Five towns near Hobart you should road trip to this weekend

When you’re looking for a day trip to get out of town, try one of these for size. While this Weekend Drives article lists five towns to road trip to, there are many more in each pocket of the country which we encourage you to visit also. Think of this as your starting point. The devastating bushfires have affected many regional towns across the country so there has never been a more important reason to pack the car with mates and an empty esky and visit the towns around your region to support local and in many cases, family businesses.

If it’s history you’re searching for, Ross has it in spades. Settled in 1821 as a garrison in Tasmania’s midlands, about 120km from Hobart, it retains many fine Georgian buildings. Some of these form the Four Corners of Temptation: Temptation (the 1835 Man O’Ross pub), Salvation (the church), Damnation (the old jail) and Recreation (the Town Hall). There’s Australia’s third oldest bridge, built by convicts in 1836, while the village bakery is a more contemporary addition that does a cracking vanilla slice and, strangely, is a magnet for visiting Japanese anime fans.

Just 40km south of Hobart finds you in the bucolic splendour of the Huon Valley of which the small town of Huonville is the epicentre. You’ll want to explore the main street, perhaps pick up a second hand bargain or stop for a coffee and watch country life wander by. Not far off is the artsy town of Cygnet, and the many orchards have spawned places like the Apple Shed Museum. There are wineries nearby, while the scenery around the Huon River, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Hartz Mountains makes for a memorable drive.

It says something about Tasmania that barely 30 minutes out of the capital city you find a town as peaceful, unspoiled and gosh-darn cute as Richmond. The stone bridge, built in 1823 is Australia’s oldest and its span across Coal River by the village green also makes it the country’s most picturesque. There are more than 50 Georgian buildings including the intact 1825 gaol with its Spartan cells, or there’s the Catholic church built in 1836. More contemporary attractions include the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary (great for close encounters with a Tassie Devil), the Wicked Cheese Company or more bizarrely, the Pooseum, a museum dedicated to animal droppings (poo knew?)

If you’ve seen enough historic buildings and prefer nature and scenery, head for Tasmania’s East Coast. Bicheno is a good base as the small town is on the northern end of the Freycinet Peninsula with its national park and stunning Wineglass Bay, surely one of Australia’s most perfect seaside environments. In and near Bicheno itself you can get up close to Little Penguins during a sunset penguin walk, check out the Blowhole, visit a local winery, see wallabies and Tasmanian Devils at the East Coast Natureworld wildlife park, or source crayfish, oysters and salmon for a slap-up seafood feast – you can even wade in the water and shuck your own oysters at nearby Coles Bay.

Another must-visit, only 40 minutes west of Hobart along the Derwent River, is New Norfolk. Named by the convicts who settled the area after leaving Norfolk Island in 1807, it is Australia’s third oldest town and has some gorgeous buildings among the newer shops and cafes. The river is wide and its banks a perfect spot for a walk or picnic, or go for a critically acclaimed meal at the famed Eatery. You’ll see historic oast houses (used for drying hops for beer production), or maybe just shop for antiques to take away your own little piece of Tasmanian history.

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