DevonportTasmania's third largest city, Devonport is the gateway to the island state, situated as it is in the center of the north coast, at the mouth of the Mersey River. It is the point of arrival for car ferries from the mainland and it also welcomes visitors at its modern airport. The city is three hours by road from Hobart on the Midlands Highway. The city has a number of attractions for visitors, including aboriginal rock engravings, a maritime museum and a cycle/walking track which extends around the picturesque foreshore from the city past the Olympic Swimming Pool to the historic
Don River Railway, which operates vintage and steam trains. The city's central location makes it an ideal base for discovering the wilderness experiences of northwest Tasmania, especially the Mt Cradle National Park.
HobartTucked between Mt Wellington and the River Derwent 12 miles (20km) upstream of the river mouth, Hobart is the capital of Tasmania, and boasts one of the world's most secure deepwater harbors. The city is the essence of Australia's only island state and represents the fountainhead of white island settlement. It was established in 1804 and is saturated in colonial history.
The main historical district, Battery Point, is characterized by colonial stone cottages, tearooms, antique shops, restaurants and pubs. The Narryna Van Diemen's Land Folk Museum at Battery Point depicts 19th-century pioneer life. Here one also finds the Maritime Museum of Tasmania. Like most Australian cities Hobart has plenty of green space; the largest here is the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, which are known for English-style plantings and trees, and a Japanese garden dominated by a miniature Mt Fuji.
Other amusements for visitors include steam locomotive rides, guided tours of a former women's prison, tours of the Cascade Brewery, gaming at Australia's first legal casino at Wrest Point, taking a cruise of the harbor, or sampling the delights of the fudge factory at Island Produce Tasmania. Mount Wellington, which is a 13-mile (22km) drive from the city, offers extensive views across alpine shrubs of the city below.
Getting Around: Hobart is small and compact, therefore it is easy to explore on foot or bicycle. There is an efficient local bus service, the Metro, for which day passes are available. Ferries run between Franklin Wharf and tourist spots around the harbor.
