Collection: Electric Bikes in Hobart

Discover the hidden wonders of one of Australia's most charming cities from the comfort of an e-bike. With its vibrant metropolis set against natural parks and historical attractions, Hobart is a city that will surely delight you. 

The capital city of Tasmania is the country’s second oldest capital city, just behind Sydney. Home to around 250,000 people, it is one of the least-populated capital cities in Australia. 

But despite its sparse population and relatively smaller area, it is a premier tourist destination, drawing almost a million visitors between 2022 and 2023. This is thanks to the city’s unique mix of natural attractions and cultural and historical landmarks, including architecture that witnessed Hobart’s 19th-century convict era. 

If you want to learn more about Hobart’s heritage, visit the Convict Penitentiary Chapel and the Cascades Female Factory, two of the few remaining convict-built buildings, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery that houses fossils, paintings, and Aboriginal artefacts.

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Mount Wellington, Hobart offers no shortage of scenic natural views. You can hike or ride to the mountain's highest point on one of its many trails, or you can head off towards the gorgeous Bruny Island, where you can swim, kayak, or go whale-watching.

Before the day ends, take some time to explore the Greater Hobart metropolitan area. Visit the popular Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), shop for souvenirs in the open-air Salamanca Market, and enjoy a meal in one of the city’s many cafes and restaurants. 

Hobart is a remarkable city that unfortunately suffers from problematic public transportation.

The city centre itself is compact and walkable, and you will find a very high concentration of commuters who usually take the bus—the most affordable way to get around Hobart.

However, commuters often complain about late arrivals and last-minute cancellations, overcrowded buses, and a lack of drivers. If you are rushing to an important appointment, you may have to take a taxi, which can be expensive.

And while Hobart has a relatively low car ownership rate compared to other major Australian cities, the city's infrastructure was not designed to accommodate its growing population. As a result, the city suffers from heavy congestion, despite having fewer cars on the road.

More problems occur the farther away you move from the central business district (CBD), where residents of outlying suburbs suffer from limited access to buses and other forms of public transportation.

Fortunately, Hobart has taken a progressive approach to alternative modes of transportation like electric bikes, giving its residents and tourists a more convenient way to get around the city. 

Similar to other Australian cities like Perth and Adelaide, riding an electric bike is legal in Hobart as long as it belongs to one of the two categories below:

• A bicycle propelled through pedalling with a motor that generates at most 200W
• An electrically power-assisted bicycle (EPAC) with a motor that generates a maximum continuous rated power of 250W (cuts off at 25 KPH)

For more information about riding legalities in Hobart, check out this link.

Hobart residents enjoy a mild temperate oceanic climate characterised by warm and humid summers and cool and wet winters. Compared to other Australian cities, it receives fewer hours of sunshine per day. 

Being surrounded by mountains protects the cities from cold winds. On the other hand, its coastal location can bring forth sudden rain—causing an otherwise sunny day to turn dreary. 

For this reason, if you are planning to tour the city on an electric bike, make sure to prepare for unexpected downpours. Aside from bringing a raincoat or an umbrella, make sure you use an e-bike with a high water-resistance level that is equipped to ride through rain and puddles. 

Adventurous riders are bound to have a lot of fun in Hobart, as this city is quite known for its hilly terrain. If you are a resident or planning to stay in the city for a while, it is best to invest in an all-terrain electric bike with excellent hill-climbing capabilities.

For those in search of adrenaline-pumping rides, take your e-mountain bike or off-road e-bike on the challenging trails to the summit of Mount Wellington. Just be sure to watch out for steep descents and sharp bends! 

However, hills can be a bit daunting if you are new to electric bikes, so we suggest sticking to the city’s CBD, where there are beginner-friendly paths and roads. You can also enjoy the flat and paved trails of New Town and the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens—both perfect for relaxing cruises and scenic rides. 

You may also find fellow riders zooming around Hobart’s popular attractions like the Salamanca Market and the historic district of Battery Point.

Riding e bikes in Hobart is safe and widely encouraged, but riders are expected to obey specific rules and regulations. Riders must:

• Wear an approved electric bike helmet.
• Obey the speed limits.
• Carry a passenger only if the e-bike is designed to carry one (the cyclist and the passenger must both be wearing helmets)
• Not actively use their mobile phone while riding.
• Not ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Give way to pedestrians on footpaths and shared paths.

Keep all these guidelines in mind and enjoy your ride around the city!