How to spend a weekend in Hobart, a local’s guide

Where I go…

For a great cup of coffee…

I head to Fullers Bookshop. It’s independently run, with great coffee and a great selection of books. It’s a nice spot to relax, and read the books you’ve just bought. (She’s currently reading The Wasp and the Orchid, by Danielle Clode).

For a long lunch…

Down in Salamanca, there’s a restaurant called Suzie Luck’s. They’ve got a great variety of modern Asian dishes. I usually go for the special of the day, to try something different.

For dinner…

There are so many places but I like to head a little bit out of Hobart, to Kingston. I love the Salty Dog. It used to be this old pub, a bit run down, sticky carpet and all. But it’s been redone, and now it’s just the perfect spot to take your family for a nice meal, and with a view right out over the beach.

To get back to nature…

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are really beautiful. You can spend an afternoon or a whole day there, wandering around the gardens before stopping in at the cafe. Sometimes I go alone for some peace and quiet, but I’ll usually bring my kids with me. Mount Wellington is also the spot to go for a beautiful view.

To buy a special gift…

t’s back to Salamanca. There are heaps of galleries where you can get some unique pieces, or every Saturday along the waterfront there’s a local market. I try to support local Tassie artists and producers as much as possible, both professionally and personally, and you can get a whole range of cool things at the market from handmade jewellery to woodwork and crafts. Anything from there would make a nice gift.

To treat myself…

I go for a cocktail at Evolve Spirits Bar. It’s a really cool spot – the owners support a lot of local producers and have a great selection of whiskys and brandies. Plus, I love the decor. The bar is filled with all sorts of fossils on display – there’s even a fossilised dinosaur egg. Another cool spot is Society. The bar is owned and run by some amazing women who are huge supporters of the local industry. My current go-to drink is a French 75, which is a mix of gin and champagne. And if I’m at home I’ll make one myself with Killara gin. What else?

For a culture hit…

I definitely recommend the Tasmanian Museum. My kids and I love it. We go fairly regularly, and often meet friends there too. And, of course, MONA has always got interesting exhibitions going on.

To unwind…

I never really get a chance to unwind! But my perfect evening would probably be staying home, having some champagne with friends. It’s all about good food, and good company.