Bonorong Wildlife Park and Richmond Afternoon Tour from Hobart

The star of this afternoon is Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can walk among kangaroos and wallabies, feed them with supplied pellets, and watch Tasmanian devils at feeding time. The animals are part of a rescue and rehabilitation effort, so this feels more purposeful than a quick photo stop.

I like the easy pairing of wildlife and village history. Richmond Bridge, old buildings, bakeries, antique shops, and the historic jail give you a taste of rural Tasmania, while guides such as Phil, Mark, Barry, and Allen add useful stories during the drive. My main caution is the clock: one hour in Richmond and about one hour at Bonorong can feel tight, especially if you want lunch, museums, or a long animal visit.

Key points at a glance

• Feed kangaroos and wallabies: Free food pellets let you get close to some of Bonorong’s friendliest residents.
• Watch Tasmanian devils feed: A sanctuary guide provides commentary about these famous Tasmanian animals.
• See Richmond Bridge and old buildings: You have free time to explore Richmond, including its historic bridge, jail, church, shops, and eateries.
• Start in the afternoon: The tour begins at 1 pm and lasts about 4 hours 15 minutes, making it useful for a short Hobart stay.
• Pickup is available at selected hotels: The vehicle is air-conditioned, but pickup details need careful checking before departure.
• Expect a shared group tour: The maximum group size is 48, although some departures may feel smaller.

Why Bonorong is the real reason to go

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary gives you the kind of close animal contact that is hard to arrange on your own during a short visit to Hobart. The kangaroos and wallabies are the obvious stars. You receive food pellets, then walk through their area as they approach for a snack or, if they are in the mood, a gentle chest rub.

That contact is fun, but it is also worth understanding the sanctuary’s purpose. Bonorong cares for injured native wildlife and works to rehabilitate animals for release when possible. The experience lets you support that work while learning about animals that are difficult to spot in the wild.

You will see more than kangaroos. The grounds contain a broad mix of Australian animals, birds, reptiles, wombats, and Tasmanian devils. A guide meets the group along the way and adds commentary, while sanctuary staff may answer questions at animal areas.

The Tasmanian devil feeding session is a particular highlight. These compact marsupials have a fierce reputation, and watching them feed gives you a much better sense of their energy and character than a static enclosure ever could. The timing matters, since animals can be less active in hot weather. If seeing the devils is your main aim, ask your guide about the feeding schedule once you arrive.

The advertised experience includes koalas, but sightings are not guaranteed. Some departures have had koalas available, while others have not, and several visitors specifically found none at the park. I would book this for the kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and Tasmanian devils first, then treat a koala sighting as a bonus.

Richmond Bridge and a compact historic town

Richmond is a pleasant first stop because it gives the afternoon a change of pace. After the ride from Hobart, you have about an hour to walk around town on your own. The main draw is Richmond Bridge, an old stone bridge that provides an easy photo stop and a sense of the settlement’s early colonial past.

The town also contains several buildings described as among Australia’s oldest, including the oldest Catholic church, the oldest jail, and the oldest bridge. The Richmond Gaol is a popular use of your limited free time, but you need to watch the clock if you also want to browse shops or stop for food.

Richmond’s small scale is part of its appeal. You can walk the main streets without a plan, peek into antique shops, and find cafés, bakeries, and sweet shops. The Richmond Bakery is a practical stop if you want something quick, with beef and mushroom pies singled out as a memorable local treat. Eating beforehand, or choosing a snack rather than a full meal, will leave you more time for sightseeing.

An hour is enough to walk around, take photographs, and choose one main attraction. It is not enough for a leisurely lunch plus several museums and shops. The Pooseum, Amaze outdoor maze, boutique tea rooms, games shops, and other small attractions may catch your eye, but you will need to choose carefully.

This is where the tour divides people. I like Richmond as a short, scenic introduction to Tasmania beyond Hobart, especially if you have not visited the town before. If your priority is wildlife, though, Richmond can feel like time taken away from Bonorong. The balance works best when you see Richmond as a quick town visit, not as a full historical tour.

The drive adds more than simple transport

The total outing lasts about 4 hours 15 minutes, although the two main stops account for only about two hours. The rest is the drive between Hobart, Richmond, and Bonorong, along with loading, guiding, and commentary.

That travel time is useful when the driver treats it as part of the experience. Phil has been praised for humor and local information, while Mark, Barry, and Allen have also been noted for clear commentary about Hobart, Richmond, and the surrounding area. A good guide can point out places along the road and explain Tasmanian stories that you would otherwise miss from a coach window.

One driver also used a less direct road back to Hobart, giving the group a little more of the surrounding area. You should not expect a dedicated sightseeing drive, but the route can add context to the afternoon.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters on warmer days. Group size can reach 48, so this is not a private or intimate tour by definition. Some departures have been described as clean, on time, and comfortably sized, while one unhappy account raised concerns about bus confusion and difficulty hearing commentary. That makes it worth confirming the pickup instructions and bus details in advance.

What one hour at Bonorong really means

Bonorong is large enough to reward a longer visit. With only about an hour, you will need to make the animal encounter your priority instead of trying to see every enclosure.

A typical visit includes a guided walk of roughly 20 to 40 minutes, followed by time to walk around and feed kangaroos and wallabies. That format gives you both explanation and freedom, but it also means the visit can feel rushed if you want extended time with the animals.

