Winter in Hobart – Get your winter glow

Hobart doesn’t sleep in winter; it comes alive! We embrace the darkness by exploring, singing, hiking, feasting and making merry throughout the winter season, choosing to glow throughout the darkest nights.

Outdoors at Dark Mofo Winter Feast, 2019

Our celebrations kick off in June with Dark Mofo, the provocative midwinter festival created by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). Revelling in music, art, food and film, Hobart becomes a playground to explore the modern mythology and ancient rituals surrounding the solstice. 

With little time to recover from the festivities of June, the Festival of Voices brightens up July. The Festival of Voices is a yearly celebration of the power of song. In Hobart, we love to enjoy the live performances, workshops and especially the community singalongs, brightening the middle of winter with a chorus.

Hadley’s Art Prize, 2019. Photograph by Jessica King.

In August, once we’ve finished making a ruckus, we love to enjoy art in contemplation by escaping to the Hadley’s Art Prize. Just a 10 minute walk away at Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Hadley’s Art Prize boasts Australia’s richest landscape art prize and showcases the works of Australia’s best landscape artists. 

The best way to explore the Tasmanian landscape is to get amongst it, and when we need some fun outside, we head to the snow atop kunanyi (Mount Wellington), perhaps to make a snowman or to see the view of Hobart from above. When it’s not snowing atop kunanyi, we also love to explore the mountain’s many walking and cycling trails. If you’re really lucky, you may even see the crystal clear waters of kunanyi’s mysterious Disappearing Tarn.

Fun atop kunanyi/Mount Wellington

At The Old Woolstore, we’re lucky to be located between the heart of the CBD and the Hobart Waterfront, in the centre of the Dark Mofo and Festival of Voices action. We are also a short 25-minute drive from The Old Woolstore to the peak of kunanyi (although we advise driving slowly, especially when it’s snowing). 

And when you’re not feasting, dancing, singing, hiking or exploring, Hobart is the perfect place to bunker down or lose yourself in a good book while listening to the rain outside. Our on-site Baaa Bar and Stockmans Restaurant are perfect for when you’d prefer to be chilling than cooking, and our warm, spacious rooms and apartments give you enough room to enjoy some alone time. 

Whether we’re getting out and about or getting snug and comfortable, Hobart in winter will leave you with a glow.