Hobart is the ideal base for exploring the many wonders in southern Tasmania. Whether you choose to take to the road in a rental car, on a bicycle or to join a small group tour, you'll enjoy returning to Hobart at the end of the day for fine food and wine or beer, exploring some of the fun things to do in Hobart, and a stroll or cruise around the harbor in the evening.

Our Top Picks for the Best Things to Do Near Hobart:

• Tahune Air Walk – take a wander above the forest canopy about an hour south of Hobart in the Huon Valley. For an adrenalin rush, give hang-gliding a go or join a rafting expedition down the Picton River.

• Bruny Island – the ferry to Bruny Island departs in Kettering, about 35 miles south of Hobart. Bruny Island is known for its abundant wildlife, including Australian Fur Seals, dolphins and whales, and its dramatic cliffs – among the tallest in the world – fringed by white sand beaches. One of the top ways to view the marine and bird life is with an award-winning eco cruise along the coast.
  
  From the island you can see penguin and mutton bird rookeries and look out over Adventure Bay from the viewing platform. Or explore the South Bruny National Park including the convict built Cape Bruny Lighthouse.
  
  Hear the power of the Southern Ocean's waves as they pound onto the cliffs and explore the rainforest. Enjoy the local delicacies from the island's food and wine producers and their arts and crafts while you are on the island.

• Australasian Golf Museum – take a stroll back into history for the most comprehensive collection of golf memorabilia in the Southern Hemisphere. Located in Bothwell, about an hour's drive from Hobart, the town is also home to the first links course in Australia, begun by Scottish settlers in the early 1800s.
• Mt Field and Russell Falls – A day trip to Mt. Field National Park and Russell Falls is one of the most popular things to do near Hobart. About an hour's drive from the city, the park offers a diverse array of vegetation from unique Alpine plants at the summit and tree-like ferns and giant swamp gums at the base.
  
  You can choose from a variety of activities – several walks, including the short walk to Russell Falls, quiet time at one of the picnic areas under the trees, or even Tasmanian skiing in the winter months.

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• Maria Island National Park – experience the island's 19th century Darlington penal settlement, with recorded commentaries in the remaining buildings to bring history alive; spend a night in the prison - if you dare! - or share the islands deserted beaches, highest peaks and walking trails with the active wildlife.
  
  If you have the time, the guided Maria Island Walk will be an unforgettable experience. You'll pass through stunning coastal and mountain landscapes and a wildlife refuge while hearing about the island's fascinating history including grim tales of those who were not there by choice and the bold visions of the risk-taking Italian entrepreneur, Diego Bernacchi.

• Port Arthur – on the Tasmania Peninsula, about an hour's drive from Hobart - you can also take a scenic cruise from the city center - you'll reach Port Arthur, Tasmania's "prison in a park" where 12,500 "hard core" convicts endured unthinkable suffering between 1830 and 1877.
  
  Experience the psychological terror of the punishment cell by standing in the footsteps of those who lived this nightmare for days. The most horrific prisoner "quarters" are juxtaposed with beautiful English gardens and rolling lawns.
  
  For a chilling thrill in an eerie setting, grab your sweater and steady your nerves for the Ghost Tour at twilight. Escorted only by lantern, your guide will tell tales of more than one hundred year's worth of strange occurrences and apparitions, to the whistling sounds of the winds off the bay.
• On the way to Port Arthur, be sure to stop at the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park to spot the endangered Devils in their natural habitat.