Hobart Harbour Stays: Battery Point and Constitution Dock
The three hotels on this Hobart harbour page share a rating of 9.0 and sit within a short walk of Sullivan's Cove, the old port where Constitution Dock, Salamanca Place and the ferry wharves meet. Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart overlooks the Derwent River and Constitution Dock directly. St Ives Apartments and Lenna Of Hobart are in Battery Point, the historic maritime quarter just above Salamanca, with balconies or rooms looking over the harbour. The choice is between a full-service hotel on the water and a quieter heritage street a few minutes uphill. I set out what each one offers.
Hobart grew around its deep-water harbour on the Derwent River, and the port still shapes the centre: Sullivan's Cove holds Constitution Dock, the sandstone warehouses of Salamanca Place and the ferry wharves, while Battery Point, the old maritime village, rises just behind. Mount Wellington, known as kunanyi, stands over the city, and the Sydney to Hobart yacht race finishes at Constitution Dock at the end of December each year.
Harbour views from Battery Point and Sullivan's Cove
Hobart's harbour is the reason most visitors stay in the city centre: the fishing boats at Constitution Dock, the Saturday Salamanca Market and the ferries upriver to MONA all start here. Staying within walking distance means you can leave the car parked for the whole trip. I would choose by the view you want and the kind of room, since the three ratings are identical.
Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart is the one directly on the water. It overlooks the Derwent River and Constitution Dock, and its indoor pool looks out to Mount Wellington, with a fitness club and several dining options. It is a short walk from Salamanca Wharf and the CBD, and with 4,495 reviews it is the most reviewed hotel on this page. For a first visit, when you want the harbour outside the door and a pool after a day of walking, it is the most convenient base. It is a large hotel, so expect a full-service stay rather than a quiet one.
St Ives Apartments, in historic Battery Point, offers spacious self-contained apartments with cooking facilities, free WiFi and cable TV, and some have balconies with harbour or city views. It is a short walk to Salamanca Market and the waterfront, and its rating of 9.0 comes from 3,684 reviews, a strong record over time. I would choose it for a stay of several nights, or for a family that wants to cook and spread out. If the harbour view matters to you, ask for one of the apartments with a balcony, because not all of them have one.
Lenna Of Hobart is a restored mansion in Battery Point Village, a short walk from Sullivan's Cove and Salamanca Place. Rooms have flat-screen cable TV and panoramic views over the harbour, the mountain, the city or the park, depending on the room, and free off-street parking is available, which is rare this close to the waterfront. Its 9.0 rating comes from 1,856 reviews. It suits travellers who want heritage character and a car parked nearby, and who prefer the quieter streets of Battery Point to the hotel blocks around the docks.
With identical ratings, the decision comes down to the type of stay. For a pool and a hotel right on Constitution Dock, choose Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart. For an apartment with a kitchen and possibly a balcony over the harbour, St Ives Apartments. For a restored mansion with panoramic views and free parking, Lenna Of Hobart. All three put the Saturday Salamanca Market, the fishing boats of Constitution Dock and the ferry to MONA within an easy walk, so the harbour is on your doorstep whichever one you pick. If you still cannot decide, I would let the length of your stay settle it.
A traveler's takeI would choose Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart for a first visit, because it sits on Constitution Dock and adds an indoor pool with Mount Wellington views. For a longer stay my pick is St Ives Apartments in Battery Point, with a kitchen and possibly a harbour balcony. My advice if you are driving is Lenna Of Hobart, a restored mansion with free off-street parking a short walk from Salamanca Place.
Harbour & MarinaHotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
★4.5Harbour views, an indoor pool, and a prime spot near Salamanca Wharf
Why guests love itHotel Grand Chancellor Hobart overlooks the Derwent River and Constitution Dock, so the fishing boats and the waterfront are part of the view from day one. Children can swim in the indoor pool, which looks out towards Mount Wellington, a welcome option in Tasmania's cooler months. Salamanca Wharf and the CBD are a short walk away, which suits families who want to visit the Saturday market area without driving or parking.
Harbour & MarinaLenna Of Hobart
★4.5A restored heritage mansion with harbour views near Salamanca Place
Why guests love itI recommend Lenna Of Hobart to families who enjoy a heritage setting with modern rooms. The restored mansion sits in Battery Point Village, a short walk from Sullivan's Cove and Salamanca Place, and rooms and suites in an adjoining building have contemporary furnishings and views of the harbour, mountain, city or a park. Free off-street parking is available. Guests rate it 9.0 from more than 1,800 reviews.
Harbour & MarinaSt Ives Apartments
★4.5Self-contained apartments in historic Battery Point, close to the waterfront
Why guests love itSt Ives Apartments are self-contained and set in historic Battery Point, with cooking facilities, free WiFi and cable TV. Some apartments have balconies with harbour or city views. Salamanca Market and the waterfront are a short walk, and the streets nearby hold restaurants and antique shops. That makes it a good fit for a family that wants to cook some meals and walk the rest. Guests rate it 9.0 from nearly 3,700 reviews.
Local tips
- 1All three hotels are rated 9.0, so choose by the type of room rather than by score.
- 2Ask St Ives Apartments for a balcony apartment if you want a harbour view, since only some have one.
- 3Lenna Of Hobart offers free off-street parking, unusual this close to Salamanca Place.
- 4Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart is the only one with a pool, an indoor pool facing Mount Wellington.
- 5Salamanca Market runs on Saturdays, a short walk from Battery Point and Constitution Dock.
- 6Late December brings the Sydney to Hobart yacht race finish to Constitution Dock, so book early for those dates.