48 hours in Hobart: How to spend the ultimate weekend away in Tasmania

It’s official: Hobart is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. I’ll admit Tasmania has been high on my list of places to visit for quite some time, but I truly had no idea what to expect from its quaint capital city.

After spending two nights in Hobart dining at exquisite restaurants, engaging in fascinating activities, and staying at one of Australia’s most unique hotels, I left feeling both enriched by the experience and disappointed I hadn’t visited earlier. I ended up falling in love with the magical city, and I guarantee you will too.

Where to stay

MACq 01 Hotel is without a doubt one of the most impressive hotels I have ever visited, and not just because of its luxurious rooms and award-winning establishments. Located on Hobart’s iconic waterfront, the 5-star accommodation is Australia’s first storytelling hotel and offers travellers an authentic connection to Tasmanian culture through Indigenous design and immersive experiences.

Each of the hotel’s 114 rooms and suites are themed to tell the story of one of Tasmania’s most remarkable characters from past and present, such as Margaret Delaney who saved many lives by flashing her red undergarments to alert a train of incoming danger, Rodney Croome whose fierce campaigning for LGBTQIA+ rights lead to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Tasmania, and Saroo Brierley who famously used Google Earth to locate his hometown in India and reunite with his birth family (and had their story adapted into the 2016 Oscar-nominated film Lion).

The characters are also divided into five key traits that impact the room’s décor, meaning that a ‘Hearty and Resilient’ character’s room would feature wood furnishings and earthy tones, while a ‘Colourful and Quirky’ character’s room would have bright fixtures and unconventional details like mismatched cups and pillows.

Guests at the MACq 01 Hotel can take a personality quiz to determine which character they’re most similar to and learn more about the people who helped craft Tasmania’s spirit through a complimentary tour with one of their storytellers - we had the charismatic and delightful Karissa who truly made our stay both transformative and unforgettable.

RELATED:

• 48 hours in Adelaide: Your guide to the perfect winter holiday in SA

• Experience a taste of Europe in Newcastle's winter dining domes

• The Airbnb cottage so cosy, you'll never want to leave

Our room, the Superior Waterfront Room, also featured an incredible view of the harbour, a deep-soaking bath, a large walk-in robe, and a king-size bed - which I’ll admit made it quite hard for us to want to step outside.

Where to eat and drink

When you eventually decide to leave the comfort of your magnificent room, MACq 01 Hotel’s Old Wharf Restaurant - led by head chef Alvin Sim - offers Tasmanian classic meals with upmarket flair. The King Island eye fillet steak was a definite highlight for me followed by the delectable white chocolate brûlée tart for dessert, and we also enjoyed breakfast in the restaurant while watching dolphins in the harbour.

The Story Bar continues with the hotel’s storytelling theme, and the award-winning Evolve Spirits Bar features an extraordinary collection of artefacts and fossils. The luxury lounge bar also hosts a ‘Drinks With The Distiller’ whisky-tasting experience for connoisseurs and curious newcomers like myself where you can savour some of Tasmania’s finest whiskies.

If you’re looking to venture into the city, Malik Restaurant in North Hobart is an incredible feast for the senses, combining traditional Middle Eastern cuisine with contemporary flavours.

Pearl + Co, an exceptional waterfront bar and restaurant, also had some of the best seafood I’ve ever eaten (I recommend the Tasmanian Scallops and Tasmanian Pot Caught Octopus), and the pastries at Pigeon Whole Bakers are an absolute must-try.

What to do

If you’re like me and enjoy fully immersing yourself in a new city and learning as much as you can, 'Hidden Hobart: The Viewfinder Tour’ is another one of MACq 01 Hotel’s Storytelling Tours which are complimentary for in-house guests and $20 per person for external visitors. The tour takes you around the city as you learn about Hobart’s unique history through viewfinders, discovering how much has changed - and also remarkably stayed the same - since it was founded in 1804 as a British penal colony.

Mona, the Museum of Old and New Art, is another must-do when visiting Hobart and has been described by its founder David Walsh as “a subversive adult Disneyland”. The museum, which is Australia's largest private museum, features everything from a participatory rice counting exhibit (trust me, it’s much more fascinating than it sounds) to a video display of 30 Madonna fans singing her 1990 greatest hits album from start to finish a capella.

Salamanca Markets is notably Tasmania’s most visited tourist attraction and it’s not hard to understand why. Known as one of Australia's most vibrant and loved outdoor markets, they are held every Saturday with a wide range of artisans, designers and producers running stalls - thankfully I had enough room in my luggage to bring home a bottle of Tasmanian Raspberry Gin, homemade fudge, and a Tasmanian devil felt Christmas ornament.

So whether you’re into fine dining, thought-provoking art, or hidden histories - or just a fabulous hotel room with an impeccable view - it’s undeniable that Hobart is the perfect place for your next weekend getaway. I'm already planning my return!

Yahoo Lifestyle was a guest of MACq 01 Hotel.

Want the latest celebrity news? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.