Things to Do in Summer in Hobart

While Hobart is arguably most renowned for mild, temperate weather and deep-rooted heritage, summer in Tasmania’s capital is an adventure in its own style.

With more daylight hours, sunny skies of the deepest hue, and a backdrop of rolling hills, Hobart comes alive in warmer temperatures. Whether you’re a local or a traveller, there’s a plethora of fun to be found in the great outdoors that shows the city’s natural charm and compelling heritage.

From a romantic ride up rough roads to cosy stargazing in a glorious southern sky, here’s a guide to nine must-have experiences in summer in Hobart. Keep reading for a practical, easy-to-follow itinerary that will have you making the most of a great Australian capital in one of its most captivating summers yet.

Best Hobart Summer Activities 2025

1. Drive to the Summit
2. Explore Walking Trails
3. Enjoy the Lookouts
4. Visit the Organ Pipes
5. Mountain Biking
6. Picnic with a View
7. Visit the Springs
8. Stargazing at Night
9. Learning Indigenous History

1. Drive to the Summit

Make a great start to your summer adventure in style with a heart-pounding great ride to one of Hobart’s most celebrated natural landmarks. An ascent up scenic Pinnacle Road is a must for anyone wanting to get close to nature’s dramatic landscapes in style.

As you wind up, scenes of picture-perfect vistas of the city, Derwent River, and jagged peaks open up to you. The drive is a union of adventure and tranquillity; each bend brings a new sweeping view that you’re likely to pull over to take in.

For nature lovers of every age, the drive is a chance to get close to nature, take a deep sniff of that crisp Tasmanian air, and soak up the timeless charm of bushland around you. Be sure to pull over at official vantage points en route to get the most out of it.

2. Explore Walking Trails

Hobart’s network of bush walks is ideal for those looking to stretch their legs and drink in the natural surroundings of the capital. Some of these Popular Trails wind their way around bushland and shoreline, offering a range of options to cater to every hiker, be it an easy stroller or a serious trekker.

From an easy walk in local reserves to a more challenging path to vantage points of panorama, every walk is unique in character. Keep a lookout for gems such as patches of native wildflowers and secluded spots to take a quiet rest.

Information centres and local maps provide detailed itineraries of the most pleasing walks, ensuring that you can enjoyably and safely take in the varied landscapes that make Hobart’s outdoors such a joy in summer.

3. Enjoy the Lookouts

Hobart’s tours in the summer are not complete without a stint at the lookout spots of the city. One of the highlights is The Pinnacle Lookout, a lookout that is renowned for its sheer 360-degree view.

Perched high over the city, it shows you a dramatic view of Hobart’s skyline, spreading metropolis, and rolling hills of distant Tasmanian wilderness beyond it. It’s a great place to take a rest on a hectic day of sightseeing, be it getting great snaps or just standing there in appreciation of the wide view.

The crisp mountain air and feel of freedom that is given to you at the lookout combine to be a great place to have a coffee in the mornings or a romantic session in the evening. Have a glance at local guidebooks to work out when to get there to take in unobstructed and unclouded views.

4. Visit the Organ Pipes

For a taste of Hobart’s natural wonders, walk to Organ Pipes. The natural rock formations get their name from their dramatic, columned structure that is reminiscent of a large musical instrument’s pipes.

Formed over a million years of cooling flows of lava, Organ Pipes are not only a natural curiosity, but a symbol of significance. Walking around these wonderful formations, you learn more about the massive natural forces that sculpted Tasmania’s landscapes.

Interpretive signs around tell you more about how these formations came to be developed and their significance in the lives of earlier settlers and indigenous groups here. It’s a quiet, contemplative place that’s great to take a walk away from the heart of the city.

5. Mountain Biking

For adrenaline enthusiasts, Hobart’s terrain boasts some of the region’s best when it comes to mountain biking. Summer brings ideal weather to take on tough routes that wind their way around bushland and rocky outcrops.

