Tasmanian devils meet historic Richmond. This combo tour pairs Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary with an hour in Richmond, plus time to see Tasmanian devils in action. I like the hands-on animal time and the fact that someone else handles the driving and commentary. The only real trade-off is the schedule is tight, so Richmond is great but it can feel like a sprint.

You get pickup from selected Hobart hotels, an air-conditioned coach, and an English speaking guide. Bonorong admission is included, so your wildlife stop is covered from the start, including the pellet feeding.

The outing runs about 4 hours 15 minutes, starting 1:00 pm, and ends back at the meeting point. With a cap of 48 people, you should still feel like you are moving with a group, not floating in a crowd.

Key things to know before you go

• One-hour Richmond stop that still covers the big landmarks, antique shops, and quick food stops
• Pellet feeding at Bonorong for kangaroos and wallabies, plus guided enclosures as you move through
• Tasmanian devils feeding time in an open environment, with on-site staff to answer questions
• Small-ish tour group (max 48), which helps when you are trying to hear the guide
• Comfort note for Bonorong: the sanctuary isn’t all smooth paths, so wear shoes you can trust

A 4-hour Hobart afternoon with two very different stops

This is the kind of tour that works when you want two experiences without planning a thing. You start at the Mona Brooke Ferry Terminal at Franklin Wharf, and you head to Richmond first. Then you trade historic town vibes for wildlife close-ups at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.

For $89.66 per person, you’re paying for more than transport. The price covers an English speaking guide, an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off for selected hotels, plus admission to Bonorong (including the pellet-feeding part). Meals are not included, so build in a snack plan for Richmond.

The timing is the main thing to wrap your head around. You have about 1 hour in Richmond and about 1 hour at Bonorong, within a total trip time of roughly 4 hours 15 minutes. If you want slow wandering and long museum time, you may feel rushed. If you like an organized hit of highlights, it fits nicely.

Richmond Bridge and the town walk you can finish in an hour

Richmond is the older-style Tasmanian town people love because it’s compact and walkable. The centerpiece here is Richmond Bridge, and your free time is long enough to do a quick route that hits the famous highlights.

In that hour, you can fit in:

• Richmond Bridge and the surrounding historic area
• The oldest Catholic Church in Australia
• The oldest jail and oldest bridge (all listed as part of what you can see here)
• Antique shops and local eateries

This is also where you can make the hour personal. If you like quirky local stops, you might be able to pop into places like the Pooseum or a small attraction like Amaze. If you’re after sugar, Richmond is the kind of place where a bakery run can turn into your favorite memory of the day.

One practical thought: plan your Richmond walk like a checklist. The hour is enough if you pick two or three priorities, like the jail area plus a browse through antiques, and then grab a snack. If you try to do everything, you’ll end up watching the clock.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary: pellets, koalas, and devil feeding

Bonorong is the reason this tour gets booked. It’s built around hands-on animal encounters, and the time there feels purposeful rather than chaotic.

At Bonorong, you get free food pellets to feed the kangaroos and wallabies. That one detail changes the whole experience. Instead of just looking through fences, you’re interacting in a controlled, guided way, with animals that are used to visitors.

You also get guided commentary as you move around. The sanctuary has a mix of enclosures, and not everything is open-air. Some animals may be in caged facilities, while key encounters are designed for closer viewing.

Two of the headline moments are:

• Koalas at the sanctuary
• Tasmanian devils feeding, watched in an open environment

You may also see other native animals during the guided walk, including birds and wombats, depending on what is active during your visit.

There’s a small “heads up” that comes up in real-world experience: Bonorong isn’t an all-smooth, fully paved stroll. Wear comfy shoes. Even with a guided route, you’ll be moving around enough that stiff footwear can turn an otherwise fun hour into an annoying one.

Koalas and devils: how to set expectations for the afternoon

The tour description is clear about the animals you are meant to encounter. You’re set up to meet native wildlife including Tasmanian devils and koalas, plus chances to feed wallabies and kangaroos.

Still, animal encounters are never perfectly predictable. Some people have reported not seeing koalas during their visit, even though koalas are part of what the sanctuary is known for. If seeing koalas is your top goal, keep your expectations flexible and be ready to focus on what you do get to experience that day, like the feeding interactions and devil viewing.

Timing can matter too. One practical tip that came through in real experiences is that if the day is hot, Tasmanian devils may prefer not to be as active in the open areas later in the day. Since your tour starts in the afternoon, that’s worth considering. If you’re visiting specifically for devil feeding, plan for the possibility that activity levels vary.

