Book a car rental in Hobart with VroomVroomVroom for a fuss-free holiday. We compare deals from major suppliers such as Budget, Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty, and Enterprise so you can easily find a car hire that will best suit your budget and needs. Just choose your desired vehicle and book to get a booking confirmation number in an instant.
Located in the southeast corner of the state, Hobart is the largest city in Tasmania. Fondly known as Tassie, Tasmania was once a former penal colony where Georgian era sandstone and architecture peppers the streets of the city and outlying towns such as Richmond. A drive around the city in your car rental is the best way to get the most out of your stay in Hobart.
In and around Hobart, some of our favourite things to do year-round are:
Summer (December, January, February): The city offers numerous fun summer activities such as hiking, rafting, cycling and mountain biking. The Taste of Tasmania is known as the biggest food and wine festival in Tasmania. The event celebrates the state’s delicious food and wine, attracting many visitors from around the world each year. Beaches are usually warm enough to swim in January and February. Clifton Beach and Park Beach are the nearest surfing beaches to Hobart while Sandy Bay is ideal for sailing and sailboarding.
Autumn (March, April, May): During autumn, the city is filled with countless calm and sunny days. Visit an array of national parks and gardens and let your eyes soak up nature’s beautiful palette. Open 7 days a week, plan a trip to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and enjoy a relaxing walk. Or you can trek up to the northern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.
Winter (June, July, August): Winter in Hobart is the perfect time to treat yourself with delicious food and world-class wine. Other amazing activities include watching an Australian Football League (AFL) game or exploring Tasmania's convict trail which stretches from Hobart to Port Arthur. Do you want to see snow? You’re in luck! Mt Wellington is only a 20-minute drive from the CBD. See a blanket of snow on top of Mount Wellington turn it into a magical winter wonderland.
Spring (September, October, November): Springtime is an ideal season to go on a day trip to the East Coast of Tasmania. Enjoy driving your hire car to spectacular locations, including Freycinet National Park and Coles Bay. The West Coast is another stunning road trip you can take from Hobart. Don’t miss the beautiful Gordon River Cruise or stop for a picnic at Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
Year-Round: If you are looking for some inspiration, Hastings Cave State Reserve, Richmond, Bay of Fires, Huon Valley, Port Arthur, and Tassie Devils, Oatlands and Ross, and Mount Field National Park are just a few incredible day trips you can take from the city.
There are many rental car depot locations in both the Hobart CBD and surrounding suburbs to hire a car from in addition to the rental counters at Hobart Airport.
Major car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz, and Thrifty all have multiple depot locations in and around the city centre including:
Avis: 2-4 Market Place, Hobart (Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 4pm)
Budget: 96 Harrington St, Hobart (Open from Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 6pm, Saturday from 8am to 4pm, Sunday from 8am to 3pm)
Enterprise: 67A Argyle St, Hobart (Open from Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 5:30pm, Saturday and Sunday from 7:30am to 12:30pm)
Europcar: 112 Harrington Street, Hobart (Open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 5:30pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 1pm)
Hertz: 122 Harrington St, Hobart (Open from Monday to Sunday from 8am to 5pm)
Thrifty: 65 Argyle St, Hobart (Open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 4:45pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 11:45am)
Please be informed that non-airport locations have shorter hours during weekends and holidays, unlike airport rental locations. Note that to avoid paying for a premium location fee, you can choose to pick up your hire car from depots that are not located on airport grounds. However, please be reminded that this fee is not limited to airports as there are other depots outside airports that charge a premium location fee.
The best way to learn about car rental is to hear from previous customer experiences. Our team have reached out to some of our customers who recently rented from Hobart and their experiences are shared below.
Bevan (July 2019): Bevan booked a rental car with Thrifty for their trip to Hobart. They received the car rental they booked and rated the condition of the car a 7/10.
More verified customer reviews
Weather-wise, the ideal time to visit this city is between December and January, which are the warmest and driest months. Rates after the summer holidays are perfect if you are searching for cheap deals anytime from February to November.
Avoid winter months (June - August) if you are doing some mountain hiking as extreme weather and snow can be very dangerous. If you still have no idea where to go, check out our Travel Guide for unique experiences available in Hobart. You can view protected waterways from a seaplane, or relive Australian history at sites such as Port Arthur.
With various locations in Hobart to collect your hire car, the option to pick up from the CBD or the airport gives you the flexibility to choose what's more convenient for you. Travel time from Hobart (via Midlands Hwy) to Launceston is about 200 km or two hours and 20 minutes via reliable rental car, while Hobart to Queenstown is nearly 260 km or three hours and forty minutes. Hobart to Devonport will take you nearly four hours, Hobart to Port Arthur nearly two hours, while Hobart to Cradle Mountain (via Midlands and Bass Highways) will take you more than two hours of driving in a hire car.
Set on a magnificent deep-water harbour with a stunning mountain backdrop, there is no Australian city quite like Hobart. Don't miss a drive to the Salamanca Market, held every Saturday on the Hobart Waterfront, or a visit to Port Arthur, arguably one of Australia's most significant cultural sites. Before you start exploring Hobart, it is advisable to check the live traffic update here so you can see the road situation and avoid getting stuck in traffic.
