Tourist activities

Richmond

The historic town of Richmond is located approximately 30 minutes drive from The Beach Escape. Enjoy a stroll through the village of Richmond, featuring Australia's oldest stone bridge, dating 1823 and explore the convict heritage and historic buildings. Make sure you check out the bridge (walk underneath it and feed the ducks or eels), the church, and if the kids need some exercise there is a playground near the bakery.

There are galleries, arts and crafts, tea shops, museums and food to enjoy, as well as the Richmond Gaol, Richmond Maze & Tea Rooms, and Old Hobart Town Historic Model Village.

If you are feeling a bit peckish, check out the Richmond bakery. It features a selection of cakes, pastries, sandwiches, pies and bread - all of which are made on the premises.

And visit to Richmond isn't complete without a trip to the sweet shop! From the devilishly divine Valhalla ice-cream to the large selection of lollies, there is something for every sweet tooth.

Coal River Valley

The area surrounding Richmond is the Coal River Valley region. It is a farming area featuring a variety of producers of exquisite Tasmanian produce.

If wine takes your fancy, the rich fertile soils of the Coal River Valley support a  number of wineries including Puddle Duck, Pooley Wines and Coal Valley Vineyard. Most of the wineries have cellar door sales and some also feature cafes. When visiting the region, we recommend you check the opening times as they can vary depending on the time of year.

Now if you feel like some cheese to go with your wine, then stop by the Wicked Cheese Company. They produce a large range of cheeses on site and have received a number of awards including the Supreme Cheese Champion Trophy at the 2008 Royal Melbourne Show for their Wicked Cheese Triple Cream Brie, and the Best White Mould Cheese at the 2010 Australian Grand Dairy Awards for their Wicked Cheese Brie. Whilst cheese is their specialty, the shop also features a large selection of Tasmanian produce including wines, sauce and meat. You can also see the cheese being made through the viewing window.

Also in the Coal River Valley is Zoo Doo Wildlife Park. You can hand feed wallabies and deer, or pat a snake or lizard if you are brave. We especially love the safari bus ride where you get to feed the ostriches (hold on tight to the feed cups as they grab them!) and dive for cover as the camels stick their heads in to grab a bite to eat. The main attractions are the lions and tigers, especially at feeding time. If you are brave you can even help feed the lion and tiger cubs.