We've been saying this for a while: Tasmania is a wonderful place to visit so it was no surprise when Hobart was today named 7th in Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Cities to visit in 2013 - the only Australian city to make the list. What's more, Lonely Planet is advising readers to get there now before it's discovered by others.
Hobart has been a convict settlement, whaling hub, ship-building port, and picturesque seaside town, but from its flawed and conflicted past, the unassuming township has risen to capture the attention of the world.
“Being named as one of the world’s Top 10 cities to visit by such an internationally-respected travel publication is a great accolade for Hobart,” Mr Tony Mayell, CEO of Tourism Tasmania said. “Hobart has flown under the radar for a while, so it’s pleasing to see the city finally getting the global recognition it deserves. This announcement provides another good reason for Australian and international visitors to come and experience the state now instead of putting it off until later.”
Described by Lonely Planet as "a historic city reinventing itself", Hobart’s ranking is largely attributed to its bustling arts scene, with particular reference to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and the soon-to-be-revealed makeover of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Hobart also has a free ArtsBike scheme and the very cool MONA FOMA which is a festival of music and art to be held in January not long after the Sydney to Hobart yachts depart downtown Constitution Dock.
Also rating high on Lonely Planet’s agenda was the city’s "already burgeoning gastronomic scene [and rising] culinary credentials". Iconic foodie mecca, Garagistes and Ethos were hailed both for their culinary brilliance and focus on organic, sustainable, biodynamic and local ingredients, with Lonely Planet also suggesting visits to Saturday institution, the Salamanca Market, and the Farm Gate Market on Sundays, where excellent produce and some of the greatest food stands from Hobart and surrounds are on show.
Less than an hour's drive from Hobart you can also visit the foodie town of Cygnet on the Huon River - but the truth is, there are foodie places all over the state, as there are so many more places to visit. Bicheno, Freycinet Peninsula, Maria Island Walk, Binalong Bay, Bay of Fires Walk, Cradle Mountain National Park, Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Stanley, Zeehan and Strahan are just a few highlights.
Lonely Planet also highlights several must-visit events in summer, including the Taste Festival (28 December 2012 – 3 January 2013) on Hobart’s waterfront; the iconic Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (26 December 2012 – 1 January 2013); and the biannual arts festival, Ten Days on the Island (15 – 24 March 2013).
Other cities in Lonely Planet's Top 10 are San Francisco, Amsterdam, Hyderabad, Londonderry, Beijing, Christchurch, Montreal, Addis Ababa, Puerto Iguazu.
Motherpedia will publish our list again for 2013 later in the year.
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