Hobart: Mt Wellington, Mt Field, Bonorong and Richmond Trip

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary gives this day trip its most memorable moment: you can walk close to Tasmanian devils and hand-feed kangaroos. Then the scenery changes fast, from rainforest and waterfalls at Mt Field to old buildings in Richmond and wide views from Mt Wellington.

I like the mix of wildlife and wilderness. I also like that the guides, including Brett, Jarrod, Gary, and Scott, add plenty of local detail rather than simply pointing out the next stop. The tour gives you a useful first look at several sides of southern Tasmania for $126.

The trade-off is a full nine-hour day with several hours on the road. The bus may feel tight for some people, the Mt Field walk includes uneven ground, and Mt Wellington can be cloudy, windy, rainy, or snowy. Its summit visit depends on the weather.

Key points to know before booking

• Russell Falls and the Tall Trees: Walk through fern forest and enormous trees to one of Mt Field’s best-known waterfalls.
• Bonorong’s close wildlife encounters: Feed kangaroos and see Tasmanian devils, wombats, echidnas, frogs, and other Tasmanian animals.
• Richmond adds a historic town stop: You get time for old buildings, a walk, shopping, food, and local products.
• Mt Wellington is weather dependent: The summit may be visited early or late in the day, with views changing sharply in poor conditions.
• The guides are a major part of the experience: Brett is especially strong on fauna and flora, while Jarrod, Gary, Scott, and others bring local stories and practical advice.
• A useful Hobart overview: The day combines nature, wildlife, culture, and mountain views without requiring you to rent a car.

Why this Hobart day trip works

Many day tours ask you to choose between wildlife and scenery. This one does not. Over about nine hours, you see wet forest, waterfalls, native animals, a historic town, and a high mountain viewpoint.

That variety is the main reason I see value here. You do not spend the whole day in one park or one sanctuary. Instead, each stop has a different feel, and the drive through the Derwent Valley links them together.

The route also suits a short stay in Hobart. If you have only a day or two, arranging Mt Field, Bonorong, Richmond, and Mt Wellington independently can take time. This trip handles transport, admissions to Russell Falls and Bonorong, hotel pickup from selected central locations, and a local English-speaking guide.

The price is $126 per person. That is fair for a nine-hour guided outing with transport and two included admissions. You still need to pay for food and drinks, and you should not expect a private tour or long, leisurely visits at every stop. Think of it as a well-packed introduction to the region.

From Hobart into the Derwent Valley

Pickup takes place between 7:30 and 7:50 am from seven central Hobart meeting points. The exact times range from 7:30 at the Grand Chancellor Hotel to 7:48 at the Tower Motel. You need to arrive a few minutes early, since the bus cannot wait long at each stop.

The first drive lasts about 75 minutes. This is not wasted time. The route follows the Derwent Valley, and your guide fills the drive with local stories, information about Tasmanian plants and animals, and details about the places you pass.

One early sight is Australia’s oldest operating pub. The stop is not listed as a separate visit, so expect to see it from the road rather than spend a long time there. Still, it helps set the scene for the valley, where natural scenery and settlement history sit close together.

The quality of this opening drive depends partly on your guide. Brett is frequently praised for his animal expertise and former zookeeper background. Gary has a strong reputation for explaining local daily life and the past. Jarrod is known for sharing information about Hobart and its surroundings, while Scott is praised for keeping the day smooth and friendly.

You may also get lucky on the road. One guide has been known to spot wild animals and point them out to the group. Sightings are never guaranteed, but this is one benefit of having a guide who is paying attention beyond the scheduled stops.

Mt Field National Park and the walk to Russell Falls

Mt Field is the day’s first major stop, with about 90 minutes to walk and explore. The main route leads through tall forest and large ferns to Russell Falls, one of Tasmania’s best-known waterfalls.

The walk is a strong start because it gives you several sights in a short distance. You pass beneath enormous fern fronds and tall trees before reaching the falls. Horseshoe Falls and the Tall Trees area may also be part of the walk or nearby viewing, and the Tall Trees are a clear highlight for many people.

This is the most physical part of the day. The walk has been described by some visitors as easy and well paced, while another person found it strenuous. That difference is worth noting. The outing is not presented as a hard hike, but you are walking on forest paths and may encounter uneven or wet ground.

