‘Valley of the Senses’ as Tamar Valley is affectionately known locally, couldn’t be a more fitting description for the region that contains Launceston and its surrounding towns and villages. The beauty of the area is one which gets under your skin in a subtle, gentle way – not an instant bombardment of your senses in the way a country like India hits you, but in a way that makes you stop, stand still, look around, listen and begin to appreciate all those little things you noticed as a child but stopped noticing as an adult. The cacophony of birdsong and hum of cicadas, breathing in air as fresh and pure as can be, the subtle hues of the changing landscape and colours of native trees, the whispered vibrations of ripples on still lakes and the sound of rushing water through the gorge, the proud architecture of the majestic colonial homesteads, the crunch of leaves underfoot on the forest floor and the spring as you walk across moss covered paths like plush carpet under your feet, the bitter and sweet tastes of freshly harvested fruit from the many orchards, the heady perfumed smell of roses from the National Rose Garden, the shrill call of peacocks announcing the importance of their arrival, the awe inspiring sight of snow capped mountains, the wonder of beguiling early morning mists through the valley......all of these things and more are offered up in abundance in this area, bringing out the explorer and child like curiosity that is inherent in all of us but needs coaxing out now and again! 

Launceston Tamar Valley is where 2 magnificent freshwater rivers meet the sea and life revolves around the water, making it a naturally a place for the meeting of people and minds and cultures. The locals are friendly, the welcome warm and the spirit of the place flows peacefully. 

You can’t help but feel truly alive here and develop a sense of belonging to the natural beauty surrounding you. In that sense it is the perfect place to come to unwind and to nourish your soul. 

What to do in Launceston Tamar Valley

There is so much to do in the region and yet the area is so breathtaking that you need do very little at all to find your stay fulfilling. The best advice of all is to take the pace slowly, soak up all that is around you, admire the views and breathe deeply to take in the pure air. For a rounded stay, a combination of some of the following activities might appeal: 

Walking: Tasmania is a mecca for bush walkers and hikers and the Launceston Tamar Valley region is no different. It offers a wide variety of landscape, ensuring that you are constantly captivated. Whilst there are trails for hard core trampers that require some serious effort, the beauty of this area is that there is just as much to see by taking a gentle stroll. A particularly stunning area is Hollybank Forest, where rows of magnificent trees line the river and the colours of the backdrop change season by season. Relive your childhood, kick up the leaves and be enthralled by the crunch of crisp fallen leaves under your feet! Life has never been so much fun!

Cataract Gorge: When 19th century explorer William Collins first sighted Cataract Gorge, he described it as “the most beautiful place in the world” and by the 1880s it had been developed as a Victorian resort for the residents of Launceston. Now a reserve, Cataract Gorge still has a large part to play in the community and the locals hold it in high esteem for its natural beauty and the dramatic atmosphere it evokes. This is another good walking area with lots of trails (160 hectares of trails), although you’ll want to stop lots just to admire the views and the cascading falls when the rains have touched the area. At night time the Gorge takes on a magical quality as the trails are lit up creating an enchanting fairytale like scene. 

If you don’t feel like walking, you can take the chair lift up to the top lookouts. In fact this is the longest single span chair lift in the world, which is enough of a treat without needing any other justification for foregoing the walk up there!

Vineyards: Tasmania is well and truly on the map for award winning wines and the Tamar Valley is home to over 20 vineyards. For wine buffs there is something to tantalise all taste buds. Even if you’re a novice, taking a wine tasting tour is so much fun you’ll soon get caught up in the lingo and delight in being creative with your own descriptions of the flavours that define each grape and vintage!! Best of all though, choose a wine that you like, buy a bottle or 2 and kick back for a lazy afternoon in the sun, chatting with friends and getting lost in the allure of the magical vineyard surroundings. Make sure you leave the car at home though.

