Launceston & The Tamar Valley Tasmania

Launceston is a pleasant drive north of Hobart (2 hours along the Heritage Highway through lots of historic towns and villages) or a good place to begin exploring the Apple Isle. The city has preserved its colonial heritage and is a good base for exploring the beaches of the east coast, national parks and the Great Lakes region (excellent trout fishing!) The city and the river valley bring together history, scenery, creativity, adventure, entertainment and gourmet delights.

Things To Do in Launceston & The Tamar Valley

· For fine local craft and furniture, visit the Design Centre of Tasmania, the Wood Design Collection (Macquarie House, Civic Square) and the Inveresk Railyards cultural precinct.
· The Queen Victoria Museum has one of Australia's best collections of colonial art. The Planetarium has displays of the star-studded southern night sky.
· Penny Royal World has a reproduction 19th century gunpowder mill and firing cannon.
· The National Automobile Museum has one of the country's best collections of classic and historical cars.
· A good way to explore the city is to take a coach tram tour.
· Cataract Gorge has lovely gardens, peacocks, walking trails, a chairlift and a suspension bridge. The chairlift is the longest single span chairlift in the world and offers magnificent views of the gorge. You can also try rock-climbing here.
· For more adventure, there's cable hang-gliding at nearby Trevallyn.
· Take a cruise up the Tamar River on the luxury, licensed Tamar Odyssey.
· Sample some fine wineries in the Tamar Valley or a James Boag Premium - voted the world's best beer at the Australian Beer Awards.
· At Tamar Island (8km from Launceston) there are boardwalks to let you walk over the wetlands to see birds in their natural habitat.
· At Low Head, fairy penguins nest and Australian fur seals breed on Tenth Island. Call into the Low Head Pilot Station (Australia's oldest) which still guides ships and visit the Maritime Museum.
· The Waverley Wollen Mills are Australia's oldest and have been operating since 1874.
· You can learn to fly-fish for trout in the Launceston Lakes (15 minutes from the city) and there are no seasonal restrictions.
· At Beaconsfield you can discover the state's mining history at the Grubb Shaft Gold and Heritage Museum - once Tasmania's largest gold mine and now re-opened as a working mine.
· The quaint and curious Swiss village of Grindelwald is worth a visit.
· Notley Gorge is a sanctuary for wildlife.
· You can pick your own fruit at the Hillwood Strawberry Farm.
· At Beauty Point Seahorse Australia is the only seahorse farm of its kind in the world.