Hobart & Mount Wellington Shore Excursion: An Honest Review

Okay, so you’re pulling into Hobart on a cruise, right? And there’s, like, this mountain looming in the distance, begging you to climb it. The Mount Wellington shore trip kinda looks like the way to do it. But is it any good? Let’s, like, see if it’s the awesome highlight it claims to be, or just, you know, another cruise trip.

What to Anticipate on the Hobart & Mount Wellington Excursion

Okay, so what does this trip even involve? It is, apparently, fairly simple: you get picked up near the harbor, you take a ride up kunanyi / Mount Wellington, spend some time at the summit taking photos and breathing that very crisp air, then you get driven back to your ship. But, you know, there are different ways to get to the top, and the value is almost entirely up to the guiding. Here’s what, usually, makes or breaks it:

• The Ride Up: Apparently, it’s a scenic drive, that goes winding through some, rather striking forests and with peeks of Hobart, Tasmania, the Derwent River and, very occasionally, a pademelon or wallaby, which are kinda like mini-kangaroos.
• The Summit: This, actually, is where you want to be. Apparently, there are viewing platforms with some very dramatic views stretching across much of southern Tasmania, which is cool, too, in a way. On a clear day – this part’s important, of course – you can, kinda, see forever. You, actually, get about half an hour or so at the top.
• The Guide: This trip totally lives or dies based on how good the guide actually is. Are they full of information? Are they just, like, pointing out facts, too?

Views From the Top and Potential Weather Woes

Right, the view. You, literally, go up so high, and I guess it is pretty awesome, so, too it’s almost like you are above the clouds. So you get to see all around. That is, if you are pretty lucky. kunanyi / Mount Wellington is almost notorious for crazy weather. So it can change in, like, 5 minutes. What may happen is you get to the top and literally see nothing but fog. A tip would be to keep a lookout at the weather the day before, is that it?, you may get some hints.

Here are the, you know, main viewpoint perks:

• You, literally, feel like you’re on top of Tasmania, maybe?
• There actually are photos and videos. Even if the conditions are less than perfect, kinda. Cloudy photos almost bring their own kind of vibe.
• That, definitely, crisp mountain air is really something, actually, especially if you live in a city with slightly more smog than the clean breeze. Just, actually, brace yourself—it’s seriously cold up there, always. Layers are apparently key, it may not matter if it is summertime.

What Sets This Excursion Aside From Others?

Okay, so there’s this trip and, naturally, then there are others. Some are, too, much the same. Some do slightly different things. Now, in a way, here are where this version of the trip might just stand out, very maybe:

• Concise Timing: Shore trips actually are, usually, quite tight, too. That, yet, particular visit is quick—getting up and back really fast to Hobart from the dock, especially meaning that it tends to have minimal disruption if you want to then go to other activities while at Hobart.
• Easy Access: I feel you see some versions of the shore trip require getting to odd meeting spots a distance from the boat dock, and there you need transportation of your own! Which is the opposite of convenient.
• Iconic Snapshot: To go up kunanyi / Mount Wellington, really, is to get that defining, very photo-friendly thing Tasmania has to offer. It’s basically one you can’t miss if the conditions, generally, are clear enough for the taking.

Potential Downsides & Things to Bear in Mind

It is, certainly, worth speaking about some, probably, more gloomy potential downsides:

• Weather Dependence: Yep, we spoke a bit on it already. It bears mentioning again: If that mountain decides to cloak itself in fog, the whole thing, usually, is wasted. This, actually, isn’t anyone’s fault (other than, you know, the mountain’s, of course) and you might not get money back.
• Limited Activity: You can expect to stand there, you know, for 30-40 minutes, snapping pictures, and then, clearly, you leave. To me, is that, pretty adequate? Perhaps. Other people would prefer the trip with activities at the summit.
• Potentially Crowded: Now, I hear kunanyi / Mount Wellington summit does get rather crowded during peak seasons and when all the cruises hit Hobart simultaneously. Expect that you may have to actually fight the folks for a great look. This is actually unavoidable for any mainstream excursion, though.

Is This Shore Excursion Right for You?

Is this, in a way, something you wanna actually consider? Here’s kind of my recommendation on whether or not this cruise is going to meet you, potentially:

• Get it if: You’re tight on schedule but keen on getting the best overview photo shoot of Tasmania. If it, actually, is a crystal-clear day, that’s a pretty much non-negotiable deal sealer, basically, almost, especially.
• Ditch it if: You really feel an excursion has to include some actual action beyond looking at landscapes. Or you, yet, know you’ll just be very bitter should fog, virtually, prevent a very view. Or you could just climb a similar height mountain wherever you’re from.

In that way, that really, basically, should, likely, give you all you need to sort of think over on a Mount Wellington shore trip, okay? If seeing panoramic scenes and seeing the Tasmanian natural environment from that really high elevation spot that are something for your tastes, next consider it! Is it very clear up there though? The money may really well have to be worth it.

Shore Excursion in Hobart FAQ