In other words: arrive ready to be happy with kangaroos, wallabies, and whatever wildlife is most active during your visit, rather than treating a single animal sighting as guaranteed.

Guides make it feel local, from Barry to Phil to Mark

This is one of those tours where the guide is not an afterthought. The storytelling and the way they steer the group through stops can make the difference between you collecting facts and you actually remembering the place.

Different guides have been highlighted by name, including Barry, Phil, Mark, Allen, Tim, and Baz. Across those experiences, the common threads are:

• Clear explanations that connect what you’re seeing to Tasmania and local context
• Friendly pacing, so you get through the stops without feeling constantly rushed
• Humor and calm confidence, which helps when you are sharing time with a group

You’ll also notice how guides handle the road. Some experiences mention the driver taking back roads on the way back to add extra scenery opportunities. That can turn the ride into more than just transit, especially when you want something beyond a straight line on a map.

If you’re picky about hearing the guide, position yourself where you can see and listen easily once everyone boards and you start moving. With a max group size of 48, it’s usually manageable, but it still pays to be alert early.

Comfort, transport, and where you start at Franklin Wharf

The logistics here are straightforward, and that’s part of the value. You ride in an air-conditioned vehicle, and you can use hotel pickup and drop-off if your hotel is in the selected area. If you are not being picked up, you meet at the Mona Brooke Ferry Terminal in Franklin Wharf.

You also get a mobile ticket, which tends to make check-in simpler when you are juggling an afternoon schedule. The meeting point is described as near public transportation, so it’s not a remote base that requires a taxi just to start.

One more comfort angle: Richmond is walkable, and Bonorong involves movement on sanctuary grounds. Both are totally doable, but your shoes matter. If you normally wear slip-ons or you hate anything with poor traction, this is a good day to upgrade to something stable.

Price and logistics: is $89.66 worth it?

At $89.66 per person, the cost is only good if the inclusions actually match what you want. In this case, the inclusions do line up well:

What you get for the price:

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• English speaking guide
• Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
• Admission to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
• Pellets for feeding kangaroos and wallabies

What costs extra:

• Meals and drinks

So the real question for you is how you feel about the two stop durations. If you like the idea of a guided, time-boxed wildlife experience paired with a quick historic town walk, the price makes sense. If you want half a day only for the animals and a long sit-down meal in Richmond, you might feel this is slightly rushed.

I also like that you do not have to coordinate two separate tickets and two separate schedules. For many Hobart visitors, that “less thinking, more seeing” factor is worth real money.

Who this Richmond and Bonorong tour suits best

This tour works especially well for:

• First-timers in Hobart who want a clear afternoon plan
• People who want native wildlife without trying to self-drive between scattered locations
• Travelers who enjoy guided interpretation, not just photo stops
• Families or groups who want a structured outing with a manageable group size

It’s also a good match if you like short, focused sightseeing. Richmond is compact, and Bonorong’s guided flow is designed for an easy visit even when you only have about an hour.

You might skip this tour if:

• You need maximum time in Richmond for museums, lunch, and slow browsing
• Koalas are the only animal you care about and you will feel disappointed if they are not visible that day
• You hate walking a bit on uneven sanctuary ground and would rather choose a more static, paved attraction

Should you book this Hobart afternoon combo tour?

Book it if you want a smooth, guided way to hit two big Hobart-adjacent goals in one afternoon: historic Richmond and hands-on wildlife at Bonorong. The pellet feeding plus the devil feeding moment is exactly the kind of experience that feels more alive than a standard zoo stop.

Skip it or think twice if you’re hoping for long, slow time in town or if you are planning your whole trip around one specific animal being visible at the exact moment. Since this is an afternoon schedule, build in flexibility for wildlife activity.

If you want, tell me your travel dates and whether koalas or Tasmanian devils are your top priority. I can help you decide if afternoon timing is a good fit for your goals.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 1:00 pm.

Where does the tour meet and start?

The meeting point is the Mona Brooke Ferry Terminal, Franklin Wharf, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the meeting point.

How long is the Bonorong and Richmond afternoon tour?

It runs about 4 hours 15 minutes.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected hotels.

What is included in the ticket price?

The ticket includes an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only), and an English speaking guide. Admission to Bonorong is included.

Are meals and drinks included?

No, meals and drinks are not included.

How much free time do I get in Richmond?

You get about 1 hour free time exploring Richmond.

How long do I spend at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary?

You get about 1 hour at Bonorong.

What is the maximum group size?

This tour has a maximum of 48 travelers.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.