Driving in Hobart city is just like driving in any other Australian city. Your only concern would be the high proportion of one-way streets in the city centre. Macquarie Street and Davey Street are the two major one-way streets in Hobart. Avoid driving in peak hours in the morning, from 8 to 9 am, and in the afternoon, from 5 to 6 pm.
Be aware that the highest speed limit you can travel in Tasmania is 100 km/h per unless otherwise signed. A 50km/h speed limit applies to urban streets, while on some Tasmanian highways, the speed limit may reach 110 km/h. Seatbelts must be worn at all times by the driver and passengers.
Good news! You don’t have to pay tolls in Hobart since there are no toll roads in Tasmania. Toll roads are only found in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
Hobart offers both on-street and off-street parking across the city. If you are planning on spending a bit of time in the city, find a car park where you can leave your rental car for the day. Multi-storey car parks are usually placed at strategic locations throughout the city. Make sure to comply with rules and regulations to avoid getting a parking fine.
Are you tired of doing the same stuff, staying in ordinary hotels, and eating at fast food joints? Hobart has more to offer and we at VroomVroomVroom have come up with a list of unique things to do during your holiday – from thrilling seaplane tours to historical tours. We also selected distinct accommodation and dining venues to give you an extraordinary holiday!
Check out our travel guide to making your Hobart experience one to remember. If you have some ideas to share, let us know.
Attractions | Accommodation | Restaurant
Address: South Hobart Tasmania 7004 Australia
See Hobart's vibrant waterfront from a different perspective on Roaring 40°s Kayaking's 2.5-hour Hobart City paddle. Weave among the yachts, tall ships, fishing boats and cruise ships of this beautiful harbour before enjoying a floating snack of fish and chips. For the more adventurous spend a day exploring southern Tasmania's dramatic coastlines. On the Tasman Peninsula paddle along 200-metre-high cliffs to the awe-inspiring Totem Pole rock formation looking out for the resident Australian fur seals. Or explore the mouth of the River Derwent and the Tinderbox Marine Nature Reserve, paddling beneath rugged lichen-covered cliffs and along beautiful beaches on their Hobart's Cliffs, Caves, and Beaches paddle.
Address: 19 Hiern Road, Blackmans Bay, TAS 7052
Go back in time and see how life was in Hobart by watching the shows of Live History! Instead of watching performances in a theatre, you will have to take a stroll outside to see different scenes.
They called the strolling theatre Louisa's Walk as it tells the story of a character named Mary James, who was convicted in 1832 for stealing a square of silk. The show begins at the Cascade Brewery then it passes by the beautiful parkland, Hobart Rivulet, and Female Factory.
Address: Davey St & Dunn Pl, Hobart TAS 7000
Located on the Hobart waterfront, the TMAG is Australia's second oldest museum and is Tasmania's cultural heart. Catering to all ages, it's collection includes permanent exhibitions on the extinct Tasmania Tiger as well as Tasmania's other native animals and pieces symbolizing Tasmania's colonial history including works by John Glover. Situated 15 minutes in your car hire (or 30 ferry ride) from central Hobart, MONA has put Tasmania on the international art stage. Its collection of old and new art includes antiquities and ancient coins as well as custom and sometimes shocking modern art. The site is also home to restaurants, a winery, and a microbrewery and is a completely unique experience in Australia.
Address: 593 Briggs Rd, Brighton TAS 7030
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful Australian wildlife sanctuary that was founded sometime in 1981. The venue is home to a wild range of wildlife and it also takes care of the sick and injured ones. Visitors will get the chance to not only see the site's beautiful wildlife but also to pet, cuddle and watch feedings of Tasmanian devils.
Address: 321 Davey St, South Hobart TAS 7000
Islington is a very special, small, luxe hotel in Hobart with a long history and a large delightful garden affording unique and stunning views of Mount Wellington. Perched in the exclusive enclave of South Hobart, slightly removed from the city with amazing views of Kunanyi and its shifting moods, this multiple award-winning hotel is luxury personified, offering award-winning personal service. Decorated with fine art and furnished with antiques, Islington appeals to those who desire the very best in service, presented in an atmosphere of serenity, luxury, and tranquility.
Address: 25 Hunter St, Hobart TAS 7000
What was once a jam factory, The Henry Jones Art Hotel is now one of the most sought after hotels in Hobart because of its amazing interiors and exteriors. There is art everywhere – from the Peacock Terrace and the Art Installation Suite to the Studio Suites. You will find the works of talented Tasmanian artists exhibited all over the hotel. Art can also be seen at Henry's Restaurant as Executive Chef Andre Kropp creates his own culinary masterpieces.
Address: 103 Murray St, Hobart TAS 7000
For a unique dining experience, make sure to drop by Garagistes located along Murray Street. Just like the name suggests, the site of the hip restaurant is a former car rental garage. It is advisable to arrive at the restaurant early because of its no reservation policy and shared table dining.
If you're a group of six and above, then you can make a reservation up to 14 days in advance. Chef Luke Burgess has championed the idea of using natural landscape such as edible shore plants, berries, herbs, and weed to add flavour to his dishes.
