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Best Things to Do in the Coal River Valley, Tasmania

Cool-climate wine, colonial-era streets, and a few wonderfully unexpected attractions.

  • Richmond Tasmania. Image Credit: Darren Wright

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Best Things to Do in the Coal River Valley, Tasmania
Coal River Valley

The Coal River Valley manages to fit a fair bit into a small corner of southern Tasmania. There are cool-climate vineyards, cellar doors and long lunches, alongside Richmond’s Georgian streets, Australia’s oldest surviving colonial gaol and one rather detailed miniature version of 1820s Hobart.

Found around 25 minutes from central Hobart and even closer to Hobart Airport, the valley works beautifully as a day trip. Give it a night or two, though, and you can explore beyond Richmond, visit smaller producers and enjoy the wine without watching the clock.

Here are some of the best things to do in the Coal River Valley, along with a few practical tips for planning your visit.

Coal River Valley Tourism Map

Explore Richmond’s historic streets

Richmond is best explored slowly. Start around Bridge Street, then wander between sandstone cottages, old inns, churches and public buildings dating from the town’s early colonial years. The village is compact enough to explore on foot, but there is plenty in the smaller streets and laneways to reward a longer wander.

Follow the Richmond Heritage Walk or build your own route between Richmond Gaol, the old courthouse, St Luke’s Anglican Church and St John’s Catholic Church. Along the way, stop at galleries, bakeries and small shops now occupying some of the town’s historic buildings.

Richmond Tasmania. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Richmond Tasmania. Image Credit: Darren Wright

Walk across Richmond Bridge and along the Coal River

Richmond Bridge is the town’s best-known landmark, but it is worth doing more than taking a quick photo from the road. Walk across the bridge, follow the riverbank and find a spot on the grass to watch the light move across the sandstone arches.

Continue towards Brinktop Reserve for a longer walk and broader views across Richmond and the surrounding farmland. Early morning is quieter, while late afternoon often brings softer light across the river.

Richmond Bridge. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Richmond Bridge. Image Credit: Darren Wright

Taste your way through the Coal River Valley wineries

The Coal River Valley is one of Tasmania’s best-known cool-climate wine regions, particularly for sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. The distances between cellar doors are relatively short, but each has its own pace and personality.

Pooley Wines and Domaine A bring a strong sense of place and history. Puddleduck offers a relaxed, family-run cellar door beside its pond, while Every Man and His Dog combines small-scale wine with chocolate made on site. Frogmore Creek is a good choice when lunch is as important as the tasting.

Tip: Cellar door hours and tasting arrangements change, and some vineyards require bookings. Check directly before travelling and appoint a designated driver, stay locally or join a wine tour.

Caledon Estate, Coal River Valley. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Caledon Estate, Coal River Valley. Image Credit: Darren Wright
  • Pooley Wines – Join us for in-depth structured tastings, local cheeses and charcuterie boards daily, as well as artisan wood-fired pizzas on weekends.
  • Puddleduck Vineyard – Our cellar door awaits you daily from 10 am to 5 pm, offering customised wine tastings, guided vineyard and winery tours, and a serene deck overlooking the pond and vineyard.
  • Nocton Vineyard – Explore a large range of wines made from expertly grown grape varieties including Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Gamay.
  • Frogmore Creek – Set amongst the vines, Frogmore Creek winery features an award winning Cellar Door, Restaurant and Function Centre all with breathtaking views over the surrounding valley and waterways.
  • Every Man and His Dog Vineyard – This charming winery combines wine production, a cellar door for tastings, lunch and Afternoon Teas and an on-site artisan bean-to-bar chocolate maker, The Federation Chocolate Factory.
  • Caledon Estate – Set amongst the gum trees, overlooking the village of Richmond, the vineyard nestles comfortably amongst its natural environment.
  • Domaine A  – Domaine A is an iconic Australian wine estate. Established in 1973, the historic Stoney Vineyard is the oldest in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley. Bookings recommended, walk-ins subject to availability.
Richmond Village. Image Credit: Laura Coupland
Richmond Village. Image Credit: Laura Coupland
Richmond Village. Image Credit: Laura Coupland
Richmond Village. Image Credit: Laura Coupland
Richmond Village. Image Credit: Laura Coupland
Richmond Village. Image Credit: Laura Coupland
Richmond Village. Image Credit: Laura Coupland
Richmond Village. Image Credit: Laura Coupland

Settle in for a long lunch

A tasting can easily turn into lunch around here, and that is not a bad way to lose an afternoon. Several wineries offer proper sit-down dining, while others serve cheese boards, small plates or weekend food alongside their wines.

