As the capital city of Tasmania, Hobart is the second oldest capital city in Australia after Sydney, and is the most populated of any of Tasmania's other cities. Hobart was originally founded as a penal colony in 1804 at Ridson Cove. There are approximately 218,000 people living in the Hobart area.
Hobart's skyline is consumed by the 1,271 metre high Mount Wellington, and situated on the Derwent River. The Derwent River was one of the deepest Australian shipping ports and played an instrumental role during the Southern Ocean whaling and the sealing trade, and was also used as a ship building port in years gone by.
Most people don't realise, but there are a range of delightful beaches around Hobart. These include the Derwent Estuary, Cornelian and Sandy Bay, and Bellerive, Kingston, Howrah and Nutgrove Beaches.
If you venture to Hobart, be sure to take in some of the local attractions such as Franklin Square, Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, MONA FOMA, the Queen's Domain, Hobart Zoo, Iron Pot, Cape Bruny Lighthouse, Anglesea Barracks and Zoodoo Wildlife Park.