Our adventure in Tasmania began with a few days in Hobart. It might seem a little silly to drive across the entire island in one day when we had three weeks to explore, but it just happened to be a weekend when three different markets were happening. As I was planning the initial days of our trip, it felt like the perfect place to start. Sometimes, when faced with a blank page, it’s helpful to set some constraints. In this case, having a fixed date to be in Hobart gave me a framework to plan the rest of the trip around.

For our three-night stay, we chose the Alabama Hotel, a charming, retro-styled hostel in the heart of the city. It was an affordable option, with the trade-off being no private bathrooms. However, the friendly staff, lively bar, and sunny balcony to enjoy a drink before heading out made it all worth it.

We were spoiled with an abundance of delicious food from the markets, restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. My personal highlights included the congee from Rough Rice at the Hobart Farm Gate Market and the blueberry Danish from Pigeon Whole Bakery.

Meeting (or at least catching a glimpse of) my food idol, Adam from Rough Rice, was a definite highlight. I’m a huge fan. The congee is absolutely superb, and it’s something I’d love to incorporate into our own food repertoire. There were many tasty toppings, including a rich slow-cooked wallaby gravy.

Mountain biking down Mt. Wellington / Kunanyi was definitely not on my 2025 agenda. Neither Tanja nor I have much experience with mountain biking, but I wanted to explore the city in a unique way. Sometimes cities can blur into one another without anything to make the memories stick, and challenging ourselves physically was the perfect way to make it memorable. We both loved it. We took it easy and, thankfully, avoided any crashes. However, the adrenaline definitely kicked in a few times. The Pipeline Track, which we followed, runs alongside an old pipe that likely once supplied Hobart with fresh water, weaving its way up the mountain to Wellington Falls.

We also visited Mona. It’s obligatory I guess when you visit Hobart. A weird and surprising place. We enjoyed the experience, but I’m not sure if I loved the art.