Hobart is situated on the spectacular Derwent River Estuary on the northern edge of Storm Bay.  The eastern side of the bay is fringed by the Tasman Peninsula, to the west by Bruny Island and to the south by the Southern Ocean.  The surrounding coastlines feature spectacular dolerite cliffs and pinnacles, blowholes and abundant wildlife.

Derwent Estuary (Hobart Harbor)

For a trip on the peaceful upper Derwent Estuary from Hobart Docks in a vintage ferry, try Captain Fell's Historic Ferries.  Capt Fells also does dinner cruises.

Or for more luxurious trips including lunchtime cruises from the Hobart docks, but on more modern catamarans, there's Navigators.   Navigators also operate the regular ferry trips to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) at Berriedale.

On weekends, the replica square rigged vessel Lady Nelson runs 90 minute harbour cruises with square sails set.  It operates from the docks near the Elizabeth Street pier in Hobart.

For a short, budget tour, try Hobart Yellow Water Cabs. 

For a day cruise along the western edge of the estuary to the d'Entrecasteaux Channel between Bruny Island and the mainland, including lunch, in a modern catamaran, try Peppermint Bay Cruises.

For a high speed adventure from the Hobart docks, there's Wild Thing Adventures or Hobart Harbour Jetboat.

Tasman Peninsula

To see the sealife and spectacular coastal scenery of the Tasman Peninsula in a fast boat, try Tasman Adventure Cruises (formerly Sealife).  This trip can be combined with a night spotlighting tour to see Tasmanian devils on private land on the peninsula.  They operate from Dunalley on the way to Port Arthur and 8am pickups for the morning tour can be arranged in Hobart.

Pennicott's Cruises also operate a fast boat trip around the Tasman Peninsula from a base near Port Arthur.  7.45am pickups at their base in Hobart can be arranged.

Both these trips can be combined with a tour of Port Arthur.

Bruny island

Simlar to the Tasman Peninsula Tours, a fast boat cruise around Bruny Island is operated by Bruny Wildlife Adventure.  The tour starts at Hobart docks and travels to Bruny island by modern catamaran, then by bus on the island to the high speed boat base at the southern end of the island.  Lunch and gourmet food tour included.

Pennicott's also operate a fast boat cruise around Bruny Island. The tour travels by bus to Kettering, across to Bruny Island on the ferry then onto their fast boat base on the island.  Lunch included.  You can also join the tour at Kettering or the fast boat base. 

East Coast

If you want to venture further afield, East Coast Cruises offer a day trip around World Heritage listed, convict era Maria Island.  There's a connecting bus service from Hobart.