Day Tour in Mt. Field, Mt. Wellington, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and Richmond

The most appealing thing about this Hobart day tour is its variety. In about nine hours, you move from mossy rainforest and a tall waterfall to Tasmanian wildlife, a Georgian-era town, and a mountain summit with broad views over Hobart. It is a lot of Tasmania in one day, but the stops feel different enough to keep the day moving.

I like the small maximum group of 20, which makes a long day in a shared vehicle more personal and easier to manage. I also like the simple value: round-trip transport, a local guide, Russell Falls entry, and Bonorong admission are included in the $128.39 price.

The main consideration is time on the road. Mt Field is well worth the trip, but you will spend a fair part of the day in the vehicle. Mt Wellington can also be foggy, wet, snowy, and very cold, so the best views are never guaranteed.

Key points at a glance

• Russell Falls and rainforest: Spend about 90 minutes in Mt Field National Park, Tasmania’s first national park, with time for the famous falls and forest walk.
• Tasmanian wildlife up close: Bonorong offers kangaroo feeding and the chance to see animals such as wombats, echidnas, and Tasmanian devils.
• Four very different stops: The day combines nature, wildlife, local food, colonial-era Richmond, and a high mountain viewpoint.
• Guides add real local context: Guides including Brett, Jarrod, Hans, Gary, Gerard, and Jo have been praised for explaining Tasmanian history, geology, wildlife, and weather.
• Weather matters at kunanyi: Bring warm layers, gloves, and a hat even in summer. Light snow and strong wind are possible at the summit.
• A good first-day orientation: This is a practical choice if you have limited time in Hobart and want to see several major sights without hiring a car.

A full day beyond Hobart

This is not a slow country outing with long café stops. It is a carefully packed circuit through several of southern Tasmania’s best-known places. You leave Hobart around 7:50 a.m. and return after roughly nine hours, with about 90 minutes allocated to each of the first three major stops and 40 minutes at the summit of kunanyi, also known as Mt Wellington.

That schedule gives you enough time to walk at Russell Falls, spend useful time at Bonorong, and look around Richmond rather than simply taking a photograph from the roadside. Still, you should expect a brisk pace. One guide was praised for keeping the day smooth and well timed, while another was felt to be rushing the group. Your experience may depend partly on the day’s weather, traffic, and guide.

The air-conditioned vehicle matters here. Mt Field sits well beyond Hobart, and the trip includes several long stretches of countryside. Along the way, you can watch the Derwent River, farmland, vineyards, and changing vegetation outside the city. A good guide helps turn those driving sections into part of the tour rather than dead time. Brett and Jarrod, in particular, have been singled out for their local knowledge and care with explanations.

Russell Falls and the Mt Field rainforest

Mt Field National Park is the day’s strongest nature stop. It was Tasmania’s first national park, and the visit centers on Russell Falls, reached through a cool forest setting filled with tall trees, moss, and ferny undergrowth. The walk is short enough to fit the schedule, yet the setting gives you a real taste of Tasmania’s wetter forest country.

You have about 90 minutes here. That is enough to walk to the falls, take photographs, and spend a little time noticing the forest rather than treating it as a quick photo stop. The waterfall itself is the clear focus, but the approach is part of the pleasure. The moss-covered trunks and fresh air create a quiet change from Hobart’s streets.

I would give this stop your full attention. It is easy to hurry toward the waterfall and miss the details along the track. Wear shoes suitable for a forest walk, and bring a light waterproof layer. The weather in southern Tasmania can change quickly, and a damp forest can feel cool even when Hobart is mild.

Several people who enjoyed this tour wished they could have spent longer at Mt Field. That is useful to know if you are a serious bushwalker. This excursion gives you a fine introduction, not a full national park day. If you want extended walks, birdwatching, or a slower pace in the forest, an overnight stay or dedicated Mt Field trip would suit you better.

