Trentham Falls, Victoria
A great stop-off point on the way to Daylesford in Victoria’s mineral springs area.
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About an hour’s drive from Hobart, Richmond was once a stopover on the way to the penal settlement of Port Arthur. Now you can zip over the causeways through Midway Point, but you can adopt a slower pace in Tasmania and Richmond is certainly worth the detour.
A lot of Richmond was built in the 1820’s, including the old bridge (Australia’s oldest still in use), and you can see Australia’s oldest remaining Catholic church (1836) through the arches of the bridge.
Also built in 1836 was the Anglican church St Lukes. There may be older churches in Tasmania but St Lukes has not changed since the day the first rector cleaned his boots on the marvelous boot scraper at the front door.
The clock in the tower of St Luke’s is a gift from St David’s church in Hobart. There’s a lovely stained-glass window above the alter and the timber roof is convict built. The two storey church rectory is just nearby – it’s now a private residence.
All around the town you’ll find lovely sandstone buildings, some now art galleries or cafes. You can visit Australia’s oldest goal that is still intact, grab a meal at the pituresque old hotel (maybe taste a local wine), or feed the ducks on the Coal River.
The Old Hobart Town Model Village will give you a picture of how Hobart was in the 1820’s.
And if the kids are bored by this time, pay a visit to Zoodoo, a hands-on safari and native animal park about 6kms away – but watch out for the emus!
A great stop-off point on the way to Daylesford in Victoria’s mineral springs area.
Most visitors to the picturesque Phillip Island are day-trippers who come especially to see the penguins as they surf ashore at dusk and waddle up to their burrows with full tummies to feed their young. We made our visit a four-day trip to have a decent break, enjoy the peaceful surrounds and experience some of the gastronomical highlights of the island.
Down the Western Explorer highway, through Corinna, Zeehan and Strahan for a day on Macquarie Harbour.
Ioannina, a little town in Western Greece, nestled on the shores of a picturesque lake.
The walled town of Saint-Malo, once a haven for the pirates paid by the French government to harrass the English across the channel, now plays host to the thousands of tourists that flock there every summer.
Tropea, a picturesque town in southern Italy, is known for its stunning beaches, historic landmarks, and vibrant artistic scene. The town is teeming with talented artists and creatives who have been honing their craft for generations.