A pier that points back at the mountain
Walk to the far end and turn around. The city stacks up behind you: sandstone warehouses, the office blocks of the CBD, and kunanyi/Mount Wellington above all of it. Elizabeth Street Pier runs out from Franklin Wharf into Sullivans Cove. That puts you among working fishing boats and moored yachts, with the Derwent opening out past the harbour mouth.
The pier holds one long, low building. The ground floor is restaurants and bars facing the water. The upper level is accommodation. For most visitors it works as a place to eat with the cove at eye level, then set off along the wharves.
What sits along the boards
This isn’t a museum or a monument. What you get is the waterfront itself: fishing trawlers tied up alongside, gulls on the bollards, and the regular traffic of boats coming and going from the cove. Reviewers consistently rate it well, and they mostly praise that setting more than any single venue.
Outdoor tables catch the harbour view, but the wind off the Derwent can cut through even on sunny days. Pack a layer whatever the forecast says. Hobart weather turns quickly, and the end of a pier is the most exposed spot on the waterfront.
Getting there on foot
Hobart’s waterfront is compact, so walking is the easiest way in. From the CBD, head down Elizabeth Street past Franklin Square toward the water, and the pier is straight ahead where the street meets Franklin Wharf. Buses from the suburbs stop around the Elizabeth Street and Franklin Square area, a short walk away.
- From Salamanca Place: follow the waterfront north past Princes Wharf. It’s a flat, easy walk.
- From Constitution Dock: you’re practically there. The dock is right next door.
- From Brooke Street Pier: it’s the neighbouring pier, where the MONA ferry leaves.
- Driving: street parking near the waterfront fills up fast. A CBD car park and a short walk is usually less hassle.
Eating on Franklin Wharf
Seafood is the waterfront’s specialty. The trawlers moored along this stretch are a big part of the reason. Menus and prices change from one venue on the pier to the next, and they’re posted at each door, so walk the length of the building before you pick one.
Right next door, the fish punts moored at Constitution Dock serve fish and chips from floating kiosks. People eat them on the edge of the dock. That makes a good casual option if you’d rather save the sit-down meal on the pier for the evening, when the city lights reflect across the cove.
Timing a waterfront evening
Plan around a sit-down meal and the light. Book ahead for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, and around big waterfront events. Walk-ins at a waterside table get much harder then.
- Late December: the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race finishes in this part of the harbour. Boats tie up nearby, and crowds pack the docks around New Year.
- June: the Dark Mofo winter festival brings people into the city after dark. Waterfront dinners fill up.
- Saturdays: Salamanca Market runs a short walk south, so you can pair a morning at the stalls with lunch on the pier.
Weekday lunches outside those periods are generally the easiest time to get a table without planning.
Where to wander next
The pier is a good base because the best of central Hobart is close by. Within ten minutes on foot you can reach:
- Salamanca Place: a row of 1830s sandstone warehouses now full of galleries, shops and bars, with Battery Point’s lanes climbing behind them.
- Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: just back from Constitution Dock. Its collections cover Tasmanian Aboriginal history, colonial art and natural science.
- Brooke Street Pier: where you catch the ferry up the Derwent to MONA, Hobart’s big modern art museum.
- Franklin Square: a small leafy park a block inland, handy for a sit-down away from the wind.
On a clear evening, finish at the end of Elizabeth Street Pier. The last light catches kunanyi, and the yachts across the cove swing slowly on their moorings.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Elizabeth Street Pier?
It's on Franklin Wharf on Hobart's Sullivans Cove waterfront, at the bottom of Elizabeth Street. Constitution Dock and Brooke Street Pier are right next to it, and Salamanca Place is a short walk south.
How long should I spend there?
Around an hour covers a meal and a stroll to the end of the pier. Set aside half a day if you're adding Salamanca Place, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or Constitution Dock.
Do I need to book a restaurant on the pier?
It's smart to book for Friday and Saturday dinners, and during late December and June when the yacht race and Dark Mofo bring crowds. Weekday lunches are usually easier without a booking. Opening hours differ by venue, so check each one before you go.
Is there parking nearby?
Street parking near the waterfront is limited and fills up quickly. It's usually easier to park in a CBD car park and walk down Elizabeth Street to the water.
What's the best time of year to visit?
Summer brings long evenings and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race finish around New Year. Winter has Dark Mofo in June. The wind off the Derwent can be cold in any season, so bring a layer.
Plan your trip to Hobart
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