HOBART TASMANIA WEEKEND AWAY TO WELCOME SPRING (and to celebrate a very special birthday in the family)!

Apples - Salamanca Market

What a memorable weekend! If you get the chance to do so, I would highly recommend you make the trip to Hobart for a weekend.  You will not regret or forget the experience.  If you love art, different things, markets, food, fresh produce, you will have a great time.

Mona Ferry Departure and Ticket Office.

We travelled to Hobart on a Friday night after work (we had a 7.40pm flight and arrived by about 9pm).  We stayed in one of Sullivan’s Cove Apartments – a three bedroom apartment with a view of the harbour (there were six of us travelling together).  It was great accommodation and very close to Salamanca place, the markets, great restaurants and Battery Point (we walked everywhere). 

On the first morning, we enjoyed breakfast at Machine Laundry in Salamanca Square.  I ordered the porridge, which was delicious.  Others ordered eggs with the works and everyone was very happy with the coffee!  I was a little disappointed with my Chai latte as, to me, it tasted more like white earl grey tea… Would recommend this place as a pre-market venue though!

Salamanca Market

We headed to the Salamanca markets and strolled around for over an hour before catching the ferry to Mona.  The markets were great.  

Fresh Bread at Salamanca Market

Lots of different stalls, including: fresh bread; coffee; fruit and vegetables; jewelry; vintage clothes; and other goodies.  Definitely worth a look! 

The ferry to Mona was the most luxurious ferry I have ever been on!  There are two bars/café’s on board and the interior is very comfortable indeed (ferry is $20 return per person, which we booked through the accommodation).  The trip was about half an hour and was very picturesque and informative (yes, there are sheep and cattle on-board, but don’t worry, they wont bite and you can sit on them).  There are other ways you can get to Mona (you can drive, bus, taxi, etc) but the ferry was great and it runs every hour and a half (we departed Salamanca at 11am).

View of Mona from Ferry

When you arrive at Mona, there are 99 steps that take you up to the museum and gorgeous grounds.  There is so much to see!  Now, it is “modern art” so it is not at all boring, might be confronting, smelly, or interactive!  Take an open mind to Mona and expect the unexpected!

We booked our gallery entry tickets ($20 per person) and lunch through Mona.  They were very helpful and there are several packages you can choose from.  Just have a look on the website or give them a call! Oh and yes, you can stay out there in their luxury apartments…  Click here for more information.

Antipasto Platter - The Wine Bar

We enjoyed a delicious lunch of antipasto and cheese platters ($32 per person for as much as you wanted), petit four platters, salad and locally produced wine at the Wine Bar (there is a vineyard and brewery at Mona and you can do tours of the winery if you like).  You can eat a le carte if you like or you can take your cheese platter and glass-of-whatever onto the lawn outside with you.  

Tuna - The Wine Bar

Cheese Platter - The Wine Bar

And, of course, there is a gorgeous restaurant on the grounds – The Source – if you want something a bit more special.  With full stomachs, we took a little time to lounge around in the sun on the hot pink beanbags before heading back in to the gallery for another few hours. Perfect!  We left Mona at 5pm.

The Grounds of Mona - Beanbags
  

Mona - Art Outdoors

Dinner was at Lebrina.  It was about a 10 minute taxi ride from where we were staying and it was totally worth it.  This restaurant was perfect.  We had a private room and the food, wine and service were all impeccable.  Everyone was impressed!  

Slow Eggs & Braised Beef Breakfast - Pilgrim Coffee

The next morning we had another amazing breakfast at Pilgrim Coffee - just a short walk from our accommodation.  The food was so delicious and the menu was different, but varied.  Around our table was a “Paleo” breakfast, a Mexican feast breakfast, slow cooked eggs and braised beef, braised lamb on mixed grains and bowls of steaming porridge.  The coffee was great and the chai was better than I had tried the day before. 

Mexican Breakfast - Pilgrim Coffee 

We stopped for a mid-morning coffee at Jackman & McRoss Bakery in the historical Battery Point (you could have lunch there if you wanted to).  And a late lunch at Daci & Daci Bakers back near Salamanca place and Parliament House. 

Battery Point

I could go on and on about our fantastic experience, the great food, art, unique shops and historical buildings and architecture, but it would result in a ridiculously long blog post.  I wouldn’t have changed a thing about our weekend (except maybe catching a slightly later ferry to Mona to give us more time at the market).  All I can say is GO TO HOBART for a weekend (I have heard of people going for a day).  Special occasion, romantic weekend away or a weekend away with friends or family – it’s perfect for every occasion! It’s an hour on the plane from Melbourne.  Too close not to go, don’t you think?

Gardens at Parliament House

NB: All photographs my own.