Two weekends ago I started working on my Aussie Bucket List and flew (even more) south to Tasmania. My home base for the next four days was Hobart, a cute city at the base of Mount Wellington and a good launch pad for many Tassie activities such as Port Arthur and MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). I travelled around the Huon Valley and checked MONA with my gracious hosts over the weekend, but on Monday, they all went to work so I was left with the ever-exciting challenge of exploring Hobart on my own.

My trusted Lonely Planet guidebook has less than two pages on things to do in Hobart, but after visiting over 20 countries in the last five years if there is one thing that I have learned it’s this: the best kept secrets never make it to guidebooks.

I started Hobart’s cultural exploration on Salamanca Place. I’d visited this restaurant-packed esplanade with my friends on an earlier evening and thought it would be a good idea to check it out during the day.

It turned out to be a great idea! I strolled around the several indie galleries in the Salamanca Arts Centre and one of my favourites was definitely The Maker.

This store had vintage stamps and maps, artsy posters, funky jewelry and a very lovely lady behind the desk to help me out. They even had cute Easter eggs with maps painted on them. (People who know me well will appreciate this detail since eggs and travelling are two of my favourite things!)

I started a little game and got the lovely shopkeeper to recommend what my next stop should be. She directed me to Spacebar Gallery.

Nestled in Wooby’s Lane of the Salamanca Arts Centre, this store is a colourful retailer brimming with cute, happy-go-lucky items.

Pixie at Spacebar Gallery suggested that my next stop (incidentally it was lunch time) should be Pollen Team Room in the historic Battery Point district of Hobart.

I lugged myself and my camera up Kelly’s Steps to the beautiful neighbourhood of Battery Point and successfully found the best vegetarian-friendly cafe in Hobart.

The ambience and the staff were warm and friendly. However, the food was definitely the best part. Ironically, I didn’t try one of the teas, but they made me a mean latte and who doesn’t love that?!

To wrap up the day, the barista/server at Pollen Tea Room shooed me off to soak in the Tassie sun in Princess Park.

So, if you ever find yourself in Hobart, definitely check out these spots. And if you ever find yourself in a city where your guidebook lets you down, just talk to some locals and write your own guidebook chapter.