Coal River Valley Wine and Richmond from Hobart: Which Tour?
5 min read
If you want wine, book a small-group tasting tour with transfers; if you only want to see Richmond, a plain return bus is the lighter option and leaves you free to wander. One operator puts the Coal River Valley less than half an hour northeast of Hobart, and the tours below differ mostly in how much of the day is vineyards and how much is the village.
| Option | Length | From | Rating | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond village return tour | 4 hours | €40.55 | 4.8/5 from 123 reviews | Richmond only, no tasting |
| Richmond village shuttle | 4 hours | €40.55 | 4.8/5 from 50 reviews | Richmond, with optional paid valley stops |
| Four-vineyard signature wine tour | 7 hours | €137.26 | 4.9/5 from 77 reviews | Adults who want a full wine day, up to 6 guests |
| Coal River Valley wine tour with tastings | 5 to 7 hours | €105.44 | 4.8/5 from 4 reviews | Full-day or half-day choice, up to 11 guests |
| Half-day wine tour with cheese | 5 hours | €117.92 | 4.3/5 from 3 reviews | A shorter tasting, at least four cellar doors |
| Hop-on hop-off wine tour | 7 hours | €61.77 | 4.3/5 from 3 reviews | Choosing your own stops |
Richmond without the wine
The Richmond return tour leaves from Brooke Street Pier and drives through the Coal Valley with commentary. Its page gives about three hours in the village, a free walking map and discounts. The tour pages describe Richmond as home to Australia’s oldest bridge and convict-built churches; the attractions listed on the booking page, Richmond Gaol, AMAZE and Old Hobart Town, charge their own admission. The shuttle runs the same shape from the same pier and adds an optional visit to five Coal River Valley locations where entry and tastings are extra. Its page gives both 2.5 and 3 hours in Richmond, so confirm the time when you book.
Wine tours
The signature wine tour is the most personal: up to 6 guests, hotel pickup and drop-off within 5 km of the Hobart centre, at least four vineyards, wine tastings and a cheese board in the price, with lunch at Ashmore Cafe in Richmond paid separately. It is adults only; children under 18 years, pregnant women and people with mobility impairments are listed as not suitable. Pickup is around 9:30am and drop-off around 4:30pm.
The Coal River Valley wine tour offers a full day, departing 9:30am and returning between about 4:30pm and 5:15pm, or a half day departing 12:30pm. Full-day departures need at least 2 passengers and half-day departures at least 4. Cheese is part of the tasting. The half-day tour names Pooley Wines and Frogmore Creek among its possible stops and excludes children under 18 years. The hop-on hop-off service visits seven locations, with hourly pickups and room for four stops a day; lunch should be reserved in advance, and groups above six must pre-book it.
Driving yourself
Tastings and driving do not mix, so a hire car suits only a designated driver or a village-and-lunch day. If that is you, compare rental cars for Hobart and check the excess first. Opening hours and tasting fees change; check each cellar door before you go.
Recommendation
For a proper wine day, take the signature wine tour at €137.26: its group is capped at six, and wine tastings and a cheese board are in the price; like the half-day tour, it is adults only. For an easy half day with no tastings, take the Richmond return tour at €40.55. More tastings and meals are in Hobart food and wine tours.
