Holiday houses in Battery Point

Located on the southeastern coast of Tasmania, Battery Point is a short stroll from Hobart’s financial district, one city over. Early 19th-century architecture, sailor’s cottages, and traditional pubs and shopfronts make up the streetscapes here. Protected by the National Trust, the buildings in Battery Point are well-preserved, and behind these historic facades you’ll find a neighbourhood attuned to the latest trends. Battery Point combines antique stores with edgy fashion and super stylish cafes.

Stop off at the local artisan bakery for a freshly baked croissant and wind down narrow streets lined with white weatherboard cottages, their doors painted in whimsical shades of yellow and blue. You can step into Hobart’s history along the Battery Point Sculpture Trail, where sculptures dotted around town designate points of interest. Make your way along Kelly Street, with its English rose bushes, down the sandstone steps, and out to the waterfront, where fishing boats bob on the horizon.

It’s said that Tasmania can experience four seasons in a single day. With 15 hours of daylight, warm weather, and almost no rainfall, the summer is the most popular time to visit. Plan your trip to coincide with Hobart’s Taste Festival to sample local cheeses, wines, beers, and more. In March, the weather begins to cool — although it’s still mild and usually sunny — and the leaves turn pretty shades of red and gold. Winter gets chilly, and nearby Mount Wellington will be blanketed under the snow — you might even see snow in town. This is a very quiet season, and a lot of tourist attractions close, but the hiking trails in the nearby national parks are picturesque. Spring brings rain and the landscape blooms with wildflowers as temperatures slowly start to climb.

Battery Point Sculpture Trail

This two-kilometre scenic trail loops through Battery Point and along the shoreline, visually narrating local history with a number of large-scale sculptures. Each work of art tells a story of an important milestone, event, or location around town. Stop and admire each one as you take in sweeping coastal views and admire quaint maritime architecture.

Arthur Circus Park

Pick up something scrumptious from one of the many cafes on Hampden Road and take your provisions down to Arthur Circus Park. This patch of green is surrounded by Battery Point’s oldest homes, with views of Mount Wellington in the distance. The whole suburb was built up from around this point, so if you’re looking for history, this is the centre of it all.

Narryna Heritage Museum

While the outside of many Battery Point homes and buildings have been meticulously preserved in 19th-century style, the interiors are thoroughly modern. Narryna Heritage Museum provides a glimpse of what these homes would have looked like in days of yore. Admire the collection of traditional furniture, clothing, and photographs in a former sandstone merchant’s house.