Hobart half-day tour: Kunanyi/Mt Wellington and Female Factory

Mountain views and women's history in one morning

A half-day guided tour of Hobart combining kunanyi/Mt Wellington and the Cascades Female Factory, two sites that define the city's natural beauty and convict past. The driver leads you up the mountain for views from the summit and the Exhibition Gardens, then down to the Female Factory (one of Australia's most significant historical sites for women), where you explore the grounds, memorial garden and museum at your own pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Mt Wellington and Cascade Female Factory

• View Hobart from Mt Wellington summit
• Tour Observatory and Western Wilderness Lookout
• Walk around Exhibition Gardens at The Springs
• Visit Cascade Gardens and Cascade Brewery facade
• Explore Cascades Female Factory grounds and museum
• Listen to audio guide at Female Factory

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Mount Wellington 1h 20m
2. Cascades Female Factory Entry included 50m

What’s included

• Entry to the Cascades Female Factory.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup from selected hotels.
• a printed guide for the optional walk back along the Hobart Rivulet.

Times

• Monday to Friday 09:00

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Before you book

Group Up to 30

Live guide English

Audio guide Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese and Japanese

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. You can choose from 29 pickup points.

Book up to 2h before

Ages Adult (8 and older) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Experience Tasmania Gray Line Day Tours

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The experience

Three and a half hours takes you from the city to the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington and back down through Hobart's layered history. Your local driver guide handles the route while you take in the views: from the top, you get an escorted look at the Observatory and a self-guided walk to the Western Wilderness Lookout, then stop at the Exhibition Gardens halfway down "The Springs" for a short easy walk and time to grab a hot drink. The mountain sits 1,271 metres above the city, so the views reach across the Derwent River and the surrounding landscape.

The second half moves into Hobart's convict past at the Cascades Female Factory, where you wander the grounds and ruins at your own pace using an audio guide. The site held women and children throughout the 1820s and stands as one of Australia's most significant historical sites for women. A memorial garden and museum space mark the lives of those held there, and the Cascade Gardens next door, set against the Hobart Rivulet, offer a quieter space to walk. The Cascade Brewery, Australia's oldest working brewery, sits nearby if you want a photo of its striking facade.

At the end of the tour, your driver returns you to the departure point, or you can take the two-kilometre scenic walk back to the city along the Hobart Rivulet at your own pace using a printed guide. Keep watch on the water's edge for platypus that live in the rivulet.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What can I see from the top of kunanyi/Mt Wellington?

The summit offers views across Hobart, the Derwent River and the surrounding landscape. You'll visit the Observatory on the summit and walk to the Western Wilderness Lookout, which overlooks one of the last true wilderness areas on the planet.

What is the Cascades Female Factory and what will I do there?

The Female Factory was the female equivalent of Port Arthur and held women and children throughout the 1820s. You explore the grounds and ruins at your own pace, listen to the audio guide, and visit the memorial garden and museum space built to remember those women's lives.

Do I have to return to the city by vehicle, or are there other options?

Your driver will return you to the departure point, but you can also walk back to the city along the Hobart Rivulet: a two-kilometre scenic walk at your own pace using a printed guide provided by the tour.

Is entry to the Female Factory included in the tour price?

Yes, entry to the Cascades Female Factory is included in the tour.