Brewery: If wine isn’t your cup of tea (!) and ale’s more your thing, you’ll almost definitely want a stop at the region’s brewery. Taste Boag’s, the local beer, brewed in Tasmania since 1883 using distinctive local hops. The locals will be happy to share a yarn with you over a pint of the local brew!

Swiss Village: If you take a drive up the West Tamar Valley to Grindlewald, you will stumble upon a Swiss style village. This is a lovely little spot to spend a couple of hours. You might feel like an extra out of ‘Heidi’ though, so practice your yodelling first!! 

Adventure Sports: If it’s adrenalin that fires your passion then you will still be spoilt for choice. Cataract Gorge is a fabulous area for rock climbing and abseiling and you get to see the dramatic ridges from an entirely different perspective to those walking up it! 

There are also ski slopes in the area that make fantastic mountain biking trails out of season. Feel the wind rush by you as you hurtle downhill at breakneck speed!! 

To experience the thrill of heady heights, try cable hang gliding for a bird’s eye view. 

Roman Baths: You might feel like some r&r after raising your pulse rate so much! On that score, Launceston has relaxation well and truly covered. For the ultimate indulgence, pay a visit to the Aquarius Roman Baths in George Street. Based on Italian marble design, pure decadence beckons you into the watery depths of the designer baths, which are based on the sophisticated ancient Roman system of exposing you to a number of hot rooms, then bathing in beautifully warm waters before, finally, a cold plunge! This system of bathing has long been believed to have therapeutic and restorative powers. Your aching muscles might thank you for a trip to the baths, but whether or not it soothes your physical ailments, there is no doubt that it soothes your soul.
 
Museums and Galleries: If you want to step beyond nature and into the history and culture of the region there are a number of museums and galleries that will be right up your alley. One of the museums that stands out is the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania. Car enthusiast or not, you’ll appreciate the superb collection of classic cars and motorcycles housed here that span 90 years of motoring history, specialising in vintage British and European sports car classics.

Shopping: There is something wonderfully ‘home grown’ about the produce and wares in Tasmania and Launceston is no exception. It may not be the place to pick up the latest designer trends but it is here that you’ll find a unique and boutique item that will have all your friends back home enquiring where they can get something similar. Add to this the fact that many of the shops are owned and run by locals whose families have lived in the area for generations and you’ll find that a shopping experience here becomes layered with chats and conversations about local life and people so that you begin to feel a part of the community yourself. You won’t get that in Oxford Street!!!! 

Browse the antique shops, purchase some quirky gifts for friends from the Design Centre, stock up on local wine for the evening and then take a break at one of the local cafes to rest your feet and admire your wares!

Cruise: A different way to admire the ‘food for the soul’ views is to board a cruise down the Tamar River, Australia's longest navigable tidal estuary and just as the water ebbs and flows beneath you, allow the slow pace to wash over you as magnificent vistas slip by.

Sleeping

Fancy a boutique waterfront guest house with elegant furnishings and hearty breakfasts? A luxury room in one of the many vineyards, where you don’t have to travel home after one too many samplings? Or perhaps you’re on the lookout for a budget but comfy backpackers, or a swanky inner city hotel? Something quirky suits your character? How about a stay in one of the lighthouse keeper’s cottages? You can take your pick from them all and more!!! The region has rich pickings in the style of accommodation it has to offer, all offering their own unique appeal, so perhaps you’ll like to extend your stay and try several! Just make sure you book well in advance when there is an event in the area.

How to get to and around Launceston

Launceston has its own airport and is just a 45 minute flight from Melbourne, a little longer from Sydney.
Once you are there, the best way to get around is to hire a car. This allows your plans to be flexible but also it is a fabulous scenic driving area and you’ll want plenty of stop offs along the way to appreciate all the region has to offer. The East and West Tamar Highways offer you a spectacular road trip, one that you’ll be writing home about as you pass through unchanged colonial settlements, picturesque fishing villages, majestic mountainous backdrops, dense rainforest and gold mining country.