Tasmania isn’t a place you rush. Its roads twist through forests, along coastlines, and over mountains that demand time. Small group tours from Hobart give you that — time to ask questions, take photos, taste wine, and actually connect with the place. You get the flexibility of independent travel without the hassle of driving, parking, or navigating dodgy reception in the middle of the Tassie countryside. It’s my favourite type of tour for this island; slower, deeper, and more personal. From wine-soaked afternoons in the Coal River Valley to eco adventures in Mount Field, here are the top small grou tours from Hobart that capture the real Tasmania.
Small groups change everything. You spend less time waiting, more time talking, tasting, and seeing the island properly. These small group tours from Hobart pair local guides with intimate groups — think ten guests, not forty — and itineraries that feel personal.
Why Small Groups Work in Tasmania
Tasmania’s charm is in the details — the local stories, the family-run vineyards, the little bakery your guide knows because their aunt makes the pies. You don’t get that in a crowd. Small groups mean flexibility: if the weather turns, you can pivot; if you spot a wallaby, you stop. Small group tours naturally blend with luxury and eco experiences — all three are about quality over quantity. In Tasmania, that means fewer people, better access, and a deeper connection to place — sipping wine on a private deck one day, walking beneath ancient rainforest the next. It’s the perfect balance of comfort and authenticity.
What to know about small group tours in Tasmania
Firstly, the seasons dictate tour availability in Tasmania. Through winter schedules are lighter. You may not find the tour you’re after. Some coastal cruises, island tours and highland tours pause between June and August due to weather. Always check availability before booking if you’re visiting in winter.
The second thing most travellers want to know about is how much small group tours from Hobart cost? Prices range from around $150 for half-day trips to $300–$400 for full-day, luxury gourmet or unique experiences. Costs depend on inclusions of course!
8 Small-Group Tours from Hobart you’ll love
For travellers who want to feel like guests, not passengers, these seven small group tours from Hobart are the sweet spot between independence, deep connection, unique experiences, and ease.
What better could you wish for on your Tasmania adventures?
1. Explore MONA Like a Rockstar
This is the kind of tour you brag about later.
You’ll board a private ferry or sleek transfer, sip a signature cocktail, and walk right into MONA like you own the joint — before the crowds even arrive. The art, the architecture, the underground vaults — this is your backstage pass to Tasmania’s most provocative museum. You’ll wander the galleries, hear stories from insiders, and pause for wine or lunch in a garden that feels lifted from a dream. It’s not just a visit — it’s a moment carved out just for you.
Stops and experiences include:
- Private transport and skip-the-line access to MONA
- Signature drink on arrival or en route
- Guided walkthrough of MONA’s art, architecture, and hidden spaces
- Lunch or wine tasting (depending on variant)
- Time to explore MONA’s grounds, river views, and exhibits.
2. Adventure Kayak Tour from Hobart
Want to see Hobart from a completely different angle? This small group kayak tour from Hobart lets you paddle through the city’s pulse, then push out beyond the waterfront — cliffs, caves, wild stretches of coastline. You’ll float past Battery Point, drift under overhanging rock, and maybe see seals or dolphins swooping nearby.
There’s three options to choose from: a 2.5 hour tour, a 7 hour tour and a 10 hour tour. Each with different routes and inclusions.
They give you everything you need — kayak, life jacket, instruction — so even if you’ve never paddled before, you’ll feel safe. Choose the shorter harbor route, or stretch out into a full-day adventure to the Tasman Peninsula. Whichever you pick, you’ll remember how the wind felt and how the sea sounded long after.
Things you’l love:
- Hobart city waterfront paddling (in the Derwent Estuary) with views!
- Cliffs, sea caves, and beaches on extended tours
- Guided instruction and narration about Hobart’s maritime history
- Equipment, lunch (on longer tours), life jackets, and pickup/drop-off.
3. Signature Wine Tour – Coal River Valley
Just outside Hobart lies the Coal River Valley, where vines roll down to the river and cellar doors still feel personal. This small group wine tour takes you to boutique wineries that the big buses skip — places where the winemaker still pours the tastings and every stop feels like a genuine conversation.
You’ll sip pinot and sparkling that rarely leave Tasmania, sample local cheeses and produce, and take in views that make you slow down without even realising it. The pace is relaxed, the company small, and the hospitality pure Tasmania. If you’re chasing a day that blends good wine, good food, and local connection — this is the tour to book before it fills.