The Russell Falls admission is included, so there is no extra entry charge to handle at the park. The tour also removes the need to plan the drive or find your way through unfamiliar roads, which is a major reason the day works well for a first visit.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and Tasmania’s native animals

Bonorong is the most hands-on part of the outing. The sanctuary is run as a social enterprise with a focus on supporting wildlife, and the visit gives you a chance to see native Tasmanian animals in a managed setting. Admission is included, and you have about 90 minutes to explore.

The highlight for many people is feeding kangaroos. You can buy or receive food at the sanctuary and walk among the animals as they graze, which is especially appealing for families. You might also see wombats, echidnas, ducks, and Tasmanian devils. A white wallaby has also been seen here, though individual animal sightings cannot be promised.

The sanctuary is relatively small. That can be a virtue on a tight day because you can cover it without becoming worn out, but it also means you should not expect a huge zoo-style complex. One useful point is that Tasmanian devils are not always active in daylight, and some animals may not be visible during your visit. The sanctuary advertises them, but no wildlife encounter is guaranteed.

For that reason, I would treat Bonorong as a chance to meet several Tasmanian species, not as a promise of a perfect devil photograph. If your main goal is to see one particular animal, allow for some uncertainty. The visit is still valuable because it gives you context about animals that are difficult to spot in the wild.

The guides can add a lot here. Brett’s background in animal support work has helped him explain the creatures and the sanctuary’s purpose. Jarrod has also been praised for his understanding of Tasmania’s flora and fauna. Their explanations make the stop more than a quick circuit of enclosures.

Families should find this part easy to enjoy, and it gives children a break from long drives. If you are traveling without children, the stop still works, especially if you enjoy wildlife photography or want to learn about Tasmanian species without arranging a separate visit.

Richmond, pies, and a compact slice of history

Richmond gives the day a change of tone. After the forest and animals, you get time in a picturesque historic town with local shops, food, and the famous Richmond Bridge. The stop lasts about 90 minutes and has no separate admission fee.

This is a good place to choose lunch, since lunch is not included in the tour price. Tasmanian scallop pies are one local specialty mentioned for Richmond, and other food options may include savory pies and meals at local venues. A chicken and Camembert pie and slow-cooked lamb with vegetables have both been enjoyed here, so you may want to arrive ready to eat rather than carry a large packed meal.

Richmond is not the strongest stop for every type of visitor. If you prefer forests and wildlife, you may find the town less exciting than Mt Field or Bonorong. One practical assessment is that Richmond is pleasant but of marginal interest compared with the other stops. I think its value comes from the contrast: it breaks up the natural attractions and gives you a chance to stretch your legs, eat, and see a different side of the region.

Use the time sensibly. Walk to Richmond Bridge, look around the town center, and leave room for lunch. The 90-minute window sounds generous, but it can pass quickly if you sit down for a full meal. If food is important to you, ask your guide about the timing before settling in.

The summit drive to kunanyi/Mt Wellington

The final stop is a drive to the summit of Mt Wellington, known as kunanyi, where you have about 40 minutes for views and photographs. On a clear day, the reward is a broad view across Hobart and the surrounding area. It is a strong finish because you can look back over the city and the countryside you have crossed during the day.

The mountain is also where you need to take weather seriously. At the summit, conditions can shift from sunshine to fog, rain, strong wind, or light snow. One person enjoyed snow flurries, while another reached the top only to find it covered in fog. In both cases, the mountain itself remained an experience, but the view was controlled by conditions.

Pack warm layers even if Hobart feels mild. Bring a windproof jacket, gloves, and something to cover your ears. Sunscreen is also worth carrying in summer, since cool air does not prevent sunburn. The advice from the day is simple: prepare for two seasons in one outing.

The 40-minute stop is enough for photographs and a short look around, but it is not a hiking visit. If you want to walk the mountain trails or wait for the clouds to clear, you will need a separate visit. The tour has to keep moving to return you to Hobart on schedule.

