Travelogue Tasmania Day 3 - Bicheno to Richmond



Day 3 saw us awake to beautiful, clear skies yet again.  So far the weather gods were smiling on us.  After a quick breakfast we set off in the opposite direction of our walk the day before and headed out to find the blowhole.



 

 

The orange rocks, crystal clear blue water and impressive sprays of waves crashing over the shore were so beautiful.  The walk follows for the main part the rocky shoreline, and the kids enjoyed searching out the markers highlighting the trail and scampering up and down the boulders.

 



Before long we headed back to our cabin, packed up and headed out for Richmond.  First stop was at Kate's Berry Farm just outside of Swansea for a quick coffee (of course) and some home made scones, jam and cream for the kids.  Will decided to have the great scone tasting competition during our trip and this batch were  pretty good according to him.   The views over Great Oyster Bay sitting under the pergola were so lovely and we really didn't want to leave.  

Not long after the farm we came across Spiky Bridge, so named I'm guessing because it looks really spikey?  The bridge was built by convicts in 1843 using local fieldstones but no mortar.  Tasmania is full of these little curiosities just waiting to be found.

 

 



Before lunch we found ourselves at our base for the next 2 nights, Richmond.  What a delight.  Sitting on the Coal River, and only 27km from Hobart, Richmond was once an important military post and convict station on the way to Port Arthur.  Now it is a charming little town filled with beautifully maintained historic buildings and  great cafes and restaurants ( meal of the trip was had here at Ashmore on Bridge Street).

Richmond Bridge was built by convicts in 1823, making it the oldest road bridge in Australia.  The kids enjoyed chasing ducks along the banks of the river here.  You can buy bread at the bakery to feed them if you like ( the ducks, not the kids).   We spent a small while at Old Hobart Town Historic Model Village, a re-creation of Hobart town 20 years after its founding.  The little models were quite cute and it was a pleasent enough way to spend an hour or so. 

One of the things we were really looking forward to was spending a couple of nights on a farmstay at Richmond.  Daisy Bank Cottages  were just adorable.  Our accommodation was in an old converted sandstone barn originally built in 1830.  We were free to explore the farm as we liked and both Will and Lucy just loved being around the horses, sheep, chooks ( who provided us with fresh eggs both mornings) and two of the friendliest dogs you ever will meet - Patch and Charlie.  We just didn't want to leave.  Hopefully we will be back one day, and if you ever find yourself in that part of Tasmania, I cannot recommend it highly enough.