Launceston & Northern Tasmania
When the first free settlers in Tasmania chose this region as their home, they discovered what people now have come to treasure -- beauty in the landscape, bounty from the soil and the feeling of untamed and wild places.
Launceston is Tasmania's second largest city and gateway to the north and eastern coast. At its heart is the magnificent Cataract Gorge Reserve, a natural amphitheatre, famous for its wonderful outdoor concerts. It's the place for food and wonderful shopping.
For lovers of fine wine a tour around the vineyards of the Tamar Valley is the ultimate delight -- tasting', dining and views across the valley (with no regard for time). Or guided tours of the north's most stately country homes, where doors are opened to reveal the region's early history, and life in grander days.
Beyond the city are the highlands, icy streams and alpine lakes where anglers set their wits against the wild and wily Tasmanian trout. Walkers of all ages follow paths to waterfalls, forest glades and picnic spots, a world away from the average daily grind. An hour's drive from Launceston are the ski fields of Ben Lomond, which by spring expose a maze of nature trails.
Further east, the stunning beaches of the sun coast, where the weather is often warmer and the surf is always up. You can swim and dive or charter a boat to fish for bluefin tuna. Or dine on famous east coast seafood -- scallops, abalone, oysters and crayfish -- and leave the only footprints in the sand.