For an old pro or a newbie looking to get a new challenge, local bike parks and sanctioned areas of routes cater to all grades of riders. Tread routes that range from steep drops, and technical turns, to open, high-speed stretches where you push to the limit.

The best-known trail is the North-South Track, which connects The Springs to Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park and merges in with the natural surroundings of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. The City of Hobart maintains around 60 kilometres of mountain biking and shared use paths. Well-maintained fire paths connect the most popular tracks and can provide excellent riding opportunities.

Some of the routes are in great condition and marked, offering a secure yet adrenaline-filled ride. After a day’s ride, take it easy in a nearby coffee shop or just hang around with pals as you relive your biking adventure.

6. Picnic with a View

One of the joys of summer in Hobart is a relaxing picnic. Find a pleasant place—either in one of Hobart’s many parks or in a secluded lookout—and set up your spread for a meal to remember. Picnic with a View means indulging in local produce and gourmet foods whilst soaking up sweeping vistas of Hobart’s mountains or coastline.

There are plenty of Hobart’s parks that supply spots to set up a barbecue cookout, making it easy to cook up a tasty meal in the great outdoors. Pack a blanket, your favourite food, and possibly a great read or a portable speaker, and get set for a day of laziness. It’s a great way to take it easy, relax, and soak up the nature of the summer that pervades throughout Hobart.

7. Visit the Springs

For a taste of unexplored natural wonders of Hobart, be sure to visit the Springs. The natural water sources are more than just picture spots—they hold a wealth of history. You can learn of ways in which these springs have been utilised over centuries of time by local groups. Used to supply fresh water to early settlers and Aboriginals, today they are a calm sanctuary in the heart of a bustling city.

Walking along walkways that lead to these springs, you can find interpretive signs that tell of their place in history and their significance in terms of culture. The place is also in high demand for contemplation walks and photographs, providing a close proximity to nature and a view of the heritage of the place.

8. Stargazing at Night

As the sun drops below the horizon over Hobart, night is transformed to a canvas of stars, making it one of the better places to be for stargazing at night. Escape to a place of tranquillity in the night hours to find the best stargazing sites that Hobart has to provide.

From a hilltop in a distant place to a planned dark-sky preserve, the night skies of Tasmania provide a great view of the Milky Way and hundreds of constellations. Local astronomy groups and visiting centres can provide tips and even provide stargazing events during warmer parts of the year.

Pack a telescope or just lie on a blanket, and be reminded of the scale of the universe in a magical finale to a day of adventure and learning.

9. Learning Indigenous History

Hobart’s rich indigenous heritage is a cornerstone of its multicultural heritage. Spend time learning indigenous history in local museums, indigenous heritage centres, or guided walk tours of Mouheneener people and other Aboriginal groups’ ancestral domains. Such tours imbue one with profound knowledge of old customs, artworks, and continued link to the land of the Indigenous people.

Informational displays, story-telling sessions, and artifacts work to stir this heritage, providing background to natural and cultural landscapes of Hobart. Learning this heritage not just enriches one’s experience but also increases respect for the continued legacy of Tasmania’s indigenous people.

Conclusion

Summer in Hobart is a season of diverse experiences to suit every taste—with heart-racing mountain biking and sightseeing tours over twisting routes to idyllic picnics and contemplative stargazing. Each of these activities featured in this guide is a different method of accessing Hobart’s magnificent natural terrain and its vibrant multicultural heritage.

Whether you’re cruising over Pinnacle Road, tackling established walkways, or learning indigenous heritage, every experience in Hobart in the summer feels like an open invitation to discover something new. So if you’re planning to visit Tasmania in the summer, don’t forget to pack our sunscreen, and hiking/biking gear, and you’ll be set to plunge into the best of Hobart in the summer heat. Perhaps you can check out a tour on the Take a Local app and enjoy your adventure! Afterall, every season in Tasmania is unique in its own way.