The 5 Best Orthopaedic Specialists in Hobart to Improve Your Movement Without Having to Compromise
I have a friend who is always on the move—hiking, cycling, trying new fitness classes. Then her knee suddenly started hurting badly. Not just “sore,” but the kind where she couldn’t bend it without wincing. She tried to push through, but it only got worse.
Soon, she was stuck in a cycle of appointments and mixed advice. She felt frustrated and unheard, like nobody really understood what was wrong. That’s when I stepped in to help.
I called a few clinics and checked what people were saying about them. Eventually, we found someone who listened, gave clear answers, and created a real treatment plan.
Because we ended up with a lot of useful information, we decided to share it. Here are our recommendations for the best orthopaedic specialists in Hobart.
How much do orthopaedic specialists charge in Hobart?
Orthopaedic specialists in Hobart usually charge $205–$250 for an initial consultation. Additional surgery gap fees often range between $400 and $500, depending on the type and complexity of the procedure.
1. Petterwood Orthopaedics
Address: 53 Sandy Bay Rd, Battery Point TAS 7005
Contact Details: +61 36 228 0411
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Friday – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Petterwood Orthopaedics is led by two highly qualified surgeons. First, we have Dr Josh Petterwood, who has advanced fellowship training in knee and hip surgery, including robotic-assisted techniques.
And Dr Guy Marquis, who brings decades of experience as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon across Tasmania’s public and private hospitals.
Together, they’re able to do more than just joint replacements. They can also treat knee injuries such as ACL tears and meniscal damage through arthroscopic procedures.
Throughout the entire process, you’ll notice that care is individualised, and recovery plans are adjusted based on progress. Follow-up appointments go beyond routine check-ins, allowing for genuine discussions and ongoing support.
Nursing staff coordinate physiotherapy and happily address any post-surgical concerns—patients have mentioned feeling guided and reassured throughout their recovery, which is always good to hear.
To book an appointment, you’ll need a GP referral, but the clinic is also mindful of waiting times and works to keep them as short as possible, a quality I look for when choosing a service.
If there is a limitation, it’s the clinic’s narrow focus. While some shoulder services are available, there’s little coverage of other areas of orthopaedic care.
Would highly recommend Josh to anyone needing orthopaedic surgery
“Recently had hip surgery and found Josh Petterwood and his team absolutely amazing, from the first visit to my stay in hospital and post surgery. Would highly recommend Josh to anyone needing orthopaedic surgery. Such a lovely person and so easy to talk to. Thankyou so much for everything, so good to be walking without pain”
– Allana Scott, Google Review
Josh genuinely cares for the impact injury has on patients lives
“Best in the business. I had surgery last December and still not confident to build my training loads so I called Josh to enquire. After already providing follow up consultations, he was happy to see me again for next to nothing and reassure me the MRI that he ordered showed everything was fine. This guy cares a lot more about patient outcomes than he does his billing totals for the month, and his professionalism is amazing. Josh genuinely cares for the impact injury has on patients lives.”
– Dan Cowza, Google Review
2. Dr Michael Pritchard
Address: Wellington Grange, St. John’s Hospital, 30 Cascade Road, South Hobart, TAS 7004
Contact Details: +61 36 223 7122
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Dr Michael Pritchard’s orthopaedic practice is well-established and highly respected. He’s got solid credentials, having earned his MBBS with honours from UTAS and then gone through specialist training at big hospitals.
He also stays updated with new techniques, including robotic and minimally invasive surgery. In fact, he sometimes teaches these methods to other specialists.
As I dug a little deeper, I noticed how versatile his practice is. Hip, shoulder, knee, sports injuries, and detailed arthroscopic work are all covered, which is convenient if you want everything handled in one place.
Recovery rates also look promising, especially for hip replacements via the Direct Anterior Approach. I’ve heard feedback from patients who had shorter recovery times and better outcomes than they expected.
The aftercare seems to match that, too, with thorough post-op instructions and solid rehab support so you’re not left guessing what to do next.
But just so you’re not caught off guard, Dr Pritchard operates as a “Known Gap” provider. That means you’ll probably pay some extra costs for surgery and related fees. They’ll explain it during your consultation, but it’s wise to budget ahead.
Had a left knee replacement 8 months ago and recovery was great
“Had a left knee replacement 8 months ago recovery was great had heard that it’s painfully but was told Mr Pritchard and assoc were doing it recovery was like a walk in the park getting ready for the second replacement an have be told that Mr Pritchard doing this one ..thanks for making the other straight and low pain ..ive got no problems with it at all ..thanks heap”
– William Clay, Google Review
Michael is more than a surgeon he is a legend
“Michael is more than a surgeon he is a legend. He led the rescue of my son after serious MTB accident. He led a group of young men (who I presume were his son’s and friends) in a bush rescue and managing his care until he was into the back of the ambulance. This care really helped my son’s pain/trauma and more then likey sent him off onto faster journey of recovery.”
– Aaron Montgomery, Google Review
3. Dr Miles Callahan
Address: St John’s Hospital, 30 Cascade Rd, South Hobart TAS 7004
Contact Details: +61 36 224 5566
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
With over a decade of experience and training in both Victoria and Calgary, Dr Miles Callahan is a respected orthopaedic surgeon who practices across multiple Hobart hospitals, including St John’s and Calvary Lenah Valley.
On top of all that, you’ll find him at The Royal Hobart Hospital, working with public patients and mentoring junior surgeons. When it comes to orthopaedics itself, Dr Callahan’s focus is strictly on the lower limb—hips, knees, feet, and ankles.
