How do I get around Hobart?

Metro Tasmania runs the buses, and you pay with a Greencard for cheaper fares. The city centre is small and walkable, but the suburbs climb steep hills, so many people end up with a car.

Which areas are good for newcomers in Hobart?

North Hobart is the food and nightlife strip and popular with younger arrivals. Battery Point and Sandy Bay are close to the water and the university. Glenorchy and Moonah to the north are more affordable, and Kingston sits just south of the city.

What kind of work is there in Hobart?

Health, education, tourism, hospitality, agriculture and Antarctic research are the main employers. The market is small, so roles come up less often, but competition is also lighter than on the mainland.

What is the weather like in Hobart?

Hobart is the coolest Australian capital. Summers are mild and pleasant, rarely uncomfortable. Winters are cold and wet with frequent frost, and snow falls on Mount Wellington above the city most winters.

Is Hobart too small and isolated?

It is small, with around 250,000 people in the greater area, and everything requires a flight or a ferry to reach the mainland. Most people who settle here decide the wilderness, the space and the shorter commutes are worth it.

New in the city

New in Hobart

Hobart sits between a mountain and a deep harbour, and it is the smallest and coolest of Australia's capitals. Life moves at a different pace here. For newcomers that means an easier landing socially, and a smaller job market to work with.

Last updated 6 August 2026

Getting around

Metro Tasmania runs the bus network, and a Greencard gets you cheaper fares than paying cash. The city centre is compact and easy on foot, and the waterfront is right there.

The complication is the hills. Hobart climbs steeply away from the water, so a suburb that looks close on a map can be a hard walk home with groceries. Plenty of people here own a car, and it is more necessary than in a bigger, flatter city.

Where newcomers live

North Hobart: the restaurant and bar strip, walkable to the city, popular with students and younger arrivals.
Battery Point and Sandy Bay: historic, close to the water and the University of Tasmania, more expensive.
Glenorchy and Moonah: north of the city, noticeably more affordable, well served by buses.
Kingston: just south over the hill, quieter and family oriented, with its own beach.

Hobart's rental market is small and tighter than its size suggests, partly because so many properties are let to visitors. Start looking early and expect fewer listings than you would see on the mainland. Our guide on renting your first home covers what agents ask for.

Finding work

The big employers here are health, education, tourism and hospitality, agriculture and aquaculture, and the Antarctic and marine research sector, which is genuinely significant in Hobart and unusual anywhere else in the country.

The market is small, so there are fewer openings than in a mainland capital. The upside is that there are also fewer applicants, and a good reference travels a long way in a city this size. Our guide on finding your first job covers resumes and the local expectations.

The rhythm of the year

Summer, December to February, is mild and long, and it is when the city fills up for the yacht race and the festivals around New Year. Autumn is crisp and clear. Winter is cold, dark and wet by Australian standards, with frost most mornings and snow on kunanyi / Mount Wellington above the city. Bring proper winter clothes, which is not advice you need for anywhere else in Australia.

Meeting people

Small cities are good to newcomers. In Hobart you will recognise faces within weeks, and the same people turn up at the same markets and clubs. Salamanca Market on Saturday mornings is the standing appointment for half the city.

Bushwalking and the outdoors are the social glue here in a way they are not elsewhere. Walking groups, sailing, climbing and running clubs are the fastest way in, and the wilderness begins about twenty minutes from the centre. Nyvo helps with the rest. Open the community feed and events for Hobart and find people who arrived recently too.

First steps that help

Open an Australian bank account, apply for a Tax File Number, get a local phone number, and enrol in Medicare if you are eligible.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get around Hobart?: Metro Tasmania runs the buses, and you pay with a Greencard for cheaper fares. The city centre is small and walkable, but the suburbs climb steep hills, so many people end up with a car.
Which areas are good for newcomers in Hobart?: North Hobart is the food and nightlife strip and popular with younger arrivals. Battery Point and Sandy Bay are close to the water and the university. Glenorchy and Moonah to the north are more affordable, and Kingston sits just south of the city.
What kind of work is there in Hobart?: Health, education, tourism, hospitality, agriculture and Antarctic research are the main employers. The market is small, so roles come up less often, but competition is also lighter than on the mainland.
What is the weather like in Hobart?: Hobart is the coolest Australian capital. Summers are mild and pleasant, rarely uncomfortable. Winters are cold and wet with frequent frost, and snow falls on Mount Wellington above the city most winters.
Is Hobart too small and isolated?: It is small, with around 250,000 people in the greater area, and everything requires a flight or a ferry to reach the mainland. Most people who settle here decide the wilderness, the space and the shorter commutes are worth it.