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Voykit pocket guide · Australia
Richmond
Go as a half-day or one-night stop from Hobart: 25 min by car, 2–3 h on foot covers the bridge, gaol and village. Skip if you have no car.
Richmond is a small historic village in the Coal River valley, 24 km north of Hobart, built on convict labour and holding Australia's oldest bridge (1823) and oldest surviving gaol (1825). It is a compact walkable stop, best paired with a Hobart base rather than used as a base itself. Two to three hours covers the core; a night lets you see it without the day-trip coaches.
- Country
- Australia
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (mild, long days); Dec–Feb warmest
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (cold, wet, short days)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- AUD
- Money
- Currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, A$). Contactless cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, including public transport in the big cities; some small cafes are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget A$80–130 excl. bed · Mid A$130–220 excl. bed · High A$220+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telstra has the widest outback coverage; Optus and Vodafone (TPG) are cheaper and fine in cities and along highways.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 000 · From a mobile 112 · Police non-emergency 131 444
- Plugs
- Types I · 230 V · 50 Hz · Angled two- or three-pin Type I, shared with NZ, Fiji and China; sockets have their own switch — turn it on.
- Tipping
- Cafés and casual meals: Nothing; a tip jar is optional.; Restaurants: Not expected; 10% for very good service in a nice restaurant if you wish.; Taxi / rideshare: Round up or nothing.; Tours and guides: Optional; A$10–20 for a great day guide.; Surcharges: Weekend and public-holiday surcharges of 10–15% are legal if shown on the menu.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps. Carry plenty on any outback drive or walk.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets in parks, beaches, shopping centres and petrol stations (servos); the National Public Toilet Map app lists them.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | A$4.50–6 |
| Bakery pie or sandwich | A$7–14 |
| Café lunch with a drink | A$25–35 |
| Pub main (Richmond Arms) | A$25–40 |
| Gaol or museum entry | A$10–20 (check) |
| Cellar-door tasting | A$10–20, often waived on purchase (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | A$15–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HBA · Hobart Airport
- About 20–25 min by car to Richmond; no direct public transport, so taxi, rideshare or hire car
Typical fares
- Taxi or rideshare Hobart → Richmond
- about A$55–75, 25–30 min (check)
- Hire car, one day
- from about A$60–90 plus fuel (check)
- Richmond Gaol entry
- small fee, about A$10–15 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable: bridge, gaol, cafés and shops sit within about 600 m of each other. There is no useful local bus from Hobart, so a car, taxi or rideshare is the practical option; parking is free but fills on summer weekends.
See and do
Known for
- Richmond Bridge (1823), Australia's oldest bridge
- Richmond Gaol, Australia's oldest surviving convict gaol
- Georgian village streetscape
- Coal River valley wineries and berry farms
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Car via the B31 and A3, about 25–30 min | About 30–40 min |
| Kingston, Tasmania | Car via Hobart and the A6, about 45–55 min | About 1 h |
| Margate, Tasmania | Car via the B31 and Channel Highway, about 50–60 min | About 1 h |
| Coal River valley wineries | Car, 5–15 min from the village | About 15 min |
Sleep
- Village centre (Bridge St and surrounds)
- Walk to the bridge, gaol and cafés; a handful of B&Bs and cottages, so book ahead in summer.
- Richmond outskirts and Coal River valley
- Caravan park, cabins and farm stays; you need a car for everything.
- Hobart base
- Most visitors sleep in Hobart and day-trip; 25–30 min each way by car.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thanks |
| Where is the bridge? | Where's the bridge? |
| Can I pay by card? | Card OK? |
| A table for two, please | Table for two, thanks |
| Where is the toilet? | Where's the loo? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake or 'G'day' / 'How are you going?'; first names from the start; avoid: Formal titles; long answers to 'how are you'
- Rounds: Buy your round ('shout') when drinking in a group; avoid: Leaving before your shout
- Queues: Queue patiently; sitting in the front seat of a taxi when alone is common; avoid: Pushing in — it is noticed
- Country: Listen to Welcomes and Acknowledgements; use local place names when offered; avoid: Touching artefacts or photographing ceremonies without permission
- Beach: Swim between the flags; respect lifesavers' instructions; avoid: Swimming at unpatrolled beaches alone
- Humour: Expect teasing and understatement; laugh along; avoid: Taking dry sarcasm literally or boasting
- Walking and driving: Keep left on footpaths and escalators; wave thanks to drivers who let you in; avoid: Stopping on the road to photograph kangaroos
Scams and watch-outs
- No train or bus link from Hobart: without a car you are dependent on taxis or a tour.
- Some attractions are seasonal or close on certain weekdays: check opening hours before you drive out.
- Rural roads are unlit and wildlife crosses at dusk: avoid driving the Coal River valley after dark if you can.
- Summer weekend parking near the bridge is tight; arrive before 10:00.
Very safe. The real risks are rural roads at dusk (wildlife), cold wet weather any month, and riverbanks that are slippery after rain: watch children near the Coal River.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Richmond yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Richmond Bridge (1823), Australia's oldest bridge
- Richmond Gaol, Australia's oldest surviving convict gaol
- Georgian village streetscape
- Coal River valley wineries and berry farms
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Destination Southern Tasmania: www.discovertasmania.com.au/
- Richmond Gaol Historic Site: richmondgaol.com.au/
- Old Hobart Town: www.oldhobarttown.com/
- Pooseum: pooseum.com.au/
- Wikivoyage: Richmond (Tasmania), revision 4896461 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4896461
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Richmond
Can you take me to this address, please?
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Richmond; consulates and high commissions are in Hobart, Canberra, Sydney or Melbourne. Check your own country's list.
US, UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passports: no visa needed for a short visit; most other nationalities need an Australian ETA or visa. Check the official Australian government site before booking.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/richmond-tasmania). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.