Hobart is like a successful, 40-something, artsy type with fond memories of the hippie era. Instantly likeable, it’s accessible, friendly and confident, but never brash or arrogant. It embraces new and exciting ideas, skilfully merging them with a rich history and showcasing the results as a beautiful canvas that always brings a smile.

So grab the walking map and join me as we make a new friend.

By the numbers
Start early with breakfast at Retros in Salamanca Place (1). It’s an icon – the fine food and lively atmosphere bring regulars from everywhere. Overlooking the river and surrounded by parkland and elegant sandstone warehouses, this historic precinct houses a dazzling array of quality galleries, shops and cafes. A nearby staircase leads to Battery Point (2), Hobart’s original port area and oldest district, and in Arthurs Circus the memories of a maritime village are recalled in the splendid early 1800s architecture.

Returning along Salamanca Place we enter St Davids Park (3), a stately sanctuary dominated by majestic European trees and resting place for some of Australia’s first free settlers. Fascinating headstones provide insight into the hardships of early colonial life. The history lesson continues at the Royal Tennis Club (4), one of only five courts in the southern hemisphere and the oldest in Australia, built in 1875. Played on an indoor court that brings many hazards into play, Royal, or "Real", tennis is the ancestor of the modern game, predating it by several centuries.

Heading uphill past St Davids Cathedral on Murray Street we turn onto Liverpool Street and visit the Tasmania Shop (5) for a tempting display of the island’s goodies before browsing for bargains in Elizabeth Mall (6).

Past leafy Franklin Square, the splendid Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (7) is our next stop, stylishly housed in Hobart’s oldest building, dating from 1808. You’ll need refuelling and the nearby fish restaurants on Elizabeth Pier (8) offer the freshest bargains in the city while pubs like the Brooke Street Bar (8) provide a glimpse of Aussie culture and the lure of a cold beer.

Follow a hearty lunch with a wee dram on a visit to Lark’s Distillery (9) next to the Information Centre before admiring Hunter Street’s wharfside Georgian warehouses (10). The buildings in Salamanca Place looked like this 30 years ago before they were renovated.

Check the time and if you’ve got a couple of hours jump on a ferry at Brooke Street Pier for a harbourside cruise to the Royal Botanical Gardens (11) – the perfect end to a day out with your new friend; the funky and cultured harbourside city of Hobart.

Battery Point Heritage Walk
This departs from the wishing well in Franklin Square every Saturday at 9.30am. It is conducted by local National Trust volunteer guides and proceeds go towards National Trust restoration projects. This walk was originally started back in 1972.

The walk includes visits to the Royal Tennis Court, St Davids Park and the underground magazine at Mulgrave Battery. You pass by many of Hobart’s historic buildings then explore the narrow streets of battery Point. Morning tea is taken at St Georges Church and you finish at Salamanca Market. The tour duration is 2.5 hours and the cost is A$10 for adults and A$2.50 for children 6-16 years. You pay the guide. Don’t forget to take the camera.

Hobart Historic Walk
This is operated by a company called Naturally Tasmania Tours and tickets and departure are from the Travel and Information Centre at 20 Davey Street. The guides are knowledgeable and are recognisable by their red shirts and umbrella.

The walk is about two kilometres long and lasts for two hours. It includes the Town Hall, Franklin Square, the Royal Tennis Court, St Davids Park, Parliament House, Salamanca Place and Kelly’s Steps. Battery Point stops are Lenna Hotel, Arthur Circus, and St Georges Church. The guide then accompanies visitors back to the starting point or you can go exploring other parts of Battery Point for yourself. The tour operates every day from October to May at 10am. The cost is A$17 for adults and children under 12 are free.

Hobart Historic Pub Tour
This is also operated by the naturally Tasmania Tours company. It is a traditional ‘pub crawl’ with a difference. The tour includes many colourful stories and you will learn about the early days of the colony and the role alcohol played in its development. The tour visits four historic pubs on Hobart’s waterfront. Telephone (03) 6230 8233 for operating times, costs, and bookings.