Hobart cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: From your assigned Macquarie Wharf berth, passengers come through MAC 02 on Hunter Street before exploring Hobart's waterfront and centre.

• Taxi: the rank is immediately outside the MAC 02 forecourt.

Ships dock alongside. Macquarie Wharf No. 2/3 is the primary cruise berth, beside the terminal. Additional ships use the adjacent Macquarie Wharf No. 4/5 multiuser berth. MAC 02 serves all cruise arrivals, but the terminal building and your ship's gangway are separate places to remember.

Inside the terminal you'll find visitor information, amenities and free Wi-Fi. Its public entrance is open to visitors, while access on the wharf side is restricted. Before heading into town, establish with staff where you should re-enter for your own ship.

Ship excursion coaches meet passengers alongside the vessel. For a privately booked tour, use the meeting point in your booking: small-vehicle operators can meet passengers inside the terminal, while collecting at the secure 4/5 berth requires prior arrangements.

About this port

Hobart suits a day spent wandering the waterfront, looking into Salamanca's galleries and choosing a museum when you fancy a change of pace. You can keep the outing close to the harbour and still get a feel for Tasmania's capital. The detail to settle first is your berth: ships use different parts of Macquarie Wharf, with passengers coming through the Macquarie Wharf No. 2 Cruise Terminal, also called MAC 02, on Hunter Street.

Getting Around

The waterfront, city centre, Salamanca and Battery Point lend themselves to exploring on foot. Keep Salamanca as the focus if you'd like a relaxed day with plenty of opportunities to stop. Add Battery Point if you want a longer wander and are comfortable with steps.

TasPorts restricts through traffic on Franklin Wharf between Hunter Street and Constitution Dock Bridge on cruise days. Some authorised vehicles still have access. If you take a taxi or private tour, agree the return meeting or dropoff point before setting off.

Things to Do

• Waterfront and Salamanca: follow the foreshore past fishing punts and piers towards Salamanca. Its sandstone warehouses and cobbled lanes lead you into the old docks area. Look into the Salamanca Arts Centre or one of the galleries, and make this the main outing if you prefer to leave the day flexible.
• Battery Point: from Salamanca, climb Kelly's Steps to explore the colonial cottages and Arthur Circus. The steps are part of this route. You can return to Salamanca by the waterfront, giving you a different way back through the neighbourhood.
• Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: choose TMAG for Tasmania's Aboriginal history, natural history and colonial past. It's a useful indoor alternative to a longer walk. Make it your main visit if those subjects interest you, rather than squeezing it in at the end of the day.

Getting back to your ship

Getting back: keep your ship's name, berth and the re-entry instructions you were given at MAC 02. Count back from the ship's all-aboard time, allowing for the walk or ride to that entrance and the remaining passage through the port to your vessel.

Follow the ship and port staff's directions to your assigned berth. The public terminal is a useful landmark, but reaching Hunter Street isn't the same as being back on board, especially when your ship is at Macquarie 4/5.

Practical Information

Use the terminal's visitor information desk to settle your walking plan before leaving. Salamanca's cobbled lanes and Kelly's Steps are worth considering if you use a mobility aid. Ask your cruise line about assistance between the gangway and terminal before your visit.

This guide is for a day ashore. If you're joining or finishing a cruise in Hobart, use your cruise line's check-in, luggage and transfer instructions.