×

Australia🇦🇺 | festivalsMONA FOMAMONA ferry, sandstone museum, loud experiments, site-specific installations | things to do and best time to go

Explore Dark MofoExplore Darwin Festival

Backpacking in MONA FOMA
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

MONA FOMA is run by a museum whose owner has a habit of putting the festival in places that make no logistical sense, and many of its events cost nothing or very little. The festival takes over Hobart and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Tasmania, Australia, for about two weeks in summer, with experimental music, installations and late-night oddness. Crowds skew arty and curious. I took the MONA ferry from the Brooke Street Pier, grabbed a seat on the camouflage-painted upper deck, and the sheep-shaped seating made the 25-minute ride feel like a gag I was glad to be in on. A first day could mean a ferry out, a slow museum lap, then a wander through whichever Hobart venue has the loudest queue.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Australia Travel Guide.


example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
Loading the map 🌍
CLICK TO FILTER
cities
towns
villages
landmarks
national parks
hikes
beaches
attractions
festivals
regions
SHOW COUNTRY’S BESTSHOW ALL

✨ Why go?
Ranked #99 festival in AustraliaReasons people choose to celebrate the here

Backpackers build Tasmanian itineraries around this festival because it turns a quiet island capital into a place where strangers talk to each other. Queues for the Hobart waterfront venues double as networking lines, and nobody asks what you do for work, only what you just saw. Many events are free or low-priced next to a typical mainland music festival, and the program spreads across the city so you aren't paying for a single gated site. Hostel dorms around Salamanca fill with fellow festival-goers, which makes finding gig buddies easy. It also slots into a longer loop: a few days of art in the city, then hiking at Mount Wellington or driving the east coast toward Freycinet. The odd scheduling suits travelers who like surprise more than a plan.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of MONA FOMA

  1. Museum of Old and New Art (MONA): The festival’s home base is a subterranean museum carved into sandstone at Berriedale, with provocative collections and a festival program of live acts staged on its grounds. Allow at least half a day.
  2. The MONA ferry from Brooke Street Pier: The camouflage catamaran is part of the experience, with a bar on board and sheep-print seating. Festival nights often add music on the water.
  3. Hobart waterfront venues: Performances spill into Hobart’s harbor, including the Theatre Royal and other old buildings turned into temporary venues. Wandering between them is half the fun.
  4. Late-night experimental sets: The festival is known for loud, strange music that rarely gets a mainstream stage, from noise and electronic acts to avant-garde collaborations. Go in without expectations.
… read more 👉
  1. Museum of Old and New Art (MONA): The festival’s home base is a subterranean museum carved into sandstone at Berriedale, with provocative collections and a festival program of live acts staged on its grounds. Allow at least half a day.
  2. The MONA ferry from Brooke Street Pier: The camouflage catamaran is part of the experience, with a bar on board and sheep-print seating. Festival nights often add music on the water.
  3. Hobart waterfront venues: Performances spill into Hobart’s harbor, including the Theatre Royal and other old buildings turned into temporary venues. Wandering between them is half the fun.
  4. Late-night experimental sets: The festival is known for loud, strange music that rarely gets a mainstream stage, from noise and electronic acts to avant-garde collaborations. Go in without expectations.
  5. Large-scale installations and site-specific art: Expect works in unusual places such as disused buildings and outdoor spaces around the city. They change each edition, so what you see will be new.
For a first visit, start with MONA itself, since it gives context to everything else the festival does.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around MONA FOMA

kunanyi/Mt Wellington Tour and MONA Admission

kunanyi/Mt Wellington Tour and MONA Admission

4.5(74) 7h 30m
From €96
per personViator
Mona Like a Rockstar

Mona Like a Rockstar

4.9(28) 6h 30m
From €340
per personViator
Hobart City Sightseeing Tour including MONA Admission

Hobart City Sightseeing Tour including MONA Admission

4.5(37) 8h
From €94
per personViator
Tasmania 6 Day East Coast Tour

Tasmania 6 Day East Coast Tour

5.0(24) 144h
From €1,570
per personViator
Beginner's Guide to Mona Art Gallery with Wine, Lunch and Ferry

Beginner's Guide to Mona Art Gallery with Wine, Lunch and Ferry

3.2(11) 7h
From €164
per personViator
3 Day Bruny Island Hobart and Port Arthur Tour

3 Day Bruny Island Hobart and Port Arthur Tour

0.0(0) 72h
From €346
per personViator
Hobart Mona Salamanca Place Zoo and Mt Wellington Tour

Hobart Mona Salamanca Place Zoo and Mt Wellington Tour

0.0(0)
From €145
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of MONA FOMA?

MONA FOMA runs for about two to three weeks in January, with recent editions at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) at Berriedale in Hobart, plus other Hobart sites. Exact dates shift by year.
  • Best day: Opening weekend has the biggest crowds and the most energy. Weekdays are calmer and easier for gallery time.
  • Weather: Expect highs of 20 to 23°C (68 to 73°F), cool evenings near 10 to 12°C (50 to 54°F), occasional showers and long daylight past 8:30 pm. Bring a light jacket, sunscreen and a hat.
  • Booking: Reserve tickets and beds two to three months ahead. Hobart accommodation rises noticeably in January.
  • Crowds: Arrive early on weekends, since the MONA ferry and parking fill quickly.
Book the ferry slot when you buy tickets.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutAustralia Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
The digital guide (414 pages) contains:
✅ 143 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 14, 21 & 30-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
✅ Budget expectations

🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ Local customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
✅ Optimized for phone use
✅ Useful in remote areas & buses
✅ Everything in one place
Stop searching, start planning
Get instant access to your full guide. 30‑day money-back guarantee.
+ Add another guide for just

By proceeding you agree to our terms.
Sent to your inbox immediately after payment • 100% Secure Checkout
Best Backpacking Travel Advisor 2025 tourism awardBest Backpacking
Travel Advisor
2025
What others say about Take Your Backpack Guides:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic, amazing amount of information!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My goodness this is amazing, it's what I've been looking for hats off too you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very complete and informative. It's still missing places, but I gotta to commend you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is truly amazing, thank you, can't wait to explore it with my kids!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awesome resource, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is amazing! Can't wait to explore the ones I haven't seen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this! Well done, great idea.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for taking the time to make this gem!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be the best website I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work; it's incredibly valuable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In all seriousness I think you did a great job pointing out the important spots
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 very good
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who's only just starting to visit regularly this is awesome, thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much! I'm going to visit my dad, it's going to be very useful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really cool! We'll be travelling for the first time and this definitely come in handy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are now our minister of culture, congratulations 👨‍💼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just wanted to tell you that this is a pearl! Going to follow your recommendations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is so cool. I'll definitely be using the resource for my travels soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is very impressive! Good work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing and informative site. Very well done!

🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

Central Hobart and Battery Point put you closest to the action, with the waterfront ferry terminal at Brooke Street Pier a short walk away for the boat to MONA. Sullivans Cove and the streets around Salamanca are where most budget travelers end up. The area is walkable, well lit and busy in the evenings, with pubs, Saturday market crowds and plenty of other solo travelers to meet over a drink. North Hobart is a good second choice. Elizabeth Street has a strip of restaurants, cheap eats and bars, and it is a short bus or taxi ride from the city center. It feels a little more local and a bit quieter … read more 👉
Central Hobart and Battery Point put you closest to the action, with the waterfront ferry terminal at Brooke Street Pier a short walk away for the boat to MONA. Sullivans Cove and the streets around Salamanca are where most budget travelers end up. The area is walkable, well lit and busy in the evenings, with pubs, Saturday market crowds and plenty of other solo travelers to meet over a drink. North Hobart is a good second choice. Elizabeth Street has a strip of restaurants, cheap eats and bars, and it is a short bus or taxi ride from the city center. It feels a little more local and a bit quieter at night. Sandy Bay is calmer and more residential, better if you want sleep over socializing. Staying near Glenorchy or Berriedale is possible and puts you near MONA, but nightlife and transport are thin there, so most backpackers prefer the city.
Best hostels in Australia


Best quality hotels in Australia

👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for MONA FOMA

A few days at MONA FOMA typically costs about US$110 to 300 per day for a backpacker in Hobart. Prices are in Australian dollars, with US$ approximations.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 65Many events are free or low-cost, with ticketed headline shows and MONA entry on top.
AccommodationUS$45 to 110Hostel dorms start near US$45, with private rooms higher. January is peak season.
Local transportUS$15 to 35The MONA ferry is about US$25 to 35 return. Buses cost about US$2 to 4 per ride.
Food & drinksUS$40 to 70Food trucks cost US$10 to 20 a dish, beers about US$8 to 10.
MiscellaneousUS$10 to 20Sunscreen, snacks, lockers and small extras.
Total Daily BudgetUS$110 to 300Per person, per day, in high season.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodLocal Flavors for Backpackers

Expect a festival that eats well. Food trucks and pop-up stalls around the MONA grounds sell wood-fired pizza, burgers, tacos, dumplings and seafood, often with Tasmanian produce like scallops, oysters and salmon in the mix. Vegetarian and vegan options are easy to find.

For drinks, go for Moo Brew beer from MONA’s own brewery, Tasmanian wine (the cool-climate pinot noir and sparkling are the standouts) and local cider. The Source and other on-site venues serve cocktails too. Whisky fans should try a Tasmanian dram.

Expect queues at peak times, particularly at dinner and after headline sets, so eat slightly off-peak. Cards and tap-to-pay are widely accepted, but carry a little cash for smaller stalls. Portions are generous and good for sharing. Bring a refillable water bottle for hot afternoons, and pace the alcohol in the sun.

FAQTraveler FAQ

MONA FOMA takes place in January, usually over two to three weeks. Main events are at MONA in Berriedale, with other shows around Hobart. Exact dates change each year, so check the program before booking flights.
Costs vary widely. Many shows are free or low-cost, while headline events and MONA entry can run roughly A$30 to 100 or more. Budget about US$110 to 300 a day including a Hobart bed, food and the MONA ferry at around US$25 to 35 return.
Yes, book ahead for headline concerts and any ticketed performances, since popular shows sell out weeks in advance. Some events are free and need no ticket. Reserve the MONA ferry and your Hobart accommodation two to three months ahead for January.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Australian festivals near MONA FOMA

Explore more nearby:


💡 Not sure where to go next?
Create a personalized itinerary for Australia including MONA FOMA and the places that fit your trip.

Generate my itinerary

👉 Discover all festivals

Or checkout all Australia has to offer (think cities, towns, villages, national parks, hikes, beaches, festivals)
Explore Australia
Country photo of Australia
© Google Images

We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Pair it with a few days on Tasmania’s east coast, or work it in before heading to Cradle Mountain, so the art binge is balanced by empty trails. I would book a dorm early and leave one evening unplanned, because the best moments here tend to be the ones nobody advertised.

✈️ When did I visit Australia?
On my trip to New Zealand in 1993, I had a short stop in Australia as well.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Australia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

Read the full story