Planning a few days in Hobart?

Lucky you! Here is our guide to making the most of your trip.

Whether you’re exploring the city on foot or driving a little further afield, we’ve put together our tips for maximising your mini-break in Hobart (and ensuring you’re well nourished along the way).

So, pop on your extra layers, leave plenty of space in your luggage for some sublime Tassie produce and be prepared for some serious eating and drinking.

• Plan ahead

If you’re like us and plan your holidays around the meals you’ll eat, it really pays to book ahead. Many of Hobart’s best restaurants including Fico, Templo and Peppina are often booked out several weeks in advance. You might get lucky by putting your name down on their online waitlists.

If you’re a regular visitor to Hobart and looking for something new, try Sandy Bay bistro and bakery Six Russell or the tiny and delightful Westside Laundry in West Hobart (bookings via their Instagram page).

• or, just rock up like a local

For those (also like us) who tend to leave things to the last minute, a lot of our favourite places can often cater for walk-ins or late bookings. Head to Suzie Luck’s for Asian-inspired share food (think Chin Chin, but even fresher) and Hometown Secret for homemade dim sum and Malaysian specialties. La Sardina Loca is a locals’ favourite for its excellent spritzers, fun wine list and simply wonderful food.

When visiting Mona, make a beeline straight to the Moorilla Wine Bar (no bookings, walk-ins only) for delicious share plates. Your overloaded mind and fatigued legs will thank you later! Once inside the gallery you can head underground for a cocktail at Void Bar.

The Whaler in Salamanca is where you’ll find Tassie’s wine and hospitality folk unwinding after events like Dark Mofo. Other last-minute options nearby include Shippies (Shipwright Arms) in Battery Point, Institut Polaire and Mary Mary.

Me Wah in Sandy Bay is old-school Chinese in the best way, with a trad Aussie Chinese à la carte menu juxtaposed with fresh, modern tasting menu options. Allow about 30 minutes to peruse the extensive wine list, say yes to a glass of French champagne on arrival and say yes again to the post-dinner spirits trolley.

We’re often asked for seafood recommendations and our top pick is always Blue Eye on Castray Esplanade where the fresh catch is listed on a blackboard, or the aforementioned The Whaler – a casual pub that is quietly serving lobster rolls and, arguably, the best fish and chips in Hobart.

• Hit the road

A short road trip and vineyard lunch is a great option if you have a half-day to spare. Head to the Bream Creek Vineyard for cheese and charcuterie plates. The tasting room has spectacular views of Marion Bay and Maria Island and if you’re lucky, they may have a fresh load of superb oysters from their neighbours.

Another 40 minute drive out of Hobart, in the opposite direction, takes you to the Agrarian Kitchen in New Norfolk where you can opt for a long set-menu lunch inside or tasty morsels from the kiosk. Slightly closer to home is the restaurant at Derwent Estate Wines at Granton, overlooking the River Derwent.

If you have a full day up your sleeve, head south to the foodie haven of Cygnet in the Huon Valley and return via the coastal road that takes you past Mewstone Wines and Peppermint Bay. Leave time to stop at the roadside apple stalls.

• start early

Too much good food and too little time would have to be the number one challenge when visiting Hobart. Our recommendation? Start early!

Head to Pigeon Whole Bakers on Argyle St for coffee and the best (seriously, the best) pastries in Australia. Tip: if you arrive at 9am you are too late, the morning buns and chocolate croissants are already gone.

On Sundays go all-out with a cooked breakfast at the Farm Gate Market while soaking up the atmosphere as talented musos busk on the corner and locals buy their fruit, veg, small-farm meats and artisan produce.

From the city, take a short stroll over the Rose Garden bridge and along the Brooker to the Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers tasting room (wine aids digestion right?) and you are sure to be hungry again by lunch.

• Walk it Off

If you want to walk off all those Pigeon Whole carbs, you are in for a treat because the best way to experience Hobart is on foot. Go platypus spotting along the Hobart Rivulet or wander around historic Battery Point before ambling down Kelly’s Steps to Salamanca.

The approximately 30 minute walk from the waterfront to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is worth the effort, but be warned that the signposts are few and far between. Cross the Bridge of Remembrance and follow the Soldiers Memorial Avenue grassland path for about 5-10 minutes until you see a signposted trail leading down to the Botanical Gardens.

If you are heading to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, add in a stroll along the waterfront with a pit stop at the floating Van Diemens Land Creamery ice-cream punt or a sneaky whisky at Lark Distillery.

We’re big fans of the many short walks on Kunanyi/Mt Wellington and one of our favourites is an hour-long loop taking in a waterfall and lush rainforest, finishing with a pale ale and hot chips at Fern Tree Tavern. Start at Fern Tree and follow the Pipeline Track to Silver Falls. From the waterfall, loop back to Fern Tree via Silver Falls Track and Fern Glade Track.