Accommodation
Summer in Tasmania is peak season and many accommodation choices can book out months in advance. If you have not been to Tasmania before, it’s worth noting that you don’t need CBD or waterfront lodgings to enjoy the Wooden Boat Festival.
The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel
AWBF’s official accommodation partner is The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel, conveniently located near the heart of the festival site. Festival attendees can enjoy a 10% discount on selected dates when booking directly with The Old Woolstore. This central location provides stylish and comfortable accommodations, making it the perfect base for your festival adventure.
Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre
For additional options, visit the City of Hobart's Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre for advice and bookings.
Just a short drive from Hobart opens up even more possibilities. Nearby areas such as Kingston, Bellerive, and the Northern Suburbs are within 20 minutes of the city, while Richmond and New Norfolk are slightly further afield. Tasmania’s roads are far less congested than mainland highways, and the drives are often picturesque.
Secure parking is available at the Royal Hobart Regatta Grounds, courtesy of the Royal Hobart Regatta Association, just a 10-minute walk from the Festival for a small fee. Additional public and private parking can be found in the Hobart CBD, but Sunday parking isn’t free. Check Hobart City Council’s parking info and mobility map.
While fees may apply, they are typically much lower than in other Australian capital cities.
DRIVING
Bringing your vehicle aboard the Spirit of Tasmania? Be sure to secure your passage early—berths for cars, campers, and motorbikes fill quickly in peak seasons. Once you sail across and set wheels on Tasmanian shores, the island beckons like a new voyage, ready to be explored at your own pace.
Arrive ahead of the Festival or linger after the sails are furled—either way, Tasmania’s roads will carry you to sparkling coastlines, rugged mountain ranges, character-filled towns, and living maritime heritage.
SAILING OR CRUISING YOUR OWN BOAT
Exploring Tasmania under sail offers an unrivalled way to experience the island’s wild coastlines, sheltered waters, and timeless maritime character.
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Breathtaking Coastal Scenery
Sail beneath soaring dolerite cliffs and peer into sea caves carved by centuries of wind and waves along the Tasman Peninsula and Bruny Island. -
Incredible Wildlife
Spot dolphins racing your bow near Maria Island and Freycinet, see fur seals basking on the rocky ledges of Tasman Island, watch little penguins come ashore on Bruny Island, and look for humpback and southern right whales breaching along the east coast during their annual migration known as the "East Coast Whale Trail". -
Secluded Gems
Drop anchor at remote islands and hidden coves—Maria Island, Bruny Island, and Schouten Island are just a few of the havens where crowds never reach. -
Fishing and Aquatic Pursuits
Cast a line in Tasmania’s rich waters or take to the paddleboard or kayak in glassy bays. Always check local regulations for catch sizes and limits. -
Historic Coastal Landmarks
Navigate to iconic maritime sites such as Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula, Stanley’s historic port on the far northwest, or the convict-built settlement at Sarah Island on the west coast.
Before setting sail, ensure you’re well-prepared with safety gear, weather planning, and local knowledge. For essential advice, see Marine & Safety Tasmania’s guide to boating.
Discover Beyond Hobart—Before or After the Festival
Arrive early or linger after the festival to cast off into Tasmania’s wider shores. Many of these must-visit destinations are tied to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival as partners and collaborators, each carrying the spirit of seafaring, timber, and exploration.
1. North Coast – Working Boats & Early Voyages
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Julie Burgess (Devonport) – Step aboard this restored fishing ketch and feel the creak of timber and salt spray of Tasmania’s working boat heritage.
- Bass Strait Maritime Museum (Devonport) - Housed in a charming 1920s Harbourmaster's cottage, this creatively curated museum brings maritime history to life with regular exhibitions, interactive exhibits, captivating ship models, local stories, and natural wonders.
- Bass and Flinders Museum (George Town) – Chart the daring expeditions of early navigators who first mapped these southern waters.
2. Northwest Coast – Wilderness by Water
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Arcadia II (Pieman River, Corinna Wilderness Village) – Drift deep into the wild west on this rare Huon pine vessel, purpose-built for remote river voyaging.
3. East & Southeast Coast – Trade Winds & Coastal Legends
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Ironhouse Brewery & Distillery, White Sands Estate – Drop anchor on the northeast coast for ocean-side craft beer, whisky, and gin.
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Port Arthur Historic Site (Tasman Peninsula) – Sail into Australia’s most evocative convict port, where stone ruins still guard the bay.
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Spring Bay Maritime and Discovery Centre (Triabunna) – Discover stories of fishing, shipwrights, and seafaring life along Tasmania’s eastward harbours.
- Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration (Adventure Bay, Bruny Island) – A tiny stone lighthouse of knowledge, filled with rare maps and tales of Pacific navigation.
4. Midlands – Heart of the Island
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Lark Distillery (Pontville) – Raise a glass of Tasmanian whisky, distilled with the same patience and craft as a fine wooden hull.
5. West Coast – Timber & Tales of the Sea
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Morrison’s Huon Pine Sawmill (Strahan) – Watch Huon pine worked as it has been for generations; the scent of the timber lingers like salt in the air.
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The Ship That Never Was (Strahan) – Relive the most famous convict escape, told with wit and spirit in Australia’s longest-running play.
6. Southern Huon Valley – Boats, Rivers & Living Heritage
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The Wooden Boat Centre (Franklin) – Step inside the shed where timber, tools, and tradition meet, and boatbuilders keep old skills afloat. The Wooden Boat Centre s the only school in Australia that teaches traditional wooden boat construction.
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Kerrawyn (Franklin) – Hoist sail aboard this heritage vessel for a Huon River voyage where water and wood still speak in harmony.
- Dover Museum & Gallery (Dover) – Moor your curiosity in Dover’s maritime memories, exhibited in a historic old-school stone building overlooking Port Esperance .
Looking for things to do while visiting Tasmania for the festival?
For additional details about your Tasmanian adventure, visit the tourism information sites below.
IMPORTANT NOTES ON BIOSECURITY
Visiting Tasmania
See our dedicated Biosecurity page for more information
IMPORTANT NOTES ON BIOSECURITY
Tasmania has some of the world’s most stringent biosecurity requirements.
These are in place to protect the State’s environment and primary industries from introduced pests, weeds and diseases – from both overseas and the Australian mainland.
If you are participating in the Australian Wooden Boat Festival and are bringing your boat from outside of Tasmania, or are travelling down from interstate by air or on the Spirit of Tasmania as a visitor, there are some very important biosecurity requirements you will need to meet.
