Action-packed calendar set for Queens Domain and the Derwent

<div>The Royal Hobart Regatta is kind of a big deal. Tasmania’s oldest sporting event and one of the biggest regattas in the Southern Hemisphere, it is a highlight of Australia’s calendar and, taking…
The Royal Hobart Regatta is kind of a big deal. Tasmania’s oldest sporting event and one of the biggest regattas in the Southern Hemisphere, it is a highlight of Australia’s calendar and, taking place in mid summer, a fantastic time to visit the beautiful island state. The three-day extravaganza is over a three-day weekend in February each year and provides a whole lot of fun and excitement for spectators and participants alike.
 
In 2016, the Regatta will take place from the 6th to the 8th of February. Grab a car hire and start making plans to catch this unforgettable event!
 

What’s on

 
There’s more than just boating on the schedule for the Hobart Regatta in 2016, although that’s certainly one of the major draw cards - and the sight of colourful sails filling the Derwent River and Estuary is one you won’t want to miss!
 
On the water
Saturday, the first day of the Hobart Regatta, kicks off with the Bruny Island Race for keelboats, and the rest of the weekend’s sailing events include small yacht classes racing, a Twilight Race and the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy. There are also rowing races, jet ski races and public rides, kayaking and canoeing events and the famous Trans-Derwent Swim. Powerboat racing is also returning to the regatta in 2016, providing a particularly spectacular event for those watching.
 
Hobart Regatta
 
Landside
You needn’t get your feet wet to enjoy the Royal Hobart Regatta! Woodchopping is one of the centerpiece events on dry land, pitting men and women against each other in a number of doubles and singles competitions. There is also a Regatta Ambassador Quest, judged on Saturday and announced on Monday, carnival rides and sideshows, and a concert on Monday evening with performances by Tasmania’s Army Band and Navy Band. This will be followed by a spectacular fireworks display.
 
This is not an exhaustive list - more performances, activities and entertainment will be on offer at Queens Domain throughout the weekend, so get down there and see what you can find. There’s also the food - tantalise your tastebuds with the flavours of Tasmania thanks to food trucks and stalls set up along the foreshore. 
 
In the sky
If there isn’t enough to see at eye level, just look up. The Regatta each year features aerobatic displays by various flying teams including “The Roulettes” which are part of the Royal Australian Air Force. Navy helicopters also offer rescue displays, a fascinating spectacle to watch. 
 
hobart regatta air show
 

Get to the Regatta and beyond

Hobart is the major gateway to Tasmania, the place you’ll most likely arrive if you are travelling by air. The best way to enjoy the Regatta and more of the area is to collect a car hire at Hobart Airport and hit the road to see what you want, when you want. 
 
Highlights in and around the city include Salamanca Place and Markets, Mount Wellington, the various beaches, Cascade and other breweries and the Royal Botanic Gardens. It’s less than two hours’ drive from Hobart to Port Arthur Historic Site, or into the Southwest National Park.
 
Devonport is where the ferries from Melbourne arrive in Tasmania. Pick up a Devonport car rental and you can make your way to Hobart for the regatta via the many attractions of Tasmania. 
 
Stop in and see the stunning Freycinet National Park on the east coast, or go west and immerse yourself in the great wilderness on that side of the island. To drive straight to Hobart from Devonport on the Midland Highway takes less than four hours.
 
Hobart car rental
 
Consider beginning your journey with a car rental from Launceston Airport or catch the Spirit of Tasmania across from the mainland with a car hire from Melbourne Airport, Adelaide Airport or make a longer trip out of it with a Sydney or Cairns Airport car hire.
Sarah Glover Administrator of Airport Rentals