Blundstone Arena in Bellerive sits around 8 km east of Hobart CBD across the Derwent River, which immediately shapes how you should plan your accommodation. Most visitors choose to stay in central Hobart rather than in Bellerive itself, using the ferry or a short drive to reach the venue on event days. This guide covers 11 central hotels across the Hobart waterfront, CBD, Sandy Bay, and inner suburbs - all within practical reach of the arena - so you can compare your real options before booking.
What It's Like Staying Near Blundstone Arena
Blundstone Arena is located in Bellerive, on the eastern shore of the Derwent River, separated from central Hobart by water. The Bellerive ferry from Brooke Street Pier takes around 15 minutes and runs on event days, making central Hobart the practical base for most visitors. Staying in the CBD or waterfront area means you get full access to Hobart's dining, transport, and accommodation infrastructure while still reaching the arena efficiently - Bellerive itself has very limited hotel stock, so central options are the default choice for most attendees.
On event nights, foot traffic around the ferry terminal at Brooke Street Pier intensifies significantly, and ride-share wait times can stretch considerably post-match. Staying within walking distance of the pier or on a main bus corridor is a genuine tactical advantage on game days.
Pros:
- Ferry access from Brooke Street Pier makes central Hobart a practical base for Blundstone Arena events
- Far greater choice of hotels, restaurants, and amenities than in Bellerive itself
- Hobart CBD hotels sit close to Salamanca Place, the waterfront, and MONA ferry connections
Cons:
- You are not walking distance from the arena - a ferry or drive is always required
- Post-event ride-share congestion at the CBD side can add wait time on busy match nights
- Ferry services are event-dependent and do not run as a regular scheduled service year-round
Why Choose Central Hotels Near Blundstone Arena
Central Hobart hotels offer a level of connectivity and amenity variety that fringe-area accommodation simply cannot match when attending events at Blundstone Arena. Nightly rates in Hobart CBD typically run lower than equivalent Sydney or Melbourne central options, making it feasible to stay in a well-located, full-service property without absorbing a major premium. Self-contained apartment-style properties dominate this market, giving event visitors the ability to self-cater, store pre-match supplies, and spread out across multiple nights without relying entirely on hotel dining.
On event weekends, CBD and waterfront hotels are booked out weeks in advance, particularly during Sheffield Shield fixtures, BBL matches, and AFL Tassie Devils games. The trade-off is that you will always need to factor in travel to the arena - budget around 30 minutes door-to-door from central Hobart including walk and ferry time.
Pros:
- Apartment-style properties offer kitchens and laundry, reducing costs over multi-night stays
- Central location lets you explore Salamanca, the waterfront, and the CBD independently of arena schedules
- Higher hotel density means more fallback options if your first choice is sold out
Cons:
- No hotel in central Hobart is walking distance to Blundstone Arena - transport is always required
- Event-period pricing spikes noticeably, especially for Friday and Saturday night check-ins
- Parking near the CBD is paid and limited during busy event periods
Practical Booking & Area Strategy
For the best ferry access on event days, prioritise hotels on or near Davey Street, Murray Street, or the Hobart waterfront strip - these put you within a 10-minute walk of Brooke Street Pier. The Sullivan's Cove waterfront precinct is the tightest cluster for arena-day logistics. If you are driving to Bellerive rather than using the ferry, properties in Sandy Bay or North Hobart along the A3 corridor shave a few minutes off the drive and avoid peak CBD traffic post-event.
Book at least 6 weeks ahead for any event weekend, as Hobart's total hotel stock is modest relative to demand during BBL Big Bash, AFL matches, and Test cricket. Beyond the arena, central Hobart gives you easy access to Salamanca Place markets (Saturday mornings), the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) via its own ferry from the waterfront, and Mount Wellington lookout around 20 minutes by car. The waterfront precinct around Constitution Dock is particularly lively on summer evenings and doubles as the arrival point for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in late December, when accommodation becomes extremely scarce.
Best Value Stays
These properties offer strong practical value for Blundstone Arena visitors - functional facilities, reasonable proximity to the ferry pier, and competitive nightly rates without unnecessary extras.
-
1. Argyle Motor Lodge
Show on map
-
2. Nightcap At Carlyle Hotel
Show on map
-
3. Beltana Hotel
Show on map
-
4. Bay Hotel Apartments
Show on map
-
5. Best Western Hobart
Show on map
Best Premium Stays
These properties deliver higher-end finishes, broader facilities, or standout locations within central Hobart - suited to visitors who want more than a functional event base and plan to spend time exploring the city beyond match days.
-
6. Sullivans Cove Apartments
Show on map
-
7. RACV/RACT Hobart Apartment Hotel
Show on map
-
8. Rydges Hobart
Show on map
-
9. Islington Hotel
Show on map
-
10. The Tasman, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart
Show on map
-
11. The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel
Show on map
Smart Travel & Timing Advice for Blundstone Arena Visitors
Blundstone Arena's biggest draws are BBL Big Bash League cricket in December and January, Sheffield Shield matches in autumn, and AFL Tassie Devils home games from March through August. The December-January summer period is Hobart's peak accommodation window, driven simultaneously by the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race finish (late December), Taste of Tasmania festival, and MONA FOMA - meaning hotels can sell out across the entire city, not just near the arena. Book at least 6 weeks ahead for any summer event weekend, and consider mid-week check-ins to avoid weekend surcharge pricing.
The shoulder seasons of April and May, and September and October, offer noticeably lower rates with AFL fixtures still running - a practical window for first-time visitors who want to attend a game without peak-season pricing pressure. Two to three nights is the natural stay length for a Hobart sports trip, allowing one event day plus time to cover Salamanca, MONA, and Mount Wellington without rushing. Last-minute bookings within 2 weeks of a sold-out event rarely yield savings in Hobart's tight market - early commitment is the consistently better strategy here.