He handles everything from routine replacements and arthroscopies to highly specialised procedures like the Oxford partial knee replacement, so anyone dealing with these issues is in good hands.
The clinic itself runs smoothly, with an online patient registration form that plenty of people say makes the first steps less overwhelming.
You’ll get detailed pre-surgery instructions and access to an online info portal, which means you’re never left wondering what comes next.
Aftercare also seems well thought out. Post-operative instructions include specific steps, such as how to elevate swollen limbs and when to start moving or bearing weight again.
But if you’re hoping for quick access, you might need to be patient. The practice is busy, and the referral process can take a bit.
I followed his advice regarding slow and gradual rehabilitation religiously
“After bunion and arthritis problems looked like putting an end to my bushwalking career, I consulted with Miles, who then performed a text book operation on my feet in 2023. I followed his advice regarding slow and gradual rehabilitation religiously. Walks to a coffee shop, progressed to walking The Overland Track 18 months later and more recently I completed a long distance trek in the Himalayas. This would never have been possible without Miles’ skill, experience and expertise.”
– Michael Edwards, Google Review
Mr Callahan was always clear and considerate when explaining information
“I have had two successful bunion correction (Scarf Akin Osteotomy) surgeries by Mr Callahan, and I would highly recommend him to anyone considering this procedure. At 22, I understood undergoing and recovering from foot surgery would be a journey. Mr Callahan was always clear and considerate when explaining information and I thank him for the positive experience I have had with both procedures. I no longer experience pain or discomfort and the stability of my feet has been improved significantly. Thank you, Mr Callahan.”
– Sophia H, Google Review
4. Dr Matthew Wilkinson
Address: Calvary St John’s Hospital, Floor 0, Wellington Grange, 30 Cascade Rd, South Hobart TAS 7004
Contact Details: +61 36 124 2172
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
If you’re dealing with persistent joint or limb pain, Dr Matthew Wilkinson is a highly qualified orthopaedic surgeon who can help. He holds an MBBS and a FRACS in Orthopaedic Surgery.
With his qualifications, he covers both upper and lower limb care—shoulder, hip, and knee—and offers a mix of arthroscopy, joint replacement, and joint-preserving work.
This kind of versatility can be reassuring, especially if you’re not exactly sure what’s going on but you know something needs fixing.
Another point I picked up was that the practice offers triaged urgent appointments. This can be really helpful for getting timely care, and the approach here also includes an integrated team, which gives patients easy access to physiotherapy right on site.
A couple of allied health services, like occupational therapy, aren’t provided in-house, though, so you may need to organise those separately.
Even so, the clinic’s strong patient support seems to make up for that. They have a suite of resources, including a first visit guide, educational video, insurance info, and post-op instructions.
I am so grateful to have quality of life again
“Dr Matthew Wilkinson replaced one of my knees and both of my hips. I am so grateful to have quality of life again. Highly recommended!”
– Carina Stevenson, Google Review
We found Dr Matthew Wilkinson to be very professional and caring
“My Husband Yarn had an operation on both his hands [wrist] for carpel tunnel approx. 6 months ago and we have not wrote a review yet as we wanted to wait and see how hands went. We are very happy with the outcome of the operation. We found Dr Matthew Wilkinson to be very professional and caring. We would highly recommend him. Our doctor actually referred us to another doctor but we did research and decided we preferred another doctor and did some research on Doctor Wilkinson and got in contact with his practice. My husband met him and was very happy and went through with operation. We were also very happy with the hospital he operates from. They were excellent also. The nurses were lovely.”
– Linda, Google Review
5. Dr Scott Mackie
Address: 49 Augusta Rd, Lenah Valley TAS 7008
Contact Details: +61 36 228 1490
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Friday – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Dr Scott Mackie has been working in Hobart since 2005. He’s got a pretty broad range of experience, from robotic knee replacements and computer-guided hip surgery to paediatric care and correcting bone deformities.
Something I find refreshing is just how much attention goes into patient comfort. They provide detailed guides before major procedures, which is a big help when you’re already feeling a bit anxious.
And the support doesn’t stop once the operation is done. After surgery, you get straightforward recovery instructions, and Dr Mackie sticks with you through follow-up appointments.
Patients appreciate that continued care—it helps them feel looked after instead of being bounced around. The clinic also works with physiotherapists and other allied health services, so your rehab feels more coordinated.
When it comes to booking, new appointments are usually available within 1–2 weeks, and urgent cases can sometimes be seen within a few days if the GP referral has the right info.
The trade-off is that it’s a smaller, more specialised practice. That’s great for focused care, but for things like complex paediatric imaging or extra support services, you might need to go somewhere bigger.
He’s a brilliant surgeon, and I recommend him for any Orthopaedic surgery
“DR Scott Mackie is/was My Orthopaedic surgeon last year(May 23rd) and this year(February 21st) who did my Ankle Fusion operation, he’s a brilliant surgeon, and I recommend him for any Orthopaedic surgery”
– Tanya Farnell, Google Review
I am able to maintain my independence and enjoy a happy lifestyle
“I am very grateful to Dr Mackie for all of the surgeries he has completed on my foot. Because of his ongoing commitment and expertise, I am able to maintain my independence and enjoy a happy lifestyle. I cannot thank Dr Mackie and his wonderful staff enough for their ongoing commitment to patient care.”
– Sammi Strecker, Google Review