Winter months make it a little hard to follow through with plans, but now that spring has sprung, it’s time to get out and explore all that Hobart has to offer.
Check out our top picks for the best events in Hobart this spring.
Hobart Gin Festival
When: 25 October – 26 October 2024
Where: Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Tasmania, 7004
Entry: Tickets from $73, available here
Hobart’s Castray Esplanade will come alive in October for a Gin lovers extravaganza over two days. Tickets allow you 3 hours of unlimited gin tasting (sensibly of course) from 40 Australian craft distillers.
From classic, contemporary and flavoured gins, you also have the opportunity to meet and chat with the distillers and learn about the production process.
The festival features gin tastings and masterclasses on the art of gin-making. There will also be food trucks to compliment your gin-tasting with tasty nibbles and meals. Tickets are cheaper if you book with a friend or in groups of four.
Cascades Female Factory Historic Site
When: Open daily from 10am – 4pm
Where: 16 Degraves Street, South Hobart
Entry: Students from $25.00
The Cascades Female Factory is a World Heritage Site and former women’s convict prison. It was built in the early 1800s and housed thousands of female convicts who were transported from Britain.
It was originally designed to be a place of incarceration and hard labour for female convicts. Now, you can walk through the different yards and see the remains of the buildings where the women worked, slept, and raised children.
It gives a powerful and emotional insight into the female convict experience, making it one of Tasmania’s must-see heritage sites and an often-overlooked part of Australia’s history.
Barilla Bay Oyster Farm
When: Tours available Thursday – Saturday. Restaurant open every day except Tuesday and Wednesday
Where: 1388 Tasman Highway, Cambridge TAS 7170
Entry: Tours from $31.30 for students
With warmer weather on the way, heading out to Barilla Bay Oyster Farm for lunch, dinner or a tour is a great way to learn about and enjoy one of Tasmania’s best exports – seafood!
The Farm overlooks the spectacular Barilla Bay and Mount Wellington. You can take a guided tour of the farm which includes an overview of oyster farming, processing and grading, a beach tour to see the oyster lease and interaction with live oysters.
After the tour, you will also get to taste six freshly shucked oysters and drink a delicious Gillespie’s Ginger Beer – Tasmania’s traditional ginger beer.
You can also dine at the amazing restaurant, which focuses on fresh, local produce and is open for lunch and dinner.
Port Arthur Historic Site
When: Open 9am – 5pm daily
Where: Port Arthur Historic Site, Visitor Centre, Port Arthur, TAS 7182
Entry: Student tickets from $38.00
Port Arthur was a former convict settlement and reform institution that is now open to visitors to learn more about this important piece of Australian history.
The 90-minute drive from Hobart winds through farmland, forest, and beaches along the Tasman Peninsula’s famously scenic coastline, making it a perfect day trip with friends to learn a bit about Australian history and admire some of Tasmania’s most beautiful scenery.
Your ticket gives you access to the 100 acres of grounds & gardens and 30 buildings & ruins. The ticket also includes guide talks, an audio experience and a 20-minute harbour cruise with commentary.
International Men’s cricket match – Australia vs Pakistan
When: 18 November, 7pm
Where: 15 Derwent St, Bellerive TAS, 7018
Entry: Tickets from $30, available on the Ticketek website.
With summer just around the corner, it wouldn’t be a real Australian experience without watching the national cricket team play!
Cricket is Australia’s most popular summer sport and Pakistan provides a formidable opponent. This match will be one of the only chances to see an international game in Tasmania over spring and summer.
“T20” or “Twenty Twenty” cricket is the fastest and most exciting format of the game, and a great entry-level game to watch if you are new to the sport.
Nubeena Bee Festival
When: 4 – 5 October
Where: Tasman Civic Centre, 21 Clarke Street, Nubeena, Tasmania
Entry: Free entry for the festival
- $15 for a ticket to the Bee Ball
Spring in Tasmania means the flowers start to bloom and nature comes alive and the Nubeena Bee Festival aims to celebrate an important contributor to this ecosystem – the bee!
The lively event running over two days is a community-driven festival celebrating all things related to bees, focusing on raising awareness about the importance of bees in the environment.
It will welcome a mix of farmers, honey producers and garden stalls selling plants that encourage bees to your garden.
The festival is free and gives you a chance to buy organic honey for your pantry, enjoy honey-tasting sessions and enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere with live music and entertainment across two days.
