On a budget? Well you’re in luck! Hobart has a ton of free things to do and we’ve got the best of the best here so you can spend more time having a blast in Hobart and less time worrying about your dollary-doos.
Salamanca is budget heaven. Yes, there’s heaps of stuff to buy and since a lot of it is handmade, it’s expensive, but say these two magic words with us: free samples! Numerous food stalls will have samples for you to try, so grab some samples, make some small talk then skedaddle on out of there.
Open 365 days a year, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are perfect way to spend a few hours in Hobart. Enjoy a stroll through some greenery, a feeling of zen in the Japanese garden and sitting by the lily pond with a picnic.
There’s two ways that you can hike this behemoth of a mountain. You could drive up to the top, look out over gorgeous Hobart and do some of the hikes around the top of the mountain. Alternatively you could start at the base of Mount Wellington (from the Fern Tree Tavern carpark) and pick one of the many hiking trails for waterfalls, towering trees and look out points. Or you could do both! Your choice.
On a beautiful sunny day, we can definitely recommend Seven Mile Beach. Relax on the sand, swim in the water or go for a surf at the closest surf beach to Hobart.
Literally a two minute walk away from Hobart Central YHA, TMAG is 100% free and chock full of things to check out. From exhibitions exploring the lives of Tasmanian Aboriginal People to a collection featuring over 300 coins and medals, there is something here for everyone.
Held every Friday night in the Salamanca Art Centre’s courtyard, Rektango is a free live music event. Join locals for a night of drinks and dancing. The bands change every week, so there may be jazz one Friday and folk the next. It does get cancelled in bad weather, so this event isn’t reliable come winter time.
Walk up Kelly’s Steps in Salamanca and you’ll find yourself in Battery Point, one of Hobart’s most historic neighbourhoods. Full of gorgeous old homes, leafy green parks and cute boutique stores, there’s something charming and lovely around every turn.
Hobart Central YHA has a bunch of free hostel activities for guests to take part in! They offer a movie night, free hot chocolate in the kitchen, a games night and a free pancake breakfast, so there’s plenty of opportunities for you to stretch your dollar a little further and make some new pals in the process.