At a glance
- Best way
- Ferry from Brooke Street Pier, about 30 minutes each way (Mona calls it the best way to get there)
- Ferry fare
- From $30. A return costs the same as one way. No concessions.
- By road
- About 20 minutes from Hobart. Parking at Mona is limited.
- Bus
- Metro routes 510, 520, 522 and X20 pass Mona and are free until 30 June 2027
- Open
- Thursday to Monday, 10am to 5pm. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Parking near the pier
- Argyle Street, Centrepoint and Market Place car parks, or Dunn Place. Mona suggests allowing three or more hours.
- Payment
- Mona is cashless. A separate museum ticket is needed, even with a ferry ticket.
- Official page
- Mona, Visit Mona and Ferry pages
The best way to get to Mona from Hobart is the ferry from Brooke Street Pier, which takes about 30 minutes each way and costs from $30. Mona itself says the ferry is the best way to get there, and that parking at the museum is limited.
This guide covers the current ferry times and the changes from 3 December 2026, how much the ferry costs, where to park near the pier, what to do if you drive all the way, and the free Metro buses that pass the gate. It is based on Mona’s Visit page, its Ferry page and its opening hours page, all read on Saturday 24 October 2026.
How far is Mona, and when is it open?
Mona says it is eleven kilometres north of Hobart: about thirty minutes by ferry or twenty minutes by road. The museum is open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5pm. Mona’s opening hours page lists the museum as closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the listed hours running until 30 June 2027.
When does the ferry run?
Mona’s high-speed catamarans sail between Brooke Street Pier and Mona, and the trip takes around thirty minutes one way. These are the departure times Mona lists now:
| Departs Brooke Street Pier | Departs Mona |
|---|---|
| 9.15am | 9.45am |
| 10.15am | 10.45am |
| 11.15am | 11.45am |
| 12.15pm | 12.45pm |
| 1.15pm | 1.45pm |
| 2.15pm | 3pm |
| 3.30pm | 4pm |
| 4.30pm | 5pm |
The page does not say on which days the ferry runs, so check before you go on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when the museum is closed.
What changes from 3 December?
Mona lists a new timetable from 3 December 2026. The Brooke Street Pier departures start at 9.30am, and several sailings are marked as peak, running from 3 December 2026 to 29 March 2027. One sailing from the pier, at 2.30pm, and one from Mona, at 1.30pm, are marked as off-peak only, from 30 March 2027 onwards.
| Departs Brooke Street Pier (from 3 December) |
|---|
| 9.30am |
| 10am (peak) |
| 10.30am |
| 11am (peak) |
| 11.30am |
| 12pm (peak) |
| 1pm |
| 2pm (peak) |
| 2.30pm (off-peak only) |
| 3pm (peak) |
| 3.30pm |
| 4pm (peak) |
| 4.30pm |
| 5pm (peak) |
| Departs Mona (from 3 December) |
|---|
| 10am |
| 10.30am (peak) |
| 11am |
| 11.30am (peak) |
| 12pm |
| 1pm (peak) |
| 1.30pm (off-peak only) |
| 2pm (peak) |
| 3pm |
| 3.30pm (peak) |
| 4pm |
| 4.30pm (peak) |
| 5pm |
| 5.30pm (peak) |
On Mona’s page the asterisk and caret markers follow each time in the list, and the page defines the asterisk as peak (3 December 2026 to 29 March 2027) and the caret as off-peak only (from 30 March 2027). The two lists are separate: a departure from the pier is not paired with a departure from Mona, so check the ferry page before you plan a return trip.
How much is the ferry?
Mona lists the ferry as “from $30”, for a trip of approximately 30 minutes. A return ticket is the same price as one way, there are no concessions, and children under 4 are free but still need a ticket. A $3.50 transaction fee applies to most advance bookings, with some exclusions.
There are two ways to ride. Standard has seating, bars and river and mountain views. The Posh Pit is the ferry’s private lounge, bar and deck, which Mona says includes complimentary drinks and small food. Whichever you choose, you still need a separate museum entry ticket.
What is the ferry like, and can I change my time?
The ferries run in the rain, and Mona says the boats have roofs to protect you from wind, rain or sun. The lower deck is accessible for mobility aids and prams, and has a bar and an accessible toilet. You can change your ferry time through your mobile tickets in Mona’s app, the O, using the “change times” button; changes depend on capacity and are not possible too close to departure. If you have trouble, you can see staff at Brooke Street Pier or the Mona box office, or call Mona’s Bookings and Enquiries on +61 (3) 6277 9978.
There are 99 steps from the water up to Mona on arrival. Mona says an accessible entrance via a tunnel is available if you need it, and asks you to make yourself known to the onboard staff.
Where do I park for the ferry?
If you are driving to Brooke Street Pier, Mona recommends the multi-storey car parks in Argyle Street, Centrepoint and Market Place, or the Dunn Place off-street car park. It says these give you three or more hours of parking, which it thinks you will need. The Argyle Street and Market Place car parks are the closest to the ferry terminal, about a 10 to 15 minute walk away.
- Accessible parking spaces close to Brooke Street Pier are along Franklin Wharf, Salamanca Place and Castray Esplanade.
- There is a drop-off area directly in front of Brooke Street Pier.
- If you are staying nearby, Mona suggests leaving the car at your accommodation and taking an Uber or taxi to the ferry terminal.
The pages do not give fees for those car parks. Mona points to a list of Hobart car parks on its own site. For the Argyle Street car park, our Argyle Street Car Park guide has the council’s fee table and opening hours.
What if I drive to Mona?
Mona has parking on site but says there is not much of it, and that the ferry is the better choice. Accessible parking is available: turn left at the top of the driveway and follow the signs. There is also a drop-off area, which is on the right at the top of the drive. Mona also asks you not to bring a boat or caravan, because there is no room.
Can I take a bus?
Yes. Mona says Metro buses 510, 520, 522 and X20 pass Mona and are free until 30 June 2027, and it links to the timetables. Our guide to free bus travel in Tasmania explains what the government scheme covers.
What else should I know before I go?
- Booking: Mona recommends booking ahead, because entry slots are timed and limited. Tasmanians get in free but still need a ticket, and ID is requested on entry.
- Prices: Mona’s page said museum entry pricing would increase from 22 October. Check the booking page for the current price.
- Cash: Mona is cashless.
- Time to allow: Mona says you could speed through in three or four hours, and suggests making a day of it if you are eating or drinking on site. A two-day ticket is available within a seven-day window.
- Accessibility: Mona is mostly accessible, with some limits. It has a ground-level entrance, three lifts, and some wheelchairs to borrow that cannot be reserved in advance.
Quick plan
- From the Hobart waterfront: Brooke Street Pier, about 30 minutes each way, from $30 return or one way.
- Driving into town: park at Argyle Street, Centrepoint, Market Place or Dunn Place and allow three or more hours.
- Free option: Metro bus 510, 520, 522 or X20 until 30 June 2027.
- Driving all the way: limited parking on site, and accessible parking up the driveway to the left.
- Booking: museum ticket and ferry ticket are separate, and Mona is cashless.
Sources
- Mona — Visit Mona (checked 24 October 2026)
- Mona — Ferry (checked 24 October 2026)
- Mona — Opening hours (checked 24 October 2026)
Featured image: a Mona ferry (MR-1) approaching Mona, photographed in July 2017 (photo: Nick-D / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Mona, Metro Tasmania or the Tasmanian Government. Times, fares and rules can change; check the official pages above before you travel.