Flood Warnings, Airport Record Passenger Numbers

Events For The Week

Author

David Rowe
September 30, 2025

Good Morning Hobart,

Hope you had a great weekend!

In today’s newsletter:

  • Flood Warnings

  • Record Airport Passenger Numbers

  • Restaurant Of The Week

  • Iconic Tasman Bridge Skier Passes

  • Land-Use Rights Dispute

  • Events For The Week

Flood Warnings

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood watch for 18 river catchments, including the Derwent, Huon and Gordon–Franklin, as saturated systems are expected to rise quickly this week.

A low-pressure system will bring widespread rain from Tuesday into Wednesday, with river levels forecast to climb late Tuesday in the north before spreading south.

Population centres along the Derwent, including Hobart, are covered by the warning, with thunderstorms and heavy falls possible.

Record Airport Passenger Numbers

Hobart Airport is bracing for its busiest fortnight ever, with 131,000 passengers expected between September 27 and October 12.

School holidays, AFL grand final weekend and the return of direct Perth flights are driving the surge.

More than 35,000 travellers will pass through on Grand Final weekend, with Melbourne the top destination.

Passengers are urged to arrive early, check in online, and expect up to 15 extra minutes of travel time.

Restaurant Of The Week

At 45 Goulburn Street, Hobart, WunderBar blends French culinary tradition with Tasmania’s finest local ingredients.

Open daily for breakfast and lunch, and offering refined dinner service Friday and Saturday nights, it’s more than a café—it’s a brasserie built on flavour, hospitality, and sustainability.

Owner-Chef Julian Volkmer and Operations Manager Mateo Ortiz bring world-class expertise to every dish and glass, creating a warm, sophisticated space where locals and visitors can unwind.

Iconic Tasman Bridge Skier Passes

Hobart has farewelled Leslie “Les” Jackson, the man who famously skied the snow-covered Tasman Bridge in 1986, following his sudden passing aged 74.

The stunt became one of Hobart’s most iconic snow day memories, capturing his adventurous spirit.

Beyond that moment, Jackson played more than 1,000 matches for University Soccer Club, scored over 250 goals, and helped establish night skiing at Mount Field.

His family remembers him for a life of “bold adventure” and “deep community commitment.”

Land Use Rights Dispute

About 1,600 Kingborough property owners face uncertainty as the council moves to rezone land from Environmental Living to Landscape Conservation Zone.

Residents fear higher costs, lengthy approvals, and reduced property values, with banks and insurers already wary.

Some say even simple projects like sheds are being delayed for months, while larger developments could become unviable.

Council insists most activities remain allowed, but locals argue consultation was lacking.

Events For The Week

Tuesday 30th

💕 A Great Act Of Love | 5:30PM

Location: RACV Hobart Hotel, 154-156 Collins St
Description: From the award-winning author of The Museum of Modern Love and Bruny comes an enthralling tale of legacy, love and the making of champagne.

Wednesday 1st

Location: COTA Tasmania, 37-41 Murray St, Hobart
Description: Legal clinics provide advice only. Legal Aid cannot prepare or change wills, but they can provide general advice. Referrals can be made to private law firms that draft discounted wills. 

🐝 Polygot’s Theatre: Bees | 4 Performances From 10:30AM

Location: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Description: Bees is a joyful, interactive work in which children are welcomed into a world of community, communication, wonder, and imagination.

📖 Bob Brown: Defiance | 5:30PM

Location: Theatre Royal Hobart
Description: Join the national launch of Bob Brown’s new book, Defiance, for a conversation between Bob and Hannah Maloney, Gardening Australia host, permaculture educator, author, and activist.

Thursday 2nd

🧵 CraftAlive Hobart | Thur-Sat 9:30am to 4pm

Location: MAC 02 18 Hunter St, Hobart
Description: CraftAlive is a hands-on event. A chance to learn from world class specialists with interactive classes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Location: Odeon Theatre Hobart
Description: A composer doesn’t spend half a century on a single body of work unless they have something important to say. And Luciano Berio says it through his Sequenza – a collection of soloistic works that push the boundaries of their players.

Friday 3rd

🇩🇪 Oktoberfest Hobart 2025 | 5:00PM

Location: 112 Murray St, Hobart
Description: Join us under the nave of our Cathedral-turned-traditional German bierhalle to celebrate the world-famous Bavarian tradition this October. Dress in your finest lederhosen or dirndl for a German bier tap takeover, live music, traditional games, and communal bierhalle-style seating.

📚️ Hobart Silent Book Club | 5:30PM

Location: 131 Collins Street, Hobart
Description: There are no ‘reading books’ prescribed: you simply bring a book you are reading, or want to read, and then have an hour of uninterrupted reading time. There is no requirement for you to discuss your book with anyone either.

Location: Theatre Royal Hobart
Description: Immerse yourself in the warm, resonant tones of Van Diemen’s Band’s period instruments as they interweave with the intricate melodic patterns of traditional Afghan and Persian music

🎭️ Onefest - Hobart’s One Act Play Festival | Session 1: 7:30PM

Location: The Playhouse Theatre
Description: OneFest aims to provide an eclectic mix of plays under 30 minutes. Anyone above the age of 16 can enter OneFest – it’s a great opportunity for emerging actors, writers and directors to get experience on and off stage, and experienced actors/directors enjoy being able to display their skills in a short-work format.