Happy Monday traveler!

This week, we’re taking you to Hobart, Tasmania, in Australia. Get ready for the cutest wildlife.

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A message from Passport Inspiration

Looking to plan an inspiring adventure right now?

Planning an international trip can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be.

How?

You just need a plan for your plan.

It’s important to prepare with enough time for things like:

• Visas

• Dining

• Lodging

• Passports

• Excursions

• Travel Arrangements

  If you want a head start planning, we can help you prepare for an amazing trip.

🙌This Week’s Inspiration

Hobart is located in southern Tasmania and has just about everything you could ask for in a destination: stunning views, places to hike, relax, markets to shop in, and the cutest wildlife.

Look closely at a map of Tasmania and you’ll notice this large island is in the shape of a heart. We definitely left a piece of our hearts here when we left! 💗

Tasmania is an island state of Australia. It is known for having the cleanest air (thanks to its position in the Southern Ocean), some of the tallest trees in the world and has 18 national parks.

Hobart

There are plenty of things to do in downtown Hobart. Strolling through the historic Battery Point will give you pretty views of the harbor, where boats come in. Streets are lined with unique shops where you can find locally made and sourced products.

The Salamanca Market is an incredible farmer’s market open on Saturdays. The city is known for its freshly caught seafood (you MUST try scallop pie!) and there are plenty of restaurants all around.

It’s also possible to see the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) near Hobart during the winter months.

Mount Wellington

Head up to Mt. Wellington to get a bird’s eye view of the city. It takes about 2-3 hours to hike up to the top, which is about 1,271 meters above sea level. If hiking isn’t your thing, you can catch a ride by taking a Hop On/Hop Off bus.

The tallest trees in the world

An hour outside of Hobart is Mt. Field National Park, which is home to the tallest flowering plant in the world: the giant ash tree. These trees can stand up to 100 meters tall and are about 350-450 years old.🌳

Mt. Field also has pretty waterfalls (Russell Falls is gorgeous) and hiking trails too. Watch out for wallabies (smaller versions of kangaroos) hopping around on the trails.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

As mentioned, Tasmania has some of the cutest wildlife, with its abundance of marsupials, that call “Tassie” home. Several of these animals are wallabies, pademelons, wombats, and Tasmanian devils.

Unfortunately, these animals like to come out at night and wander onto roads.

Fortunately, there are places like Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, that rescue injured or orphaned animals.

The animals either get released back into the wild or live at Bonorong permanently. Here you can see kangaroos, birds, wombats, echidnas, snakes, lizards, Tasmanian devils, and more.

We can’t write about Tasmania, without sharing a few facts about Tasmanian devils. After all, Tasmania is the only place these animals still live in the wild.

Did you know this carnivorous marsupial got its name from early British settlers?

The devils make screeching sounds, and their ears turn bright red. Settlers heard the screeching sounds at night, saw their bright red ears, and gave them that name.

Tasmanian devils have poor eyesight, eat entire animal carcasses, and almost became extinct about 20 years ago due to a contagious facial cancer. Thankfully, people in Tasmania continue working hard to bring back the population.

How to Get to Hobart:

There are a lot of flights that will take you from mainland Australia into Tasmania. It only takes 50 minutes to fly from Melbourne to Hobart. The Sky Bus can take you from the airport into the city, and it’s best to purchase a roundtrip ticket so you have a way of getting back to the airport.

*Fruits/vegetables are not permitted into Tasmania, even when flying in from mainland Australia. You will need to dispose of them immediately upon arrival into Hobart, so it’s best not to even bring them. We lost a few bananas and apples when we arrived because we didn’t realize this rule. The security guard dog jumped up onto Trisha’s backpack. ⚠

You can also rent a car at the Hobart airport, but note that people in Australia drive on the left side of the road. This can be tricky if you are not used to it. The right lane is the passing lane, so stay in the left if you are driving slowly. It can feel stressful at first, but having your own car will allow you to drive to places further away at your own pace.

What to Pack:

Hobart is on the cooler side throughout the year, with temperatures ranging from the 40s-70s in Fahrenheit (about 4-24 degrees Celsius). Summer months are December-February. Fall is March-May. Winter is June-August. Spring is September-November. You’ll definitely want a warm coat, good hiking shoes (preferably waterproof), and several layers of clothing.

Where to Stay:

Here are some places we recommend for staying in Hobart:

• Lenna of Hobart (historical hotel minutes away from Salamanca Market)

• The Macquarie Hotel (located in the Business District, buffet breakfast included)

• The Rivulet (adults only bed and breakfast, located just south of downtown Hobart)

👋 Have an Inspiring Week

Here are a few things to help when traveling to Hobart, Australia.

• Apple AirTags to keep track of where your bags, or your travel buddy

• Apple AirTag keychain holders, to keep track of your Apple AirTags

• Waterproof Coat for men-for when you’re at the top of Mt. Wellington

• Waterproof Coat for woman- perfect for hikes

• Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary - great place to interact with wildlife

• Mount Field National Park | Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania

See you next week,

Trisha & Bob