Booking choice: The Mt Wellington and Mona day trip, from $98 per person. Check dates Tour details
Mona's own advice is short: catch the ferry. Arriving by water is part of David Walsh's design for the place, and parking on site is limited. The ferry is not the only way, though, and since Metro buses became fare-free the bus is a real option for anyone watching costs.
This guide walks through each route from the city, using Mona's getting-here page, Metro Tasmania's timetables and the City of Hobart's cycleway notes, then covers parking for the ferry and the tours that bundle the trip with entry.
The quick answer
The ferry from Brooke Street Pier takes about 30 minutes and costs from A$32, with a return the same price as one way. Metro buses 510, 520, 522 and X20 pass Mona and are free until 30 June 2027. Driving takes about 20 minutes, but on-site parking is limited. The mountain and Mona day trip covers the return ferry and entry from US$98.
How far is Mona from Hobart?
About 11 km north of the city centre: roughly 30 minutes by ferry, 20 minutes by road, and just over half an hour by bus.
The address is 655 Main Road, Berriedale. The options side by side:
| Option | From | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mona ferry | Brooke Street Pier, Hobart waterfront | About 30 minutes | From A$32; return same as one way |
| Metro bus 510, 520, 522, X20 | Hobart Interchange | About 35 minutes on sample trips | Free until 30 June 2027 |
| Car | Hobart city | About 20 minutes | Fuel; limited parking on site |
| Taxi or rideshare | Your hotel | About 20 minutes by road | Metered or app fare |
| Bike | Intercity Cycleway, near the Cenotaph | 15.6 km of shared path, then on to Mona | Free |
| A tour with Mona | Brooke Street Pier or a city pickup | Built into the day | From US$98 with entry |
Museum entry is a separate ticket on every route except the tours: A$45 for adults, A$39 concession, A$21 for ages 12 to 17, free under 12, and free for Tasmanians with a ticket and photo ID. Our Mona tickets guide has the details.
Is the ferry the best way to get to Mona?
For most visitors, yes. It is what Mona recommends, it takes about 30 minutes from Brooke Street Pier, and the approach by water is built into the museum's design.
The high-speed catamarans run Thursday to Monday. Standard tickets give you seats (sheep and tigers to sit on, in Mona's words), bars and river views; the Posh Pit is the private lounge, bar and deck with drinks and small food. A few rules worth knowing:
- Fares: from A$32, and a return costs the same as one way. No concessions; children under 4 travel free but need a ticket.
- Entry: a ferry ticket does not include the museum, even in the Posh Pit.
- Times: until 2 December 2026, the first sailing leaves Brooke Street Pier at 9.15am and the last ferry back leaves Mona at 5pm. From 3 December a new timetable starts, with peak sailings to 29 March 2027.
- Access: the lower deck takes mobility aids and prams, with a bar and an accessible toilet.
- Changing times: you can move your ferry in the O, subject to capacity.
Full timetables are in our Mona ferry guide.
The return ferry, Mona entry and a guided morning on the mountain, booked in one go.
Check dates for the Mt Wellington and Mona day tripCan you get to Mona by bus?
Yes. Metro bus routes 510, 520, 522 and X20 pass Mona, and Metro buses are fare-free until 30 June 2027. The stop is listed as "Berriedale, MONA" in Metro's timetables.
Buses run from Hobart Interchange in the city. On Metro Tasmania's Granton to Hobart timetable, effective 20 July 2026, sample Saturday trips take about 32 to 36 minutes between "Berriedale, MONA" and the Interchange. Saturday services on the main routes run roughly hourly; Sundays and public holidays have fewer, so check the Sunday table before you set out.
No fare, no card: Metro says riders should not tap their GreenCard while travel is free. Bring the O on your phone, and your museum ticket, since entry still needs booking.
Can you drive from Hobart to Mona?
Yes, it is about 20 minutes by road to 655 Main Road, Berriedale. Parking on site exists but there is not much of it, and Mona asks you not to bring boats or caravans.
At the top of the driveway, turn left for accessible parking and right for the drop-off area. Mona's on-site parking is small, so the ferry or the bus is the safer bet on a busy day. Pavilion guests get free parking and EV charging.
Driving makes most sense if you are pairing Mona with places the ferry cannot reach, such as the Coal River Valley, where Domaine A's cellar door opens Thursday to Sunday. If a car is only for Mona, the ferry or the bus is simpler.
Can you take a taxi or Uber to Mona?
Yes. Mona has a drop-off area at the top of its drive, and Mona itself suggests taking an Uber or taxi to the ferry terminal if you are staying nearby.
