After pickup from Hobart, travel along the western shore of the River Derwent where you will view the historic buildings of Salamanca place and Battery point. Your guide will share information about the reclamation of Salamanca Wharf from the river Derwent, the history of the defenses of the area, the history of Hobart, and how convicts were used for the construction of the city.
Continue to the summit of Mt wellington where you can enjoy the breathtaking views of greater Hobart and the Tasman Bridge, weather permitting. Should weather preclude the running of the trip up the mountain, you be given the option to visit the Mt. Nelson Signal Station.
After departing Hobart, you will travel along the Brooker Highway to Bridgewater and visit the iconic Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Here you can get up front and personal with Tasmanian wildlife, including the Tassie Devil, Forest Kangaroos, Wallabies, Wombats, Koalas and many more. Have a conversation with Fred, the sulphur crested cockatoo, who is over 103 years old!
In Richmond, you will gain more insight into the early convict days that preceded Port Arthur, with a stroll through the oldest goal in Tasmania. You will also see the oldest convict constructed sandstone bridge still in use in Australia and St. John's Catholic Church, the oldest Catholic Church in Australia, then you can wander around, and explore on your own, this quaint little hamlet, with its numerous old and heritage listed buildings, arts and craft galleries, antique shops, etc. A visit to the Old Hobart Town model, set out as Hobart was in the 1820s, is well worth while.
An allowance of 1 hour has been scheduled for the stop in Richmond. This is enough time to grab a quick snack at the Bakery and explore what Richmond has to offer. A sit down meal in a cafe or restaurant is not recommended, as this will eat up your hour allowance in itself.
On the return to Hobart, time permitting, we will travel south along the eastern shore of the River Derwent, to Kangaroo Bluff Battery, where you can explore the subterranean passages and armories and learn more about the history of this site. For a spectacular panoramic view of the Derwent River and Hobart City, we will visit the Rosny Point Lookout, time permitting. The view stretches north to Lutana and south to Opossum Bay. This is a suitable vantage point for your guide to explain the Tasman bridge disaster that happened 40 years ago.
