Awesome day today exploring quaint villages, talking to the locals, soaking in the scenery, and indulging in Tassie produce in rural Tasmania. We hit the road early to take in the abundance of towns and sites worth a detour on the way to The Tasman Peninsula. Definitely the long way round but that’s ok!

Our first stop was Ross- mainly because we had heard that the worlds best vanilla slice was waiting for us at the bakery. Definitely worth the trip- so creamy and delicious.

Vanilla slice aside, Ross is one of the prettiest villages in midland Tasmania. We walked across the sandstone carved Ross Bridge, which was completed in 1836, and looked back on the village to admire the steeple of the Roman Catholic Church in the background. There are over 40 historical sites in Ross and we ooo’d and ahhh’d our way through the town wishing we had more time.

We moved onto Oatlands where history looms large…the town with the largest collection of sandstone Georgian buildings in Australia… there are apparently 150 of them, mostly convict-built, including 87 along the main street… and behind the facades we found antique shops, cafés and bars. And there’s a windmill 🤷🏼‍♀️

Next was a visit to Richmond Village- a charming town in the centre of one of Australia’s fastest-growing wine regions, the Coal River Valley, making it a terrific hub for foodies and wine aficionados alike. And like Ross and Oatlands, it feels like stepping back in time… rich in history and architecture, with more than 50 historic buildings… including an old gaol. Plenty of shops and cafes have sprung up in the old lovingly restored Georgian buildings with gorgeous gardens. There is even a Pooseum- a unique museum dedicated to animal poo and all the things that can be learnt from it.

We even had the amazing experience of old- fashioned car service at the fuel station- can’t even remember the last time that happened.

What a wonderful town… would love to have stayed here. Even found the perfect accommodation in a beautiful restored old sandstone church. Next time!

We strolled down to the willow lined river and its stunning Heritage listed arch bridge, recognised as the oldest existing bridge in Australia and like most buildings in town, built by convicts.

Behind the bridge you can see St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. Built in 1836 it is considered to be Australia’s oldest Roman Catholic Church.

Throughout the day we drive through more beautiful rural scenery, with flowers, fruit trees, vineyards and canola fields lining the roads as we head south.

We stop for lunch at the recommended award winning family owned Bangor Wine and Oyster Shed for a wine tasting and lunch… including award winning pinot noir, chardonnay and Riesling. We settled in on the deck soaking up awesome views across Blackman Bay and had by far the best food we had so far eaten in Tasmania. Everything was amazing.

With very full tummies, we needed a walk so continue south onto the Tasman Peninsula… land of the highest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere. After crossing the Neck, we drove through the unique village of Doo Town, laughing as we notice all the names of the houses (“Love Me Doo”, “Just Doo It”, “Make Doo”, “Digeri-Doo” and the risque “Doo-Me”), before heading for the Waterfall Bay track.

This spectacular walk takes you right to the edge as you skirt the cliff-line from the Tasman Arch car park… with numerous stunning views of the tremendous coastline the peninsula is renowned for from platforms along the cliffs that plummet into the swirling sea beneath. Geology is the star here, with amazing formations, including arches and gulches worn through sedimentary layers by constant wave action. The trail kicks off with the aptly named Tasman Arch being the first attraction. This natural forest-laden bridge seems to float in the air above the treacherous waters of the Tasman Sea.

The Devils Kitchen is next- a deep chasm in the cliffs with huge waves crashing against the rocks below.

Following the cliff edge for much of the way, you’ll be stunned by the phenomenal views over the many notches and coves that have been carved out of the rock over the millenia.

The walk ends at a high lookout with views across to a waterfall that drops over perpendicular cliffs into the sea. I’m sure this would be best viewed after heavy rain (which there hadn’t been), the waterfalls at Waterfall Bay fall spectacularly from over 200m up.

We then head home to our BnB in White Beach- home for the next couple of nights with stunning views over Crooked Billet Bay