A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hobart vs. Arrowtown for Hiking, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Hobart or Arrowtown?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hobart and Arrowtown can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Hobart

Hobart is a historical, charming, and fascinating city. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is a quirky, historic, and charming town. You'll find plenty of local activities in this small town. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and hiking.

Hobart and Arrowtown: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hobart or Arrowtown?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Arrowtown. Although Hobart and Arrowtown are popular destinations, Arrowtown has more sights and attractions for tourists. Arrowtown is very popular for its skiing, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere, while Hobart attracts visitors for its museums. Hobart is famous for its quaint historical center, fresh seafood, and nearby hiking and biking trails. Arrowtown is famous for its gold rush history, impressive ski slopes, and famous hikes. It is also well known for the Chinese Settlement.

How is Hobart different from Arrowtown?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Arrowtown and Hobart. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Hobart or Arrowtown Better for Skiing?

Arrowtown is great for skiing. However, Hobart is not a skiing destination.

Visitors travel far to experience snow skiing in Arrowtown. In the area you'll find amazing skiing that ranges from professional level to family-friendly.

Hobart is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Hobart or Arrowtown?

Hobart is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Arrowtown is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Hobart specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The town has many landmarks and museums such as Port Arthur, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Mawson's Huts Replica Museum, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. A highlight of the city is Battery Point, which is like an open-air museum. Make sure you explore the Battery Point Sculpture Trail.

Arrowtown offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The town feels likes a living museum with its historic sights. There's also the Lakes District Museum in town that you can visit.

Is the Food Better in Hobart or Arrowtown? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at superb restaurants in both Hobart and Arrowtown.

Hobart has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The town has seen a surge in its culinary scene in recent years. Local chefs like to highlight the regional flavors and ingredients such as octopus, kingfish, abalone, and leatherwood honey.

Dining out in Arrowtown is an experience not to be missed. For such a small town, there's a surprising number of great restaurants with award winning chefs. You'll find quaint cafes, traditional eateries, and casual restaurants where you can sample the local dishes.

Is Hobart or Arrowtown Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is nice in both Hobart and Arrowtown.

If you're looking for night time activities Hobart has a few options to choose from. While it's a smaller city, there is still a good mix of local bars, trendy lounges, and elegant wine bars. you'll also find some great venues for live music.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Arrowtown. For such a small town, there's a surprisingly bustling nightlife scene with casual pubs and waterfront bars.

Is Hobart or Arrowtown Better for its Old Town?

Arrowtown is great for its old town. However, Hobart does not have a historic old town.

Arrowtown is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. This is a quirky and charming historic mining town that has many cottages and historic buildings. Many places have been restored to maintain their original character.

Hobart does not have a historic old town.

Is Hobart or Arrowtown Better for Hiking?

Arrowtown is renowned for hiking. Also, Hobart is not as popular, but is still a nice city for the nearby hiking options.

Around Arrowtown visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Many people use this town as a jumping off point for some of the world's most iconic hikes. You can explore Lord of the Rings country or do one of fifteen different listed walks in the area.

Hobart is a popular spot for hiking. The city is surrounded by bushland reserves as well as nearby Mount Wellington. The area offers many diverse hiking and walking trails and there are a wide range to choose from so whatever your hiking level, you'll find something of interest.

Is the Shopping Better in Hobart or Arrowtown?

If you're looking to go shopping, Hobart and Arrowtown both offer plenty of superb spots.

Hobart is well-known for its shopping. It has some of the best shopping in Tasmania. You'll find a great shopping experience along Elizabeth Street, which is lined with boutiques and quirky shops. The city also has a couple of outdoor flea markets that offers a unique shopping experience.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Arrowtown. Shopping is an experience in town. Head to Buckingham Street, which is the main street in town. You can wander through a wild west setting with local vendors and quirky galleries.

Is Hobart or Arrowtown Better for Families?

Both Hobart and Arrowtown are superb to visit with kids.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Hobart is very family-friendly. Kids who love animals will enjoy a visit to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. There are also fruit farms to visit and vineyards to explore in the area, as well as great hiking. For an interactive museum, head to the Tasmanian Transport Museum and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has some toddler-friendly displays.

Arrowtown is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the old world charm as much as adults. There's gold panning, bike trails, and even a historic Chinese village. During the winter there are snow sports and during the summer there are outdoor activities that take advantage of the nice weather.

Is Hobart or Arrowtown Better for Couples?

Both Hobart and Arrowtown are superb destinations for a couple's getaway.

Hobart is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples will enjoy exploring the waterfront and Sullivans Cove. There are also outdoor markets and breweries around town. Botanical gardens and quaint neighborhoods also make this a lovely town to visit.

Arrowtown is a very popular place to visit for couples. The charming atmosphere and beautiful walks make this a great weekend destination for couples. You can take a stroll on the Arrow River Walkway or grab a meal at a quaint cafe followed by ice cream at a classic ice cream parlor.

Is Hobart or Arrowtown Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arrowtown is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Hobart is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Arrowtown. There are a couple of hostels in town and backpackers love the frequent festivals and activities that the town hosts.

Plenty of backpackers visit Hobart. There are a handful of hostels around town and many great hiking trails.

Is Hobart or Arrowtown Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Hobart and Arrowtown both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Hobart offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a public bus system and many of the buses leave from Elizabeth Street (between Macquarie and Collins Streets) or Franklin Square.

Arrowtown has a few public transit options. There are public buses throughout the region.

Is Hobart or Arrowtown a more walkable city?

Hobart is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. Also, Arrowtown is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Hobart is very walkable. It has a compact city center that many people enjoy exploring on foot.

Arrowtown is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the town are fun to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Hobart Worth Visiting? and Is Arrowtown Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arrowtown or Hobart?

How long in Hobart or Arrowtown?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Hobart or Arrowtown to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Hobart than Arrowtown because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Hobart, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arrowtown.

Couples should spend more time in Arrowtown than Hobart. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Arrowtown that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arrowtown than Hobart if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Arrowtown.

One day in Hobart or Arrowtown?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Hobart. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Arrowtown might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Hobart or Arrowtown?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the charming destination of Hobart. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Arrowtown is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Hobart or Arrowtown?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the charming city of Hobart. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arrowtown. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Hobart or Arrowtown?

Hobart is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Arrowtown is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Australia, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hobart and Arrowtown, we can see that Hobart is more expensive. And not only is Arrowtown much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Arrowtown would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arrowtown and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Hobart would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hobart than you might in Arrowtown.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hobart Expensive? and Is Arrowtown Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Hobart or Arrowtown?

Hobart has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the sizes of Hobart and Arrowtown, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.