Perched on the edge of a fishing boat-dotted harbour and fringed by wilderness, it’s easy to fall for the charms of Hobart.

This enchanting city is the ideal destination for a weekend away, and with everything within easy reach of the city, you’d be surprised how much you can pack into just 48 hours.

Saturday

9am: Check into the MACq 01 Hotel

Check in at the MACq 01 Hotel which enjoys a prime position overlooking Hobart’s iconic Franklin Wharf and close to markets, shops, restaurants and cafes. The hotel’s stylish interiors tell the story of Tasmania – past and present – taking inspiration from the unique spirit and personality that the island has become renowned for.

Each artfully designed room also tells the story of a colourful character who exemplifies what it means to be Tasmanian – taking you even deeper into the psyche of this intriguing destination.

Photo courtesy of MACq 01 Hotel

11am: Salamanca Market

When in Hobart, you have to try one of the city’s famous scallop pies, and there’s no better place to enjoy this flavoursome snack than at the Salamanca Market.

Every Saturday, crowds of eager shoppers fill the waterfront Salamanca Place to browse over 300 markets stalls, listen to live music and taste delicious local produce. Visitors can pick up everything from a rare book to a bottle of local whisky, handmade jewellery, kitchenware made from Tasmanian oak, fresh seafood and sheep wool rugs.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

1:15pm: Take the ferry to MONA

You don’t have to be an art enthusiast to love MONA.

Jump aboard the 1:15pm ferry – which departs from next to the Salamanca Market – and take a seat in the Posh Pit to scoff complimentary drinks and canapés as you cruise to the iconic Museum of Old and New Art.

The owner of the museum, David Walsh, describes MONA as a “subversive adult Disneyland”, with visitors able to explore the weird, the wonderful and the sometimes controversial artworks that fill this three-storey subterranean cave-like building that has been cut into 240-million-year-old Triassic-era sandstone.

Image courtesy of MONA

6:30pm: Chef’s Table Experience

Settle in for a dinner to remember at MACq 01 Hotel’s Old Wharf Restaurant where Head Chef Simon Pockran serves a Chef’s Table experience with a seafood focus.

Featuring five courses of world-class fare prepared using the finest local produce and freshest fisherman’s catch of the day, this stand-out experience takes dining to new levels with a unique storyteller on hand to regale guests with historical tales of times gone by.

9:30pm: Hobart Brewing Co.

Head to Hobart Brewing Co. for a nightcap served in a huge beer garden complete with fire pit and live music. Like-minded beer lovers gather at this popular late-night haunt to enjoy a year-round selection of core beers as well as ever-changing seasonal brews and local tipples.

Sunday

8am: Mount Wellington

Wake up early to make the most of the misty weather and majestic views over Hobart that can be found atop Mount Wellington. Whether you prefer to walk, cycle, climb, drive or horse ride, Mount Wellington’s historical trails, mountain tracks and muddy pathways offer the perfect setting for some early morning fresh air.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

12pm: Sullivans Cove Whisky Distillery

Tasmanian whisky is really making a name for itself in the world’s distilled marketplace, and the award-winning Sullivans Cove is one of the biggest names to come out of Australia.

The experts at this renowned distillery take visitors on a sensory journey that includes tasting some of their finest batches and taking in the sights and smells of the barrel-filled factory where the whisky is made.

Image courtesy Sullivans Cove Whisky Distillery

1pm: Frogmore Creek Winery

If you’re looking for endless vistas of Hobart’s spectacular countryside, fragrant wines and fine dining with a very Tasmanian flare, Frogmore Creek Winery has it all.

Reservations are essential at this breathtaking restaurant that serves home-grown produce from the land, sea and garden. Wow-factor dishes include roasted Pirates Bay octopus, Pittwater oysters and rhubarb and white chocolate panna cotta.

Image courtesy of Frogmore Creek Winery.

5pm: IXL Long Bar at Henry Jones

Start your evening in style with pre-dinner drinks at the IXL Long Bar at The Henry Jones Art Hotel. Featuring row upon row of local and recognisable spirits, pots of every type of cocktail garnish imaginable and an old piano that no one could resist the temptation to play, this unique hotspot has earnt its reputation as one of the coolest bars in town.

Image courtesy of Long Bar at Henry Jones

8:30pm: Templo

This unassuming 20-seat neighbourhood restaurant may be small in size but the food packs a huge amount of flavour. Templo has just two dinner sittings each evening so diners feel like they are part of an exclusive club privy to Italian cuisine that most can only ever dream of.

As the sommelier pours perfectly paired red wine, the chef serves up delicate pasta and meat dishes that will create an appreciative silence at even the loudest of tables.