Mount Wellington Summit and Hobart City Sightseeing Combo Tour

kunanyi / Mount Wellington summit

kunanyi / Mount Wellington rises directly behind Hobart and shapes the whole city. Its summit stands 1,270 metres above sea level, and on a clear day the view takes in Hobart, the River Derwent winding to the sea, Bruny Island and the mountains of the south-west wilderness. The name kunanyi comes from the language of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people, and both names are used officially.

On this Mount Wellington tour you spend about 30 minutes at the top. The glass-fronted observation shelter gives a sheltered panorama, and short boardwalks lead to lookouts among huge dolerite boulders and low alpine plants. The summit is often much colder and windier than the city, and snow can fall in any season, so bring warm clothing even in summer. Clear mornings usually give the best views before clouds build up.

The road up the mountain

Many visitors ask how to get to Mount Wellington without a car. The answer is this bus, which climbs the sealed Pinnacle Road from the edge of Hobart in a two-hour return trip, with your driver-guide explaining the mountain as you go. In about 20 kilometres the road climbs through tall eucalyptus forest, wet gullies of ferns and stunted subalpine woodland before reaching the bare rocky plateau.

Near the top you pass the Organ Pipes, a cliff of tall dolerite columns that formed as molten rock cooled slowly millions of years ago, now popular with rock climbers. The commentary covers the geology, plant life and history of the mountain, from its importance to Aboriginal people to the walking tracks used by Hobart residents for generations. The bus then returns you to the city centre.

Hobart city loop: hop-on hop-off

The second part of your ticket is the official sightseeing loop of Hobart, a 90-minute circuit with 20 stops featuring the best sights and attractions in and around the city. Ride the open-top double-decker for the whole loop to get your bearings, or hop off at the places that interest you and catch a later bus, as many times as you like within 48 hours.

Live commentary from local driver-guides brings the city to life, and recorded audio is available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Spanish. The route shows off the colonial architecture and streetscapes of one of the oldest cities in Australia, founded in 1804, with views across the river and back to the mountain. Entry fees to attractions along the way are not included, so you choose what to visit.

Salamanca Place and Battery Point

Salamanca Place is the most famous street in Hobart, a row of sandstone warehouses built in the 1830s and 1840s when the port was busy with whaling ships and trading vessels. Today the old stores hold galleries, craft shops and cafes, and every Saturday the street fills with the stalls of the popular Salamanca Market, selling Tasmanian produce, crafts and food.

Just above it, Battery Point is the old maritime quarter, named after a gun battery built to defend the port. Its narrow lanes are lined with fishermen cottages, Georgian houses and small gardens, and Arthur Circus is one of its prettiest corners. Hop off here to walk the streets for an hour, then rejoin the loop. The waterfront docks nearby are perfect for fresh fish and chips.

The River Derwent and the Tasman Bridge

Hobart grew up on the western shore of the River Derwent, one of the deepest natural harbours in the world. From the top deck of the bus you see the wide estuary, the working docks and the yachts that make the city a sailing centre. The Derwent is also the finish line of a famous ocean yacht race that arrives each year around the end of December.

Spanning the river is the Tasman Bridge, a long concrete bridge opened in 1964 that links the city with the eastern shore. Its graceful arch is one of the landmarks the city loop shows you, together with views back to kunanyi / Mount Wellington, which you will have just visited. Seeing the mountain from below after standing on its summit makes this combo a complete introduction to Hobart.