Kingston

Best things to do in Kingston, including free and rainy-day options

Kingston is a small Hobart suburb, not a sightseeing town: give it half a day for the foreshore, the bush tracks above the Channel and a coffee stop, then use it as a base for Hobart, the Huon and Richmond. Skip it as a destination if you have only two or three days in Tasmania.

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Updated Sep 20264 min read

GuideKingston

Key facts

Time needed: Half a day in Kingston itself; 1–2 nights if you use it as a Hobart base
Best for: Foreshore walks, easy bush tracks, family parks, day trips to Hobart and the Huon
Distance to Hobart CBDcheck: About 12 km north; roughly 15–20 minutes by car outside peak
Free options: Foreshore reserve and jetty area, playgrounds, coastal and bush walking tracks
Rainy-day options: Cafés in the Kingston Beach area; MONA, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the Hobart waterfront are a short drive north
Getting there: Metro Tasmania buses run between Kingston and Hobart; a car is easier for the Huon and Richmond
Best months: Nov–Apr for warm, longer days; winter is cool and wet but quiet

Choices at a glance

Kingston works as a low-key base rather than a checklist of attractions. Pick by how much time you have and what the weather is doing.

Choices at a glance
Option	Cost (2026 estimate)	Time	Best for
Kingston foreshore and jetty area	Free	1–1.5 hours	Sunset, kids, a flat easy walk
Bush and coastal tracks above the Channel	Free	1–3 hours	Walkers, views over the D'Entrecasteaux Channel
Cafés and bakeries in the Kingston Beach area	AUD 10–25 per person	45–90 minutes	Rainy mornings, breakfast
Day trip to Hobart (Salamanca, MONA, waterfront)	Bus fare or fuel; MONA entry AUD 20–40 (check)	Half to full day	Museums, markets, food
Day trip to Richmond	Fuel; about 30–40 minutes by car (check)	Half day	Historic village, bridge, wineries
Day trip into the Huon Valley	Fuel; 45–90 minutes each way (check)	Full day	Orchards, cider, forest drives

Prices are 2026 estimates; confirm current opening hours and fares locally (check).

The detail

Kingston sits on the western shore of the Derwent estuary, about 12 km south of central Hobart, with the Kingston Beach end facing the river mouth and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel beyond. The foreshore reserve and jetty area is the obvious first stop: a flat path, grass, a playground and water views, and it costs nothing. It is the kind of place locals use for an evening walk rather than a sight.

Above and behind the suburb, tracks climb into dry eucalypt bush with lookouts over the Channel and the river. These are short walks of one to three hours; take water, wear shoes with grip and check a local map or app before setting out, because signage is limited (check).

For a rainy day, Kingston itself is thin on indoor attractions. The practical move is to drive or take the bus north into greater Hobart: Salamanca Place and the waterfront, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, and MONA at Berriedale are the standard wet-weather options, with MONA the one worth booking ahead (check).

Kingston also makes a sensible base if you want cheaper or quieter accommodation than central Hobart while still being close to the city, the Huon Valley and Richmond. It is less useful if you are relying on public transport for everything, because services are suburban rather than tourist-oriented (check).

Foreshore reserve and jetty area — free, flat, good at sunset
Bush tracks above the Channel — free, 1–3 hours, limited signage
Kingston Beach cafés — breakfast and coffee, AUD 10–25
Hobart day trip — Salamanca, waterfront, MONA
Richmond day trip — historic village and bridge
Huon Valley day trip — orchards, cider and forest roads

What it costs

The core of a Kingston day is free: the foreshore, the playgrounds and the walking tracks cost nothing. Budget for food and transport instead.

What it costs
Item	2026 estimate
Foreshore and walking tracks	Free
Coffee and cake	AUD 8–15
Café breakfast or lunch	AUD 15–30 per person
Metro Tasmania bus, Kingston to Hobart	AUD 5–10 each way (check)
Fuel, Kingston to Richmond return	About AUD 10–15 (check)
MONA entry	AUD 20–40, book ahead (check)

Tips

Do Kingston as a half day and spend the rest in Hobart or the Huon; there is not a full day of sights here.
Weather turns fast in southern Tasmania — carry a light rain shell even on a clear morning.
A car makes the Huon Valley and Richmond far easier; buses are fine for Hobart but slow for day trips (check).
Book MONA and popular Hobart restaurants ahead in summer and during the January arts season (check).
Sunset over the Channel from the foreshore is the best free thing in the suburb.

Questions people ask

What are the best things to do in Kingston?

Walk the foreshore reserve and jetty area, follow the short bush tracks above the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, and eat at the Kingston Beach cafés. Then use the suburb as a base for Hobart, Richmond and the Huon Valley. Half a day covers Kingston itself.

What are free things to do in Kingston?

The foreshore reserve, jetty area and playgrounds are free, as are the coastal and bush walking tracks above the suburb. Sunset over the Channel costs nothing. Most paid activity in the area is in Hobart, a short drive or bus ride north.

What can I do in Kingston when it rains?

Kingston has few indoor attractions, so head into greater Hobart: the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Salamanca and the waterfront, or MONA at Berriedale. Cafés in the Kingston Beach area work for a wet morning. Check opening hours and book MONA ahead.

Is Kingston worth visiting if I only have a few days in Tasmania?

Not as a destination. With two or three days, stay in Hobart and visit Kingston only if you want a quiet foreshore walk. It is more useful as a base for a longer stay, when you can also reach the Huon Valley and Richmond.

Do I need a car in Kingston?

A car helps. Metro Tasmania buses connect Kingston with Hobart, but the Huon Valley, Richmond and the bush tracks are much easier by car. If you are staying in Kingston without a car, plan your days around Hobart instead.

Deep dive

Every source; changeable facts are marked check