At a glance
- Service
- SkyBus Hobart City Express, turn up and go, no booking needed
- Trip time
- About 30 minutes on average, according to Hobart Airport
- Where to board
- Outside the arrivals hall forecourt (Gate 1), to the right of the yellow bus shelter
- Adult fare
- $24.00 one way, $44.00 return, as of 19 October 2026
- City stops
- Five: Grand Chancellor Hotel, Brooke Street Pier, Visitor Information Centre, DoubleTree by Hilton and RACV/RACT Hobart Apartment Hotel
- How to pay
- Online, SkyBus app, airport e-kiosk, driver or tap and go. Card only.
- Taxi fee
- $2.90 airport access fee added to the fare
- Help
- Hobart Airport 03 6216 1600
The public transport option from Hobart Airport to the city is the SkyBus Hobart City Express, which Hobart Airport says takes about 30 minutes on average and stops at five places in central Hobart. An adult ticket costs $24.00 one way, as of 19 October 2026, and you do not need to book.
This guide covers where the bus stops at the airport, the five city stops, the Monday timetable as published by SkyBus, what each ticket costs and how to pay, and the taxi and rideshare options if you would rather not take the bus. Everything below comes from Hobart Airport’s bus page and the SkyBus Hobart Express pages, read on Monday 19 October 2026.
How does the SkyBus from Hobart Airport work?
Hobart Airport describes SkyBus as a fast, low-cost transfer on the Hobart Express service, running all year round to the centre of Hobart. The airport says the Hobart Express meets major scheduled flights seven days a week. SkyBus itself says it runs 365 days a year.
SkyBus calls the service “turn up and go”, so you do not choose a specific date and time when you buy. Two of the buses on the route are fully electric, which the airport and SkyBus both mention. SkyBus lists free WiFi on board and onboard luggage storage among the features of the service.
Where do I catch the bus at the airport?
The buses stop outside the arrivals hall forecourt, which the airport calls Gate 1, to the right of the yellow bus shelter. After you collect your bags from the carousels, use the nearest set of doors. SkyBus lists the airport stop as kerbside outside the terminal.
You can buy a ticket in several places:
- Online, or in the SkyBus app, before you board. The ticket is electronic and you show it on your phone to the driver.
- At one of two SkyBus e-kiosks inside the terminal near the baggage carousels.
- At the ticketing booth next to the car rental desks in the Arrivals area. If the booth is unattended, the airport says you can buy from the SkyBus driver outside Arrivals.
- From the driver when you board.
SkyBus says Hobart City Express ticket purchases are by credit card only, including at the e-kiosks. There is also tap and go: SkyBus says you can tap a card or smartphone as you board, and that it is available for one-way adult fares.
Which stops does the SkyBus make in the city?
SkyBus lists five city stops. The times below are from the Monday timetable on SkyBus’s site, for the 7:45am departure from the airport.
| Stop | Where | Arrives (7:45am from airport) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Grand Chancellor Hotel | Bus stop on Campbell Street, opposite the Hotel Grand Chancellor | 8:15am |
| 2 Brooke Street Pier | Mona ferry terminal on Franklin Wharf | 8:18am |
| 3 Visitor Information Centre | Bus stop opposite the centre, Elizabeth Street | 8:20am |
| 4 DoubleTree by Hilton Hobart | Bus stop at 179 Macquarie Street | 8:27am |
| 5 RACV/RACT Hobart Apartment Hotel | Bus stop at 119 Collins Street | 8:30am |
On that run the bus reaches the first city stop 30 minutes after leaving the airport, and the last stop 45 minutes after. If your hotel is near the end of the loop, allow for that.
Is there a sixth stop at the Old Woolstore?
Not any more. Hobart Airport’s page says there are six stops in the city, but it names only five, and its list matches the five that SkyBus shows. SkyBus has a service notice saying Stop 6, Old Woolstore, is no longer serviced, and that the nearest stop is Stop 1 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor on Campbell Street, about a three-minute walk. Because SkyBus runs the service, go by its list of five.
How often does it run, and when is the first and last bus?
SkyBus’s timetable page is interactive and shows one day at a time. The figures here are for Monday, as read on 19 October 2026. Other days can differ, so pick your day on the SkyBus timetable page before you travel.
| Monday | First | Last |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving the airport for the city | 7:45am | 12:00am (midnight), reaching Grand Chancellor Hotel at 12:25am |
| Leaving Grand Chancellor Hotel for the airport | 4:30am, reaching the airport at 5:10am | 7:35pm |
| Leaving RACV/RACT for the airport | 4:45am | 7:50pm, reaching the airport at 8:15pm |
There are 29 departures from the airport on that Monday timetable. Through the day the gaps between buses range from 20 minutes to 40 minutes, and they stretch to 50 minutes and then an hour for the 10:00pm, 11:00pm and midnight departures. In the other direction there are 27 departures from the Grand Chancellor Hotel, and the first four leave at 4:30am, 5:30am, 6:30am and 7:30am, before the 8:15am bus starts the more frequent daytime pattern.