Wear proper walking shoes, not smooth-soled city footwear. Bring water, and take a rain jacket even if Hobart looks bright when you leave. Mt Field can feel much cooler and wetter than the city.

I especially like the way this stop gives you a taste of Tasmania’s forest without taking up half the day. Ninety minutes is enough to see the main waterfall and enjoy the trees, but it is not enough for a long independent exploration. If you want extended walks in Mt Field National Park, plan a separate visit.

The forest also gives the guide room to explain Tasmania’s plant life. Past visitors have singled out the information about eucalyptus trees, local animals, and the clean mountain air. The commentary makes the walk more than a quick photo stop.

New Norfolk and a useful pause

After Mt Field, the bus follows the freshwater route back toward New Norfolk. The drive takes about 50 minutes, and the guide explains the town’s background along the way or during the stop.

New Norfolk is mainly a transition point in this schedule. You get time to stretch and find something to eat before continuing to Bonorong. Since food and drinks are not included, this is a good place to use your own money for a snack or lunch.

Do not expect a major sightseeing visit here. Its value is practical. After the forest walk and before the wildlife sanctuary, a break keeps the day from becoming one long sequence of bus rides and short photo stops.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and Tasmanian animals

Bonorong receives about 90 minutes, including a guided visit and free time. For many people, this is the emotional centre of the day.

You can hand-feed kangaroos, often one of the most enjoyable parts of the entire outing. The sanctuary also gives you a chance to see Tasmanian devils and learn about the animals in its care. Close encounters may include wombats, echidnas, and frogs, depending on what is available during your visit.

The sanctuary matters because it gives you a clearer look at Tasmania’s native wildlife than you can usually get from the roadside. A guide with a strong animal background can add useful context, especially around Tasmanian devils, quolls, pademelons, and the extinct thylacine, often called the Tasmanian tiger.

Brett has been especially praised for his former zookeeper experience and his ability to explain unusual animals in a memorable way. One guest learned about pademelons, quolls, and a local nickname for a bird, along with facts about devils that they had never encountered before. That sort of detail can turn a standard sanctuary visit into a proper introduction to Tasmanian fauna.

You should know how the time works. The visit includes a sanctuary guide and free time, so you may not need to remain with the sanctuary employee for every minute. If you want to wander independently, ask your tour guide about the arrangement at the start.

Ninety minutes is enough to see a good range of animals and feed the kangaroos. It is not a full-day wildlife program. If animals are your main reason for visiting Tasmania, you may want a dedicated wildlife experience as well. For a mixed sightseeing day, though, Bonorong is a very effective stop.

Richmond, old buildings, and time for a snack

The short 15-minute drive from Bonorong brings you to Richmond. You get about 90 minutes to walk, shop, eat, and look around.

Richmond has a distinctly different mood from Mt Field and Bonorong. Instead of forest or animal enclosures, you see a compact town with old buildings and reminders of Tasmania’s colonial past. The stop gives you time to walk at your own pace, take photos, visit shops, or sit down for food.

Scones and local products are popular choices here, but food is not included in the tour price. Keep a little money available for a cafe stop. If you want a full meal, do not spend the whole break browsing first.

The timing is sensible for a first visit, but it has limits. One and a half hours lets you get a feel for Richmond and enjoy a snack. It may not let you see every building, shop, and attraction in detail. I would treat this as an introduction, not a complete Richmond tour.

Richmond is also useful for planning the rest of your Tasmania trip. You can see enough of the town to decide if you want to return independently, perhaps with more time for its historic sites and local businesses.

Mt Wellington and the weather lottery

The final major stop is Wellington Park, with about 45 minutes at the summit or viewpoint. The mountain visit may happen early in the morning or late in the afternoon, depending on cloud cover and conditions.

This flexibility is sensible. Mt Wellington can offer broad views over Hobart and the surrounding country, but the summit can also be hidden by cloud. Wind, rain, cold, snow, and sudden changes are all possible. Several visits have included snow, rainbows, or strong winds, while one person found the weather limited the experience.

Bring warm layers even in summer. The summit can feel dramatically colder than central Hobart, and comfortable shoes matter here too. If the top is clear, you get one of the best broad views of the city. If the cloud closes in, the visit becomes more about the mountain atmosphere than the panorama.

