Oceania > Australia > Hobart (HBA)
The Car or no Car advice for Hobart can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Hobart ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Hobart ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Hobart?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
Hobart without a car 🚶♂️🚌
Hobart’s city centre is compact and easy to explore on foot. The waterfront around Salamanca Place, Battery Point, and the docks is flat, scenic, and full of cafés, galleries, and markets. Most hotels, museums, and restaurants sit within walking distance of each other.
Local buses provide coverage across the metropolitan area, and they work well enough for everyday trips. You can reach places such as Sandy Bay, the University of Tasmania, and suburbs around the Derwent River without much trouble. Hobart Airport is connected by bus and shuttle services, so arriving without a car is straightforward.
For a short city break focused on food, history, and scenery, you do not need to rent a car immediately.
Day trips without driving 🚡🏔️
Even some of Hobart’s headline attractions are accessible without a car. kunanyi / Mount Wellington can be reached by tour bus, allowing you to enjoy the views without worrying about steep or icy roads. MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, is famously reached by ferry, which is as much part of the experience as the museum itself.
These options mean Hobart punches above its weight as a no-car destination.
When a car becomes essential 🚗🌿
However, Tasmania beyond Hobart is where the balance shifts. National parks, dramatic coastlines, and remote landscapes dominate the island. Places like Bruny Island, the Tasman Peninsula, and longer routes towards Freycinet or Cradle Mountain are far easier with a car. Public transport outside Hobart is limited and slow.
Conclusion: should you rent a car in Hobart?
For Hobart alone, you can manage without a car. For Tasmania as a whole, renting a car quickly becomes the key that unlocks what makes the island special.
