Hobart’s pubs tell stories. In 2 hours 30 minutes, you follow guide Dave through old streets, convict-era echoes, maritime legends, and the rise of Hobart’s social scene, all while ticking off four bar stops for craft tastings.

What I like most is the way the tour pairs history with real, present-day drinking culture. You’re not stuck with facts in a lecture; you’re learning as you walk, then sampling Tasmanian beer, cider, or wine where locals still gather. A second big plus: it’s capped at a small group size (maximum 15), so the guide can keep the pace human and the questions coming.

One thing to consider up front: there’s no food included. If you’re prone to getting too hungry (or too tipsy) on a drinking tour, eat beforehand and plan a slower pace during tastings.

Key highlights worth planning for

• Four drinking venues, one guided storyline: you get samples at every stop while the history threads stay connected.
• Salamanca Place old buildings: bars inside some of Hobart’s oldest structures set the tone fast.
• Australia’s oldest pub stop: you’ll visit the oldest pub in Australia as part of the walk.
• Franklin Square’s “dubious” statues: a quick, memorable stop that turns names and characters into a story.
• Small group cap of 15: less chaos, better guide attention, and an easier walking rhythm.
• A guide with real stage energy: past guides have included Dave (Gregg/Short Fat Dave) and Josh, both bringing enthusiasm and humor.

Hobart’s Liquid History Pub Tour: what you’re really paying for

This isn’t a generic pub crawl with a microphone and a route. The value is the mix: you get a walking tour that explains how Hobart became Hobart, plus drink stops that keep you in the mood to listen. With craft beers, cider, and wine made on the island, the tastings don’t feel like an afterthought. They’re part of the point: Hobart’s past lives alongside its current food-and-drink culture.

At $82.48 per person for about 2.5 hours, you’re paying for a guide, the route, and alcohol at multiple venues. The smartest way to judge price is to think about how much you’d spend just doing four drinks on your own, then add the benefit of someone narrating the city while you’re walking. If you like guided context (and you’re fine with a drinking experience), this lands in the good-value zone.

The 2.5-hour walking rhythm: meeting at Macquarie Street, ending at Salamanca Place

The tour starts at 65 Macquarie St, Hobart TAS 7000. You’ll finish in Salamanca Place, in one of the venues there. That matters because Salamanca Place sits right in the heart of where people want to be after a tour: easy to keep wandering, snack, or settle into an evening plan.

The duration is listed as about 2 hours 30 minutes, so it’s long enough to feel like you did something, not so long that your legs and patience fully give out. Because it’s a walking tour, you’ll want to wear shoes you trust. Also, you’re stopping at multiple places for drinks, which naturally slows the pace. Plan to be present, not racing ahead for photos.

Stop 1: Salamanca Place and the charm of bars inside older buildings

Salamanca Place is where the tour’s mood clicks into place. You’ll spend around 30 minutes here, stepping into one or two of Hobart’s oldest buildings where the bars are actually inside. That setting helps you understand why this kind of drinking tour works in Hobart: the city doesn’t just have old sights nearby. Some of the old structures are still part of daily life.

If you like atmosphere, this is your early win. The tour’s story also benefits from this stop because you’re not just hearing the words. You’re standing in places that carry the physical “weight” of the past, then transitioning into modern craft pours.

Potential drawback: Salamanca Place is popular, so if you prefer quiet, you may have to accept some crowd energy while you’re there.

Stop 2: Australia’s oldest pub, and the stories that come with it

Next comes the big historical anchor: a stop at Australia’s oldest pub. Expect about 30 minutes here to enjoy a drink in the pub itself. For history lovers, this is the kind of stop that makes the walking tour feel legitimate. You’re not just visiting streets and squares; you’re going into an institution that still operates.

This is also where the guide’s humor and delivery matter. Your stories include early settlers and convict heritage, plus maritime legends and how Hobart’s social scene grew. The guide ties those themes back to what you can see inside and around the pub, which helps it stick.

Practical note: because your tour includes alcohol at each venue, it’s smart to take your time with your first drink choice and see how your body responds.

Stop 3: Franklin Square and the statues with dubious character

Franklin Square is brief—about 10 minutes—but it’s memorable for a very specific reason: it’s a square with statues to men described as of dubious character. That quick dose of “wait, really?” turns the usual monument experience into something more fun and less stiff.

What you get here is a tonal reset. You’re moving from drinking and pub buildings into a small open-air pause where the guide can explain personalities, reputations, and the way history gets recorded. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys human stories—fraudsters, heroes, and the messy middle—this stop delivers a nice jolt.

The remaining sip stop(s): how you’ll fit four venues into four pockets of time

Your tour experience is built around four local watering holes. The structured stops you’ll hear named are Salamanca Place, Australia’s oldest pub, and Franklin Square—then you’ll have another bar/venue stop woven into the route between those sights.