The guides make the long day work

The guide is an important part of this experience because so much of the day happens between stops. A quiet driver who only points out the parking areas would leave you with a lot of road time. The strongest guides on this route have explained local history, geology, wildlife, farming areas, and the practical effects of Tasmania’s changeable weather.

Brett has received especially warm praise for his animal background and his knowledge of the places visited. Jarrod has been valued for his local roots and genuine attention to the group’s experience. Hans has been credited with explaining history, geology, and wildlife during the longer ride to Mt Field. Gary, Gerard, and Jo have also led well-regarded days.

The tour may operate with a multilingual guide, so the exact style can vary. You should also expect a shared group rather than a private outing. The maximum of 20 people is modest enough to keep the vehicle from feeling like a large coach tour, but it is still not a one-on-one experience.

Pickup and drop-off are offered at selected hotels, and the tour begins around 7:50 a.m. Check that your accommodation is included before booking. Confirmation arrives at booking, and most people can take part, with public transport available near the meeting arrangements.

Is $128.39 good value?

At $128.39 per person, this is a fair price for a nine-hour outing that covers four major stops outside Hobart. You are paying for transport, a guide, an air-conditioned vehicle, Russell Falls entry, Bonorong admission, and the convenience of returning to Hobart without arranging a car.

The value is strongest if you have limited time or do not want to drive on unfamiliar roads. A rental car might give you more freedom and longer at Mt Field, but you would need to plan the route, cover fuel and parking, pay the wildlife sanctuary entry, and manage the mountain weather yourself. This tour also lets you listen to local explanations during the longer drives.

The value is weaker if you dislike structured days or want to linger. You cannot decide to spend three hours at Russell Falls, stay in Richmond for a long lunch, or wait at Mt Wellington for a clear view. The schedule is designed for coverage, not deep exploration of one place.

The 98 percent recommendation rate and 4.9 rating from 735 reviews point to a consistently strong operation, especially in guiding and organization. I would still read that alongside the practical limits: Bonorong is small, Richmond may feel secondary, and Mt Wellington can disappear into cloud.

Who should book this Hobart day tour?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to southern Tasmania. It is also a smart choice if you have only a few days in Hobart and want nature, animals, local food, history, and mountain views without renting a car.

Families should like the mix of short walks and kangaroo feeding. Nature lovers will get a memorable taste of Mt Field, though not enough time for a full day of hiking. People interested in Tasmania’s wildlife will appreciate Bonorong, particularly with a guide who can explain the animals rather than simply point them out.

I would hesitate if your priority is a long wilderness walk, a guaranteed Tasmanian devil sighting, or a relaxed lunch. You should also reconsider if you are unprepared for cold weather at altitude. The tour needs good weather, and if poor conditions force cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, so keep that deadline in mind when planning around flights or cruises.

My verdict: a strong all-rounder from Hobart

Book this tour if you want to see several very different parts of Tasmania in one well-organized day. Russell Falls is the scenic centerpiece, Bonorong adds close animal encounters, Richmond supplies food and old-town atmosphere, and kunanyi provides the dramatic finish when the clouds cooperate.

Go in with realistic expectations. You will drive a lot, the pace can feel tight, and the mountain view depends on weather. Bring layers, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, and an appetite for a Tasmanian pie. For a first look beyond Hobart, this is a well-priced and unusually varied day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately nine hours, beginning around 7:50 a.m.

What places does the tour visit?

The route includes Russell Falls in Mt Field National Park, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Richmond Bridge and the town of Richmond, and the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Is hotel pickup included?

Selected hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You should confirm that your accommodation is one of the eligible pickup locations.

Are admission fees included?

Admission to Russell Falls and Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is included. Richmond Bridge and Mt Wellington do not have a separate admission fee listed.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should budget for food during the Richmond stop.

How many people can join the tour?

The shared group is limited to a maximum of 20 people.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, and the same choice applies if that minimum is not met.