Things you’ll love:
- Tastings at three boutique wineries in the Coal River Valley
- Local cheese and produce pairings
- Scenic drive through rolling farmland and vineyards
- Small group transport with a passionate local guide
Reserve your seat on this popular wine tour –>
Eco Tours from Hobart
Tasmania is wild by nature — and the best small group tours from Hobart let you experience that without leaving a trace. You’ll walk beneath forests older than most countries, stand under waterfalls, and meet Tasmania’s wildlife face-to-face. These eco tours from Hobart blend small groups with adventure with conservation, showing local efforts to protect the island’s wild heart.
4. Mt Field, Bonorong & kunanyi Eco Day Tour
This small-group eco adventure begins with a drive up kunanyi / Mt Wellington for sweeping views of Hobart and the Derwent River. Then it’s on to Mount Field National Park, home to Russell Falls and some of the tallest trees on Earth. You’ll wander through ancient forest, breathe in air that smells like moss and rain, and finish the day at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, where rescued Tasmanian devils, wombats, and wallabies wait for feeding time.
It’s one of the most complete eco tours from Hobart — a full day of scenery, wildlife, and connection.
Things you’ll love:
- kunanyi / Mt Wellington summit views
- Magic Russell Falls and the tall-tree walk at Mount Field
- Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary encounters with Wombats and Devils
- Learning about wildlife conservation efforts to protect endangered species like the Devils.
Book your up close and personal wildlife experience–>
Luxury Tours from Hobart
Luxury tours and small group travel go together like good wine and cheese. But luxury in Tasmania isn’t about flash hotels or velvet ropes — it’s about access, detail, and care. It’s drifting along the coastline in a private yacht, eating oysters pulled from the water moments ago, or sharing a chef-prepared lunch with a handful of fellow travellers. These luxury tours from Hobart are indulgent, but never pretentious — exactly how Tasmania does luxury.
5. Luxury Yacht Scenic Sailing Tour
Who wouldn’t love stepping aboard a sleek yacht and sailing down the Derwent River toward the Southern Ocean? It’s a private, picturesque small-group journey where time slows and races at all once. Think gourmet snacks, local wine, and expansive views of Battery Point and kunanyi from the bays around Hobart – what a stunner!
Things you’ll love:
- Unique ocean-faring luxury yacht
- Gourmet Tasmanian snacks and wine
- Views of Battery Point, the Tasman Bridge, and the Derwent estuary
- Small-group sailing beautiful bays with a professional crew.
Sail Hobart in luxury. Book now –>
6. Tasmanian Seafood Seduction
This tour is as indulgent as it sounds.
You’ll cruise the D’Entrecasteaux Channel on a small boat while the crew dives for fresh abalone, sea urchin, and oysters. Everything is cooked on board and paired with local wine as you drift past the cliffs of Bruny Island. It’s part feast, part wilderness — and one of the most unforgettable luxury tours from Hobart.
Things you’ll love:
- Cruise along the D’Entrecasteaux Channel which is full of sealife like dolphins
- Onboard seafood harvest and chef-prepared lunch
- Wine pairings and Bruny Island scenery
- The intimate, luxury experience with live commentary from local experts.
Ready to tuck in to some spectacular seafood? Book your big day out now –>
7. Moorilla Big Day Out at MONA
This isn’t just your average museum visit. It begins with a fast ferry up the Derwent — a glass of bubbles in hand — and ends with an afternoon of wine, food, and provocative modern art at MONA, David Walsh’s infamous subterranean gallery.
You’ll enjoy a VIP tasting of Moorilla’s cool-climate wines at the source, linger over a two course lunch overlooking the vines, and explore the underground exhibits. It’s a day that feels distinctly Tasmanian: cultured, cheeky, and a bit irreverent. This tour is art-and-wine lover’s dream. Every detail — from ferry seating to wine pours — is handled with quiet precision. It’s luxury Tasmania at its most sophisticated, with that signature local wink.
Things you’ll love:
- Stunning views on the ferry ride up the Derwent
- Exclusive Moorilla Estate winery tour and tasting
- Two-course lunch with paired delicious cool climate wines overlooking the vines
- Fascinating and mind-boggling exhibits.
Fine wine and dining with art on the menu? Get your tickets now –>
8. Wineglass Bay Adults-Only Cruise
If you want to see Freycinet National Park in total comfort, this adults-only luxury cruise is it. It’s not strictly from Hobart, but it’s some rare, luxury, adults-only fun, so we had to include it. You just have to make your way from Hobart to Freycinet to jump on board…
Departing from Coles Bay, the boat glides past the Hazards mountain range and into the perfect arc of Wineglass Bay. While you enjoy the perfect scenery, a chef-prepared seafood lunch is served on board, with Tasmanian wine and stories from the localcrew.