A taxi or rideshare is the door-to-door option for small groups, people with mobility needs, and anyone who wants to stay later than the last ferry. Fares are not set by Mona, so check the quote in your app or ask the driver before you go.
For a group, a private tour does the same job with a driver guide and the mountain added: the private mountain and Mona tour picks up at Campbell Street and Davey Street, runs 5 hours and costs from US$534 per group. The listing also mentions wheelchair-accessible vehicle options, to request after booking.
A private car and a local driver guide: kunanyi / Mount Wellington, then about 2.5 hours at Mona and a drop-off in town.
Explore the private Mt Wellington and Mona tour Tour detailsCan you cycle or walk to Mona?
Cycle, yes. The Intercity Cycleway is a 15.6 km shared path from the Hobart Regatta Grounds to Claremont, and the City of Hobart notes that keen riders can carry on to Mona.
The path starts near the Cenotaph, follows the Derwent upriver, passes beneath the Tasman Bridge and runs past the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, with a playground at Cornelian Bay a short detour away. Further on it leaves the river at New Town Rivulet, from where riders continue towards Mona and Claremont. It is a commuter route as well as a family ride, with two-way traffic.
Mona's getting-here page does not mention bike racks, so ask Mona's Bookings and Enquiries team before you ride.
Where do you park for the Mona ferry?
In the multi-storey car parks in Argyle Street, Centrepoint or Market Place, or the Dunn Place car park. Argyle Street and Market Place are the closest, about a 10 to 15 minute walk from Brooke Street Pier.
Those car parks give you 3 hours or more, and Mona adds: "We think you'll need it." Accessible parking spaces close to the pier are along Franklin Wharf, Salamanca Place and Castray Esplanade, and there is a drop-off area right in front of Brooke Street Pier.
Staying in town? Leave the car at your hotel and take a taxi or Uber to the terminal, as Mona suggests. Brooke Street Pier is on the waterfront at Sullivans Cove, a short walk from Salamanca Place, which is handy for a drink after the ferry lands.
A morning of Hobart by coach tram, then the ferry up the Derwent and about 3 hours at Mona.
Check dates for the Hobart city tour with MonaWhich tours include transport to Mona?
Five tours on this site take you to Mona with entry: two Gray Line Tasmania days with the ferry, Mona's own Rockstar day, a zoo and Salamanca day, and a private car tour.
The honest reason to book one is that the ferry or the car, Mona entry and the rest of the day are sorted in a single booking, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before:
- Mountain and Mona day trip: from Brooke Street Pier, kunanyi by coach, then the return Mona ferry and about 3 hours inside. 4.6 out of 5 from 152 reviews.
- City tour with Mona: 3 hours of Hobart by coach tram, then the ferry and Mona, back at Brooke Street Pier at 5.30pm per the listing.
- Mona Like a Rockstar: sold by Mona itself, with the Posh Pit ferry at 10.15am. A newer listing on GetYourGuide, adults only.
- Mona, Salamanca and zoo: a full day by road with an afternoon at Mona.
- Private mountain and Mona: your own car from Campbell Street and Davey Street.
Kath, on the city tour: "We saw a platypus at Hobart Rivulet and learned a lot about many places around Hobart before it was time to catch the ferry to MONA - which was incredible." (Jun 2026)
kunanyi / Mount Wellington and the Cascade Gardens with a guide, then the ferry and about 3 hours at Mona, entry included.
Explore the Mt Wellington and Mona day trip Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Can you get to Mona without the ferry?
Yes. Metro buses 510, 520, 522 and X20 pass Mona and are free until 30 June 2027, and it is about 20 minutes by car or taxi. Cyclists can use the Intercity Cycleway.
Is the bus to Mona free?
Yes. Metro buses are fare-free until 30 June 2027, and Mona says routes 510, 520, 522 and X20 pass the museum. Museum entry is still a separate ticket.
Can I drive from Hobart to Mona?
Yes, it takes about 20 minutes. Parking at Mona is limited, so Mona recommends the ferry; there is accessible parking and a drop-off area at the top of the drive.
How far is Mona from Hobart city?
About 11 km north of Hobart, at 655 Main Road, Berriedale: around 30 minutes by ferry or 20 minutes by road.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
kunanyi / Mt Wellington and Mona Day Trip
- Guided coach tour to the kunanyi / Mt Wellington summit
- Entry to Mona
- Return Mona ferry from Brooke Street Pier
Hobart City Sightseeing Tour and Mona
- 3-hour city tour by coach tram
- Driver and guide
- Entry to Mona
Private kunanyi / Mt Wellington & Mona Tour
Your own car and driver guide, mountain first