The first Monday bus from the city reaches the airport at 5:10am. If you have an early flight, check the first departure for your own day and your own stop.
The public holiday answer on SkyBus’s help page is that the service runs 365 days a year. Its wording on holidays refers to Victorian public holidays and says the Hobart City Express keeps the same timetable. It does not list Tasmanian holidays, so look at the timetable page for a holiday date.
How much does the SkyBus cost?
These are the Hobart Express fares on SkyBus’s fares page, as of 19 October 2026. SkyBus describes them as fixed-price fares.
| Ticket | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $24.00 | $44.00 |
| Senior (valid Australian state-issued Seniors card required) | $21.00 | $38.00 |
| Child, aged 4 to 16 (in person only) | $6.60 | $11.00 |
| Family 1: 1 adult and up to 4 children | $24.00 | $44.00 |
| Family 2: 2 adults and up to 4 children | $48.00 | $88.00 |
| 10 trips (app only) | $226.00 for 10 single trips | Not applicable |
SkyBus says child fares are available in person only, from the driver, and by credit card. SkyBus’s fares page says kids travel free on its family fares. Check the page for the ticket that fits your group before you buy.
Is SkyBus covered by Tasmania’s free public transport?
No. The Tasmanian Government’s fares page says public transport is free until Wednesday 30 June 2027, and its FAQ answers the question “Does free travel apply on SkyBus or the Bruny Island Ferry?” with “No, these services are not included.” So the SkyBus fares in this guide still apply, even though most Metro Tasmania bus travel costs nothing at the moment.
What about luggage and mobility access?
SkyBus says there are no excess baggage charges. The allowance on its buses is the same as the checked and carry-on allowance of the airline you hold a ticket with. Bikes, surfboards and very large items may be carried if there is space, and the driver can ask you to take a later bus if there is not enough room or an item is a safety hazard.
For passengers with mobility needs, SkyBus asks you to phone at least 48 hours before you travel so it can make arrangements.
Can I take a taxi or rideshare instead?
Yes. The airport says every arrival is met by taxis at the rank directly out the front of the terminal. If you need a mini-van or a special taxi, ask one of the kerbside attendants, who will radio one through. An access fee of $2.90 including GST applies to taxis leaving Hobart Airport, and it is added to your fare. The airport’s taxi page does not give a trip price.
Uber is available at the airport. The rideshare page says to request the ride in the Uber app and meet your driver at the designated pick-up area in the commercial lane. A rideshare access fee applies to pick-ups, and a drop-off fee applies for rides to the airport. The page does not state the amounts, so the app is the place to see the total.
What if someone is collecting me by car?
The airport has a free drop-off and pick-up lane outside the terminal. It is for setting down and picking up passengers only, and parking attendants may ask you to move on. To wait for a passenger, the airport points you to the Long Term car park, where the first 15 minutes are free.
Australian Government security requirements mean a vehicle dropping off passengers must be attended at all times. The airport says the driver must stay with the vehicle, and that an unattended vehicle faces an immediate fine and may be towed. For other parking options and prices, see the airport’s parking page.
Quick plan by situation
- Staying in central Hobart: SkyBus to the stop closest to your hotel, with the Grand Chancellor Hotel on Campbell Street first and the RACV/RACT on Collins Street last.
- Staying near Franklin Wharf or heading for the Mona ferry: the Brooke Street Pier stop, three minutes after Stop 1 on the Monday run.
- Early flight out: the first Monday bus leaves the Grand Chancellor Hotel at 4:30am, and the airport is reached at 5:10am. Check your own day.
- Groups and families: look at the Family 1 and Family 2 fares before paying adult fares for everyone.
- Want a door-to-door ride: taxi from the rank at the front of the terminal, or Uber from the commercial lane pick-up area.
For questions about the airport, Hobart Airport’s phone number is 03 6216 1600, and its address is 6 Hinkler Road, Cambridge, Tasmania.
Sources
- Hobart Airport — Buses (SkyBus) (checked 19 October 2026)
- Hobart Airport — Taxi (checked 19 October 2026)
- Hobart Airport — Rideshare (checked 19 October 2026)
- Hobart Airport — Drop-off and pick-up (checked 19 October 2026)
- SkyBus — Hobart City Express (checked 19 October 2026)
- SkyBus — Hobart Express fares (checked 19 October 2026)
- SkyBus — Hobart Express locations (checked 19 October 2026)
- SkyBus — Hobart Express timetable (Monday, checked 19 October 2026)
- SkyBus — Hobart Express luggage and mobility access
- Tasmanian Government — Fares and free travel (checked 19 October 2026)
- SkyBus — Do you run on public holidays?
Featured image: Brooke Street Pier on Franklin Wharf, Hobart, photographed in November 2017 (photo: Gary Houston / CC0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Hobart Airport or SkyBus. Fares and times can change; check the official pages above before you travel.