Because the tour includes drink samples at each of the four venues, you should treat it like a paced itinerary, not like a race. You’ll be walking between stops, listening to the guide, and then stopping to sample a drink. That rhythm makes the total length (about 2.5 hours) feel right.

If you’re hoping to pack in a bunch of extra stops after, you can, but give yourself time to slow down once you finish in Salamanca Place. You’ll already have the pub “taste” of the city; the next step is deciding what you actually want to return for.

What’s included: alcohol at each venue, no food

At each of the four venues, you’re offered a choice of beer, wine, or cider. The tastings are described as samples of Tasmania’s craft products made on the island.

Two practical points matter here:

First, there’s no snacks or food included. That’s not a small detail. Alcohol hits harder on an empty stomach, and you’ll want energy for walking. Eat before you go, and if you’re sensitive to alcohol, go easy on your pours.

Second, alcohol is still alcohol even if beer and wine are mostly water. The tour notes that beer is generally around 95% water and wine around 88% water. That fact can be reassuring, but it’s not permission to sprint through drinks. Stay hydrated and pace yourself.

Drink-smart tips that keep the tour fun (not messy)

The tour is designed to be social and enjoyable, but you’re the one who controls the pace. Here are the habits that make these tours work for most people:

• Choose one category and stick with it: if you’re rotating beer, wine, and cider every stop, the drinks can stack up faster.
• Take water seriously: even with the water content in beer/wine, your body still needs fluids.
• Use the walking time: listen on the move, then slow down at each bar stop.
• Eat first: since there are no snacks, this is your best defense.

If you don’t drink much, this tour may still be enjoyable for the stories, but the core experience is built around drink samples. In other words, it works best when you’re comfortable with a light-to-moderate drinking setup.

Guide energy: Dave (Gregg/Short Fat Dave) and Josh-style storytelling

This tour leans heavily on the guide’s personality. The information you’re given is delivered with humor and enthusiasm, and that personality has shown up in past guides. Reviews mention Dave (Gregg/Short Fat Dave) as entertaining and informative, and Josh as enthusiastic with plenty of stories about Hobart and colonial settlement across Tasmania.

There’s also a fun detail from how the experience runs: some groups have included trainee guides alongside the main guide. That matters because it can mean you hear the story in multiple layers—more conversation, more energy, and sometimes extra context where a trainee asks questions or adds delivery.

Bottom line: if you like history with a friendly voice, this tour is built for you.

Price and value: is $82.48 fair for a 4-venue, guided walk?

Let’s look at what you get for the money in practical terms. You’re paying for:

• A guided walking tour in a historic area of Hobart
• Visits connected to convict heritage, maritime legends, and social history
• Alcoholic beverages (beer/wine/cider) offered at four venues
• A group size that stays small (maximum 15)
• A time commitment of about 2.5 hours, ending in a convenient central spot

If you plan to pay for drinks anyway, the drink inclusions make the package feel more balanced than a standard walking tour. You’re essentially bundling four bar stops into one guided experience, and that can save you time deciding where to go next.

If you’re on a tight budget or you don’t want to drink alcohol, the value equation changes. In that case, you might prefer a city walking history tour that doesn’t center on tastings.

Who this tour suits best

This fits best if you:

• Want Hobart history you can feel in real places, not just read from a sign
• Like learning from a guide who tells stories with humor
• Are happy to do a light drinking experience as part of sightseeing
• Prefer small-group tours where the guide can keep the conversation flowing

It may not fit as well if you:

• Need a food-and-drinks package (this tour doesn’t include food)
• Don’t want alcohol involved at all
• Want a quiet, museum-style history experience without pub atmosphere

Should you book Hobart’s Liquid History Pub Tour?

I’d book it if you want a fun, guided way to understand Hobart’s past while sampling the island’s craft drinks in historic venues. The mix of old buildings, an Australia-old pub stop, and a short Franklin Square moment gives you enough variety to avoid boredom, and the small group size helps keep things friendly.

However, I wouldn’t book it if you hate the idea of drinking during a tour or you’re not comfortable eating beforehand. With no snacks provided, that’s the one thing you have to plan around yourself.

If you’re good with that—and you’d rather spend your afternoon listening to stories in place than just hopping between bars—you’ll likely have a solid time.

FAQ

How long is the Hobart’s Liquid History Pub Tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes.

How much does it cost per person?

The price is $82.48 per person.

What is included in the ticket?

You’re offered alcoholic beverages at each of the four venues, with a choice of beer, wine, or cider.

Is food included?

No. Snacks, lunch, and dinner are not included.

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts at 65 Macquarie St, Hobart TAS 7000, and finishes in Salamanca Place (one of the venues there).

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.