It’s a happy, boozy, scenic combination of pure Tasmania coastal magic.
Things you’ll love:
- Wineglass Bay beach scenery
- Gourmet seafood and local produce lunch
- Local Tasmanian wine and beverages included
- Adults-only luxury vessel with onboard local commentary.
Adults only boozy boat cruise to Wineglass Bay? Yes please! –>
How to Choose the Right Small Group Tour from Hobart
If you want to see Tasmania properly, pick tours that match your interests, not your itinerary. Wine lovers should head to the Coal River Valley; foodies will love the Seafood Seduction; art-curious travellers can’t miss MONA. For nature and wildlife, eco tours around Mount Field and Bonorong are hard to beat.
If you’ve only got a few days, start close to Hobart — you can reach Bruny Island, Port Arthur, or Mount Field easily in a single day. But if time allows, combine small-group day trips with one or two multi-day Tasmania tours from Hobart to see more of the island without doubling back.
Plan Your Small Group Tour from Hobart
- Where to start: Begin with one of these day tours, then explore longer trips on the Tours from Hobart page.
- Best time to go: September to May offers the most options, best weather, and longer daylight hours.
- Getting there: Most tours include hotel pickup in Hobart. The SkyBus runs between Hobart Airport and the city every half hour.
- Check before you go: Does your tour include national parks? If so, are park entry fees covered or do you need a parks pass?
- What to bring: Layers, waterproof walking shoes, and curiosity. Tasmania’s microclimates mean sunshine and drizzle in the same hour.
What’s Next
- If you’re still deciding where to start, explore our full Tours from Hobart guide — packed with day trips, cruises, and themed adventures to every corner of southern Tasmania.
- Or head to our Tasmania Tours page to plan your journey across the island — from iconic national parks and whisky trails to the wild beaches of the East Coast.
FAQs
What makes small group tours from Hobart different?
Small group tours from Hobart keep things personal — fewer people, more flexibility, and real conversations with guides who live here. You won’t just stop for photos; you’ll hear stories, meet locals, and visit the kinds of places big buses can’t reach.
How many people are in a small group tour in Tasmania?
Most small group tours in Tasmania cap at around 8 to 12 guests. Some luxury or eco tours run with as few as six. That means less waiting around and more time at the places that matter.
Are small group tours from Hobart worth it?
Absolutely. The 7 tours we list 👆🏼 are designed for travellers who value experiences over schedules. They often include unique experiences, tastings, national park entry, and local guides who handle everything — perfect if you want to see Tasmania without driving.
What are the best small group day tours from Hobart?
Popular small group day tours from Hobart include the Signature Wine Tour through the Coal River Valley, eco tours to Mount Field and Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, and MONA’s Moorilla Wine & Art experiences. Each offers a different side of the island — gourmet, wild, or creative.
Are there eco-friendly small group tours from Hobart?
Yes. Many operators now focus on sustainability and conservation. The Mount Field, Bonorong & kunanyi eco day tour is one of the best examples, combining wildlife encounters, rainforest walks, and local guides who champion responsible travel.
What are some luxury small group tours from Hobart?
If you’re after indulgence, try the Tasmanian Seafood Seduction — a small boat, fresh-cooked seafood, and wine as you drift past Bruny Island — or the Luxury Yacht Scenic Sailing Tour along the Derwent River. These are the luxury tours from Hobart for premium travellers.
Can I do a food and wine tour as a small group experience?
Definitely. Some of the island’s best food and wine tours are small group tours from Hobart. The Coal River Valley and Moorilla Estate both offer personal tastings, winemaker chats, and local produce pairings you won’t get on big-group itineraries.
What wildlife can I see on small group eco tours from Hobart?
Expect to spot Tasmanian devils, wombats, wallabies, and even platypus on eco tours from Hobart. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary guarantees close encounters, while Mount Field offers wild sightings along forest walks and waterfalls.
Do small group tours from Hobart include hotel pickup?
Yes, most small group operators include hotel pickup and drop-off from central Hobart locations. Some also offer flexible meeting points near the waterfront for early departures.
Are there small group multi-day tours from Hobart?
Yes. Many Tasmania tours from Hobart are designed as 2- to 6-day small group adventures covering highlights like Freycinet, Cradle Mountain, and the Bay of Fires. They’re perfect if you want to see more without self-driving.
Do small group tours visit the big attractions like Port Arthur and Bruny Island?
Yes, many do. You’ll find small group tours to Port Arthur, Bruny Island, Mount Field, and Richmond, often with extras like harbour cruises or wildlife encounters. They’re more relaxed than large coach tours but cover the same iconic spots.