The 45-minute stop is enough for photographs and a short look around. It is not a hike through Wellington Park. That is a fair arrangement on a day already covering several places, but you should book a separate mountain outing if you want longer walks.

I like that the summit is not treated as a guaranteed postcard moment. The operator adjusts the timing to give you the best possible chance of clear views. Still, no schedule can control Tasmanian weather, so keep your expectations flexible.

The bus, pacing, and guide style

The tour includes transport between all stops, with drives of about 75 minutes, 50 minutes, 15 minutes, and 40 minutes, plus shorter transfers near the mountain and Hobart. That adds up to a good amount of road time, but the route covers a wide area.

The vehicle has been described as comfortable, although one person found the legroom tight. If you are tall or dislike sitting on a bus for long periods, this is worth considering. Pickup and drop-off at selected central Hobart hotels make the day easier, especially if you are not renting a car.

The pacing is one of the better features. You have enough time to walk at Mt Field, see the main animals at Bonorong, explore Richmond, and take in Mt Wellington without feeling rushed at every stop. The day is busy, but it is not designed as a race.

The guide can make a large difference. Brett is particularly strong on wildlife, flora, and fauna. Jarrod brings detailed local information and may offer suggestions for other Hobart activities. Gary has been praised for history and everyday Tasmanian stories. Scott is a good fit if you value a calm, well-organized day.

The names of the guides can change, so do not book solely on the promise of one person. The consistent pattern is a guide-led experience with local commentary, rather than a silent transfer service.

Who should book this experience

I would choose this trip if you have limited time in Hobart and want to cover several major sights in one day. It suits first-time visitors, couples, families, solo visitors, and anyone who does not want to drive on unfamiliar roads.

It is especially good for people who want variety. You get forest, waterfalls, wildlife, town streets, food time, and mountain views. Families may enjoy Bonorong most, while photographers and walkers may prefer Mt Field or Mt Wellington.

The day is less suitable if you want a slow schedule. You will not have hours at each place. It is also not ideal if you need a fully accessible, flat walking program, since the forest walk includes uneven ground and the description does not provide detailed accessibility information.

Pack comfortable shoes, water, warm clothing, and a rain layer. Buy food during the break or in Richmond. Arrive early at your pickup point, since the listed times run only a few minutes apart.

Should you book the Mt Wellington, Mt Field, Bonorong and Richmond trip?

Book it if you want a high-value first look at southern Tasmania rather than a deep visit to one attraction. At $126, the included transport, Russell Falls access, Bonorong entry, guide, and hotel pickup make the price reasonable for a nine-hour outing.

The strongest reasons to go are the Mt Field forest walk, kangaroo feeding at Bonorong, and the quality of the wildlife and local commentary. The main cautions are the long day, limited time at each stop, possible tight bus seating, and unpredictable Mt Wellington weather.

For a short Hobart stay, I would book it early in your visit. You will get a feel for the region, learn which places deserve a return visit, and leave with practical ideas for the rest of your time in Tasmania.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about nine hours, including transport, sightseeing, walking, and visits to Mt Field, Bonorong, Richmond, and Mt Wellington.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $126 per person.

What is included in the price?

The price includes transportation, a local English-speaking guide, pickup and drop-off from selected hotels, entry to Russell Falls, and entry to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, so bring water and plan to buy something during the break or in Richmond.

Where can I be picked up in Hobart?

Pickup is available from seven listed locations: Travelodge Hotel Hobart, Allurity Hotel, Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, Hobart Tower Motel, the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre, Vibe Hotel Hobart, and 64 St Georges Terrace.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup times run from 7:30 to 7:50 am. The Grand Chancellor Hotel is scheduled for 7:30 am, and the Tower Motel for 7:48 am. You should arrive a few minutes early.

What will I see at Mt Field National Park?

You can walk through fern forest and tall trees to Russell Falls. The walk may also include views of Horseshoe Falls and the Tall Trees area.

Can I feed animals at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary?

Yes. Hand-feeding kangaroos is included as part of the Bonorong visit. You can also see Tasmanian devils and other Tasmanian wildlife.

Is the Mt Wellington summit guaranteed?

No. The timing and summit visit depend on cloud cover and weather conditions. The mountain may be cold, windy, rainy, cloudy, or snowy, but clear conditions can provide wide views over Hobart.