Start with the drive up kunanyi / Mount Wellington for a view over the whole city. Bring warm clothes even in summer, and check the road is open first. On the waterfront, kids can step inside a full-size copy of Mawson's Hut, which stands close to where his Antarctic expedition sailed from in 1911.

Half an hour north, every visitor to Bonorong gets a free bag of food for the kangaroos, and the keeper talks are worth staying for. On the way, the old village of Richmond has a convict gaol with a hunt for hidden objects. Port Arthur is a full day, and the ticket includes a harbour cruise. It also lasts two days, so you can come back. Nearby, Remarkable Cave is a tunnel the sea has carved through the cliff.

To the west, a sealed path leads to Russell Falls in Mount Field. South of Hobart, the ferry to Bruny Island leaves every 20 minutes, and kids can walk above the treetops at the Tahune Airwalk. At Hastings, the cave tour comes with a swim in a thermal pool.