Spread out across the mouth of the Derwent river, the enchantingly colonial city of Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is Australia's second oldest city. A city with a fascinating maritime past; a busy port and one of Australia's oldest markets. Sandstone warehouses, built way back when Hobart was first founded, stand next to the bustling Salamanca Market, where local produce and Tasmanian handicrafts are sold; the Tasmanian Art Gallery and Museum hold fascinating artefacts from across the island, and the Botanic Gardens- a riot of colours and fragrances- sprawl across the city, close to the centre.

And if things start getting too staid- you can always take time out to pay a visit to the delightful Cascade Brewery, Australia's oldest brewery, and the equally rewarding Cadbury Chocolate Factory. Or paint the town red, going from a nightclub to a pub to a casino.... yes, Hobart, for all its Georgian buildings, its long history and its high-brow cultural life, is still a typically Aussie city- one which knows how to enjoy life.