The drive from Hobart to Launceston led us across historic bridges, to unusual museums, eternal Christmas and old prisons. And ducks — so many ducks.

We started out at a reasonable hour on Friday morning in summer, although the weather said otherwise. The drive from Hobart to Launceston is around 2 to 2.5 hours, so there was no particular hurry. We grabbed a bagel in town and started our slow journey.

The road to Launceston is pretty much a straight shot north along the National Highway 1, but you can make some fun stops along the way if you’ve got no rush to get there.

First stop: Richmond

Only 26 minutes out of central Hobart, Richmond is an ideal day trip or, in our case, pitstop on the way up to Launceston.

Looking at the map, we saw Richmond had an historic bridge and something called…ahem….a ‘Pooseum’…which looked intriguing if nothing else. Plus there was a cafe on a raspberry farm nearby. We figured these would offer some rest stops stops and distractions on our way to see the wombats and mountains we were hanging for.

Arriving in Richmond, we first stopped (with lots of other tourists) to look at the convict built stone arch bridge and quack at the local duck population. Yes, you can drive your car over this bridge. Funny when you think this bridge will turn 200 this year. Here we all are, driving over it without a thought.

Next stop was the aforementioned Pooseum, which does what it says on the tin. It’s a museum about poop. All kinds of poop. Poop, poop, and more poop. Here you’ll find lots of interactive displays (don’t’ worry, you don’t touch any) and puns. Pun, puns and more puns. In the end (jeez, I think it’s catching) we learned more than we expected – and referred back to much the info later when we were hiking at Cradle Mountain.

We then poked around the shops a bit more and found this amazing Christmas store with three floors of trees, ornaments, wreaths, Santas, and every manner of festive decor our little hearts could imagine.

Richmond Bridge

The foundation stone for the Richmond Bridge was laid on 11 December 1823, and construction continued using convict labour until completion in 1825. The bridge was originally named Bigge's Bridge after Royal Commissioner John Thomas Bigge, who recognised the need for the bridge in 1820. (Wikipedia)

Ducks

You will see lots of ducks in Richmond. Especially near the old bridge

Pooseum

Yup, you read that right. There is a museum dedicated to poo in Richmond Tasmania.

Lafayette On Bridge in Richmond

Christmas is there 365 days a year. If you need anything and everything Christmas this is your spot

Ross Female Factory

Located almost at the exact halfway mark between Hobart and Launceston, the name of this monument may cause you to pause and wonder what they are making in Tasmania. The Ross Female Factory was a former Australian workhouse for female convicts when Tasmania’s penal colony was still called Van Diemen's Land.

Originally operating from 1848 to 1854, it has functioned as a detention centre, the site of a church and several archeological digs. Stopping there today is a sobering reminder of the female experience of forced penal transportation in Australia’s history, along with how our nation’s past is invariably tied to convict heritage.

Today, the Overseer’s Cottage is the only building remaining, alongside a long wall marking the site.

Arriving in Launceston

We arrived in Launceston late in the mid-afternoon and checked into our hotel. We immediately set about finding the local drinking establishments like Du Cane Brewery & Dining Hall and Tandy’s Alehouse. Launceston has a rich beer heritage, after all, with James Boag’s Brewery operating there continuously since 1881. (Pro-tip: take the tour while you’re there and get some unique beers!)

We spent a lovely couple of days in Launceston, visiting the Old Umbrella Shop, the troop of Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) living in City Park, and a day trip out to the lovely Cataract Gorge Reserve.

Our next stop from there was onto the scenic Cradle Mountain — and you can read all about that in our piece on the road from Launceston to Cradle Mountain.