Launceston was in the last leg of our Tasmania tour. After the Great Eastern Road drive, and the Great Ocean Road drive, we were inching towards exhaustion. Launceston proved to be just the ideal place to rest and loiter around without much of an agenda.
Places to see in Launceston:
- A leisurely walk in the main town takes your past its churches, townhall and botanical gardens
- Do not miss the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery – it is a delight for kids and grown-ups alike. Australia’s oldest regional museum, it houses a museum of general history, and one big railway workshop. The general museum carries installations and information on history, natural and social life, while the railway workshop is a treasure trove of trivia and long-gone days. Another of the Museum’s biggest draw is the Alice in Wonderland play area so popular with kids with fun, intelligent games.
- Walk towards the river Tamar, and as you go past Tamar Street, to your left will be a straight-out-of-the-story-books windmill. Completely enamoured, we romanced it for a long time for photos from various angles…
- A little ahead of the windmill is the famous Kings Bridge. Just as the name suggests, here is an olden-days’ arch-shaped iron bridge over the South Esk River. The romance that started with the windmill, continues here at the bridge too…
- Take left and go inwards to see the Cataract George Reserve on the South Esk river. A public park with scenic lookout points, walk in for a good view of the gorge and children diving into the river alongside seals…
Places to dine in Launceston:
- Do not miss dining at the Black Cow Bistro – a fine dining restaurant, it is, but obviously, famous for its steaks.
- And then there is Jailhouse Grill too – much like Hobart’s Ball and Chain Grill, Jailhouse has some awesome grills with on-the-house salad. Do not miss it for life!
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- Black Cow Restaurant, Tasmania
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- Jailhouse Grill in Tasmania
Stay at the Grand Chancellor in Launceston: Located right in the heart of the city, with the townhalls, churches close by, staying at the Grand Chancellor is convenient. The shopping hub and the restaurants are also at a walking distance, which is why, we didn’t opt for the breakfast option at the hotel. You simply need to walk out into the main street to be faced with quite a few options.
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