Frogmore Creek is one of the valley’s established vineyard dining experiences, while Pooley Wines regularly pairs tastings with local produce and selected food offerings. Coal River Farm brings cheese, chocolate and a farm restaurant into the mix. Menus and opening days can change seasonally, so book before building the rest of your day around lunch.

Pooley Wines
Pooley Wines

Try local cheese, chocolate and farm produce

Wine may get most of the attention, but the valley also produces cheese, chocolate, berries, walnuts and other seasonal treats. Coal River Farm combines a restaurant with cheese and chocolate made on site, while Wicked Cheese is an easy stop near the Hobart Airport end of the region.

Federation Artisan Chocolate operates alongside Every Man and His Dog Vineyard, making it possible to try locally made chocolate and wine in the same stop. For something closer to the source, check whether farm tours or seasonal picking experiences are available during your visit.

Coal River Farm
Coal River Farm

Visit Richmond Gaol

Richmond Gaol offers a less polished view of the town’s colonial past. Built in the 1820s, it is Australia’s oldest surviving colonial gaol and retains cells, yards and punishment spaces that reveal the harsh conditions experienced by people imprisoned there.

Allow time to read the interpretation rather than treating it as a quick photo stop. The site adds important context to the bridges, buildings and estates found across the wider valley.

Richmond Gaol. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Richmond Gaol. Image Credit: Darren Wright

Wander through 1820s Hobart in miniature

Old Hobart Town Model Village is one of Richmond’s most unusual attractions. More than 60 miniature buildings and hundreds of tiny figures recreate Hobart as it appeared in the 1820s, complete with plenty of detail and a little mischief tucked into the scenes.

It is compact, easy to explore and works well for families, history lovers and anyone who appreciates a very committed miniature world.

Old Hobart Town Model Village
Old Hobart Town Model Village

Find family attractions that are genuinely different

The Coal River Valley has several family attractions that are a little unexpected and easy to combine with a day exploring Richmond.

Hobart Zoo & Aquarium adds wildlife encounters to the day, while Sweets and Treats makes an easy stop for ice cream, chocolates and old-fashioned lollies. Some farms around Orielton and the wider valley also offer bookable animal experiences, including alpaca encounters.

Nearby, Pooseum turns animal droppings into an interactive science experience, complete with plenty of curious facts and almost unlimited dad-joke potential.

Hobart Zoo and Aquarium
Hobart Zoo and Aquarium

Frequently Asked Questions:

Yes. It combines one of Tasmania’s best-known historic villages with wineries, restaurants, local producers and family attractions, all within an easy drive of Hobart.

The region is best known for cool-climate wine, particularly sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling, as well as Richmond’s colonial-era architecture and food producers.

Yes. Richmond and several nearby cellar doors can be combined comfortably in a full-day trip, although trying to visit too many producers can make the day feel rushed.

Yes. Old Hobart Town, Amaze Richmond, Pooseum, Hobart Zoo & Aquarium and selected farm experiences provide options beyond wineries and heritage sites.

Richmond can be reached by bus, but many wineries and rural attractions are not conveniently connected by public transport. A tour is usually the easiest car-free option.

Two or three cellar doors, combined with lunch and time in Richmond, is generally enough for a relaxed day. Book a tour or nominate a driver.

An overnight stay is worthwhile for visitors who want a long lunch, several tastings or time to explore beyond Richmond.

Uplands Vineyard. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Uplands Vineyard. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Picture of Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team

Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team

The Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team is dedicated to bringing you the best insider tips, local stories, and up-to-date guides to exploring southern Tasmania.

Article Details:

Article Created: 12 March 2025
Last Update: 28 July 2026
Author: Darren Wright

Discover the Coal River Valley

Blending rich history, exquisite wine, and scenic landscapes

Coal River Valley
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