I would stay close to the guide at the start. The commentary helps you understand the rescue work and points out animals you might otherwise pass. After the guided portion, go directly to the kangaroo area and allow time for feeding and photographs.

The ground is not fully paved, so comfortable shoes are sensible. You should also keep your hands gentle and follow the sanctuary’s directions around the animals. The appeal is close contact, not a staged performance.

The animal activity can vary. On hot afternoons, some creatures may be resting, and one account described seeing fewer birds and snakes later in the day. Kangaroos are usually the safest expectation, while koalas and other animals may not be visible or active. If you want a broad wildlife visit at an unhurried pace, a separate Bonorong visit would make more sense than this combined excursion.

The timing tradeoff at 1 pm

A 1 pm departure is convenient if you want a quiet morning in Hobart. You can visit the waterfront, Salamanca area, or another nearby attraction before meeting the vehicle. The afternoon start also makes this tour fit neatly into a short stay or a day when a full-day trip would be too much.

The downside is that you lose the cooler and longer daylight hours that a morning departure might provide. The animal sanctuary may be less lively later in the day, especially in warm weather. The fixed schedule also leaves little room for a long Richmond lunch.

Pickup is offered from selected Hobart hotels, and the listed meeting point is Mona Brooke Ferry Terminal at Franklin Wharf. Do not assume every hotel receives door-to-door pickup. Check the exact meeting place and time carefully, since one otherwise positive account involved confusion over pickup arrangements. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

Is $89.66 a fair price?

At $89.66 per person, this is a reasonable convenience purchase rather than the cheapest possible way to see Bonorong. The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide, admission to Bonorong, and hotel pickup and drop-off where available.

The value comes from combining transport, entry, and guiding in a half-day outing. If you do not have a car, the tour removes the need to plan the route or arrange separate admission. You also get a local guide who can fill the drive with information and handle the timing between stops.

The value is weaker if you already have a rental car and mainly want several hours at Bonorong. In that case, the one-hour sanctuary visit may not justify giving up the freedom to stay longer. You would also have more control over Richmond, including how long you spend at the jail, bridge, shops, or bakery.

For a first afternoon in Hobart, I think the price is defensible. You are paying for ease, not just entry tickets. The key question is how much you value convenience compared with extra time at the sanctuary.

Who should book this afternoon tour?

This outing suits you if you want to see Tasmanian animals without committing to a full day outside Hobart. It is a good fit for families, first-time visitors, cruise passengers with suitable timing, and anyone who enjoys a guided introduction rather than independent planning.

It also works well if you want variety. Richmond supplies old buildings, local food, and small-town wandering. Bonorong supplies the memorable animal contact. Neither stop is explored at great length, but the combination gives you two very different Tasmanian experiences in one afternoon.

You may want another option if you are a serious wildlife fan, a photographer, or someone who dislikes fixed schedules. Bonorong alone deserves more than an hour, and Richmond can easily consume more than an hour if you want to visit the jail, browse shops, and eat a proper meal.

The tour is accessible to most people, according to the supplied activity information, but the sanctuary is not fully paved. Wear shoes suitable for walking and plan around the limited stop times.

Small details that make the afternoon better

Eat before departure or plan on a quick snack in Richmond. A full meal can use most of your free hour, leaving little time for the bridge, jail, and shops.

Keep your phone or camera ready on the drive, but listen to the guide too. Barry, Phil, Mark, and Allen have each been singled out for adding useful local context, and the commentary can turn a simple transfer into part of the tour.

At Bonorong, spend your free time with the kangaroos and wallabies rather than trying to cover every enclosure. The guided walk gives you a useful overview, while the animal feeding is the experience you cannot replicate from a passing visit.

Do not make the koala the deciding factor. The park information includes koalas, but availability has varied, and some outings have not had any present. Tasmanian devils, wombats, kangaroos, and wallabies are safer reasons to choose this tour.

Finally, confirm pickup details before the day. Selected hotel pickup is included, but the official meeting point is the Mona Brooke Ferry Terminal. A clear plan avoids the one problem that can sour an otherwise easy afternoon.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a simple, well-organized introduction to Richmond and Bonorong, especially without a car. The animal feeding, Tasmanian devil session, and guide commentary give the afternoon real substance, and the $89.66 price includes the parts that are hardest to arrange independently.

Skip it if your main goal is a long, relaxed visit to Bonorong. The one-hour sanctuary stop is the central compromise. For most first-time visitors with limited time, I think the pairing works, provided you eat beforehand and accept that Richmond and the wildlife park will both be brief.

FAQ

How long does the Richmond and Bonorong tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 4 hours 15 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 1 pm.

Where does the tour begin?

The listed meeting point is Mona Brooke Ferry Terminal, Franklin Wharf, Hobart, Tasmania 7000.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected Hobart hotels only. The exact pickup details should be checked before departure.

Is Bonorong admission included?

Yes. Admission to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is included in the tour price.

How much free time do you get in Richmond?

The Richmond stop provides about one hour of free time.

Can you feed the kangaroos and wallabies?

Yes. Free food pellets are provided so you can feed kangaroos and wallabies at Bonorong.

Are meals and drinks included?

No. Meals and drinks are not included.

Can you cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.