Step back into Australia’s history with a visit to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. Located in the south-east section of the state, at the foot of Mt. Wellington, Hobart offers a heady mix of old and new. Where 19th century whalers once dumped their catch, today great cafes, restaurants, and bars are busy catering to the needs of the town’s visitors.

At its heart, Hobart is a town based around the sea. That’s mostly a heritage of its former status as a fishing colony. You’ll feel the history walking down the street, as you watch fish being punted on the docks, and you’ll smell that history at the Salamanca Market, where every Saturday merchants come to display their wares.

Every kind of boat imaginable still puts out to sea from Hobart, including square-riggers, yachts, and fishing boats. Looking on in stony silence is the Parliament House (once the market that served all of old Hobart), as well as the Government House, still home to the Governor’s flock of cows. Watching these animals graze is truly a step back in time to a less crowded, structured era.

To step back into the future, check out Hobart’s art scene, centered around the Salamanca Arts Centre, as well as the surrounding warehouse buildings. You’re likely to hear the sweet sound of South American flutists serenading your ear, or perhaps a string quartet tuning their instruments before a performance. In the galleries of Hobart, meanwhile, artists create masterpieces from glass, paint, pottery and fabric.

Since it’s founding in 1804, Hobart has greatly changed. Today more than ever, it’s a wonderful place to spend a few days with your family before setting out to explore the rest of the many interesting places that Tasmania has to offer.  Hobart has a good selection of hotels, bed and breakfasts and other accommodation options to choose from. You’d be especially savvy to visit in December and January, when the yachts pull in off the famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht race.