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Voykit pocket guide · Australia
Ross
Stop for 2–3 hours on the Hobart–Launceston drive, or sleep one night to see Ross Bridge and the Female Factory without rushing.
Ross is a one-street Georgian village of about 270 people on the Tasmanian Midlands, 120 km north of Hobart and 78 km south of Launceston. It was a garrison and coaching stop from 1821, and its sandstone bridge, convict-era buildings and female factory survive almost intact. Almost everyone arrives by car for a few hours; a single night turns a motorway break into a proper look at the convict story.
- Country
- Australia
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (cold, wet, short days)
- Stay
- 1 night
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
- 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$4–6 |
| Scallop pie at the bakery | A$9–14 |
| Pub counter meal | A$22–35 |
| Museum entry (Wool Centre) | A$5–10 |
| Fuel, per litre | A$1.80–2.10 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | A$20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HBA · Hobart Airport
- About 1 h 30 min by car via the Midlands Highway; the usual arrival for a northbound drive.
- LST · Launceston Airport
- About 1 h 10 min by car; the usual arrival for a southbound drive.
Typical fares
- Hobart → Ross by car
- 120 km (75 mi), about 1 h 30 min75 mi (120 km), about 1 h 30 min
- Launceston → Ross by car
- 78 km (48 mi), about 1 h 10 min48 mi (78 km), about 1 h 10 min
- Fuel, Campbell Town
- the nearest reliable fill before or after Ross (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
On foot. The historic street, bridge and Female Factory are within about 10 minutes of each other. A car is needed to reach Ross at all, and to leave it.
See and do
Known for
- Ross Bridge (1836)
- Ross Female Factory
- Georgian sandstone main street
- Scallop pie at the bakery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Campbell Town | Midlands Highway north, about 15 min by car | About 20 min |
| Oatlands | Midlands Highway south, about 20 min by car | About 25 min |
| Launceston | Midlands Highway north, about 1 h 10 min by car | About 1 h 15 min |
| Bicheno | Midlands Highway north, then the Tasman Highway east, about 1 h 45 min | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Church Street and the main street
- Sandstone cottages and the old hotel next to the bakery; everything is walkable from here.
- Midlands Highway turnoff
- Motel-style stops on the highway itself; cheaper and easier with a trailer, but a drive from the historic street.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thanks |
| Where is the bridge? | Where's the old bridge? |
| Is the museum open today? | Are you open today? |
| Can I pay by card? | Card OK? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where's the loo? |
| One coffee, please | A flat white, thanks |
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
- There is no public transport to Ross: the only way in is by car.
- The Midlands Highway bypasses the town; take Roseneath Rd northbound or Chiswick Rd southbound or you will miss it.
- Fuel, food and open hours are limited: fill up in Campbell Town or Oatlands.
- Winter days are short and the highway can be icy or foggy at dawn.
Ross is a very safe small town; the real risks are the drive (wildlife at dusk, ice in winter) and the fact that nothing is open late. Carry water and fuel.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ross yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ross Bridge (1836)
- Ross Female Factory
- Georgian sandstone main street
- Scallop pie at the bakery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania — Ross Female Factory: parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/ross-female-factory
- Tasmanian Wool Centre — museum: www.taswoolcentre.com.au/museum/
- Wikivoyage: Ross (Tasmania), revision 4634304 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4634304
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Ross
Can you take me to this address?
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No consulates in Ross; the US consulate-general is in Melbourne and most embassies are in Canberra. Check your own country's list before you travel.
Fuel and food are limited in Ross: fill up in Campbell Town or Oatlands.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/ross-tasmania). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.