Visit Launceston Australia

Launceston is noted as having one of the most intact early cityscapes in Australia. Its early Colonial and Victorian buildings give the city a wonderful historic character. The best way to explore the city is to take one of the three walking trails that take you past many living architectural examples dating back to early colonial times.

Hollybank has spacious picnic facilities nestled amongst ash and pine trees. Walking tracks lead through a mix of native bush and plantation forests. The ash trees, originally planted as a wood supply for cricket bats and tennis racquets, are particularly attractive in autumn.

Follow the South Esk River from Launceston s famous Cataract Gorge to the historic Duck Reach power station. This walk will generally suit groups with children. Work on the Duck Reach Power Station began in 1855 but it wasn't until 1895 that the turbines began to power the new electric streetlights. The station was destroyed by floods in 1929 and rebuilt the following year. It continued to operate until 1956. Today an interpretation centre provides a history of the station.

Just 10 minutes drive from the heart of Launceston, you can walk through wetlands and across a river channel to the 7 hectare Tamar Island. For company you ll have pelicans, swans, cormorants and numerous other bird species as well as frogs, dragonflies and lizards. The wetlands centre has displays and information. The Tamar River Conservation Area is part of an estuarine wetland. Such wetlands are important habitats for a wide diversity of plant and animal life. It remains the stronghold for one of Tasmania's poorly reserved vegetation comunities - coastal paperbark forest.

A full day s walk that gets you away from the more popular areas and into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Take road C167 from Deloraine to Meander, then follow signs to Meander Forest Reserve. 4.5  6 hours return (5km one way)