlement on the island at Risdon Cove, eight kilometres up river, which was founded in 1803 and abandoned five months later for the present site of Hobart. The city has many beautiful historic buildings and precincts, especially in the area around the river. There are many fine examples of Georgian and Victorian architecture, such as Salamanca Place, which has a terrace of warehouses dating back to the whaling days of the 1830's.