Did you recognize that Launceston is my hometown? I moved there from Hong Kong within the 80s once I was 6 years previous and it’s modified rather a lot within the 30 years since I left (to maneuver to Brisbane after which Melbourne).
I took 7yo Lady AB and 5yo Baby 2.0 on a Launceston weekend away, to discover all that’s new and previous in Launceston and to reminisce about my childhood!
Launceston is definitely accessible from Melbourne through a 45-minute flight or in a single day on the Spirit of Tasmania. We have a good time on our mini-break and I can’t wait to return to the Apple Isle to discover extra of it with my household.
Here are my prime household pleasant issues to do in Launceston!
For nice family-friendly lodging within the Launceston Tasmania I like to recommend looking for what’s appropriate on Airbnb.
Things to do in Launceston with youngsters
1. Penny Royal, Launceston
Thanks to Penny Royal Adventures the children and I go to Penny Royal, a vacationer attraction which harks again to Tasmania’s convict previous in addition to offering adrenalin thrills.
When I used to be rising up in was slightly bit kitsch and daggy after which it fell into disrepair. In 2014 it was purchased and renovated by JAC Group headed up by Josef Chromy OAM and is now a enjoyable attraction for households.
You can do many of the actions at Penny Royal in a half-day or a day, relying on what the climate is like and whether or not you’re up for among the extra high-intensity adventures corresponding to Cliff Adventures and rock-climbing.
Penny Royal, 1 Bridge Road, Launceston
2. Cataract Gorgem Launceston
Cataract Gorge is the #1 vacationer attraction in Launceston. The gorge is Launceston’s pure playground, with a swimming pool, small playground, strolling trails, suspension bridge and the world’s longest single span chairlift.
I like to recommend taking a one-way journey on the chairlift after which strolling again through the suspension bridge. I can’t consider after 30 years it’s nonetheless secured by only a bar throughout your lap! Dangle your ft over the South Esk River and maintain your sneakers on (I don’t advocate carrying thongs!).
Cataract Gorge, Basin Road, Launceston
3. Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Inveresk
The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery is a museum of artwork, historical past and pure sciences spanning over two places; the Art Gallery at Kings Park and the Museum at Inveresk.
We go to the latter and I’m impressed by how family-friendly this small regional museum is.
It turns very chilly and wet on the weekend so QVMAG is the proper vacation spot for a few hours. Entry is free.
We gawp on the dinosaurs contained in the Tasmanian Natural Science and History shows….
….try the previous trains….
…and spend most of our time within the hands-on space which is ready up with a touring exhibition of Alice’s Wonderland (which was beforehand at Scienceworks).
There can also be a youngsters’s play space which has image books and toys extra appropriate for beneath 5s. Note the planetarium shouldn’t be open on Sundays.
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
Museum: 2 Invermay Road, Launceston
Art Gallery: 2 Wellington Street, Launceston
4. Riverbend Park, Invermay
Launceston’s latest park is Riverbend Park, a re-imagining of an previous industrial website into an incredible play area. It options one of many tallest items of play gear in Australia – the Sky Walk – and is split into 4 zones: the River Play space, Gorge Play space, Wild Core space, and the Urban Plaza.
A 120-metre-long bridge between Launceston CBD and Riverbend Park means you may stroll or journey from one aspect of the river to the opposite simply.
It’s additionally very near the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery so you can also make a complete day of it!
Riverbend Park, Invermay
Find Hotels and Airbnbs in Launceston
5. Reader suggestions:
- We are usually not capable of go to Launceston Tramway Museum because it’s closed on Sundays, but it surely seems to be good.
- Centrally-located City Park is legendary for its Japanese Macaque Monkey enclosure. There can also be a playground and a miniature prepare.
- Grindelwald is a pretend Swiss village simply outdoors of Launceston. I bear in mind being taken to Grindelwald for Sunday lunch as a baby and consuming schnitzel. You can even keep there in a single day for an ultra-kitsch expertise!
I take into account visiting Tasmania Zoo however to be trustworthy I’m postpone by the Tripadvisor evaluations and the fee.
Where to eat in Launceston with youngsters
6. Penny Royal Restaurant & Brady’s Tavern, Launceston
Did you recognize you can eat at Penny Royal’s restaurant and Brady’s Tavern with out paying an admission price or becoming a member of any of the journey experiences?
We get pleasure from breakfast by the lagoon with a vegetarian breakfast of poached egg on an Asian herb salad with tamarind dressing and chilli jam ($15) and fluffy pancakes with banana, cinnamon, maple syrup and ice cream ($15).
For lunch we now have pizza from Brady’s Tavern, sitting inside the lounge of the wine-tasting space of Relbia Estate’s Cellar Door. Pizzas begin at $18 for a margherita.
Don’t overlook to strive one of many ice lotions made with recent Tasmanian berries on the Ice Creamery Cafe!
Penny Royal, 1 Bridge Road, Launceston
7. Stillwater, Launceston
Launceston’s high-end restaurant Stillwater might be not an appropriate place to take youngsters for dinner. But for breakfast, it’s a extra fairly priced choice. We get pleasure from eggs and waffles whereas searching onto the misty Tamar River.
The restaurant itself is gorgeous too, with a Nordic-fishing really feel to the low ceilings and uncovered wood beams.
Stillwater, 2 Bridge Rd, Launceston, +61(0)3 6331 4153
8. Reader suggestions:
Where to remain in Launceston
For nice family-friendly lodging within the Launceston Tasmania I like to recommend looking for what’s appropriate on Airbnb.
9. Mantra Charles Hotel, Launceston
The former Launceston General Hospital is now the Mantra Charles Hotel, a part of the Mantra lodging group.
There are nonetheless a couple of indicators of its former life – tremendous huge corridors, huge doorways and accessible bathe stalls.
For households, I like to recommend 2 bedrooms interconnecting or 2 bed room household interconnecting, each of that are double rooms with a shared entryway and a single massive entry door. Depending on the age of your youngsters you may select to shut the door to your room/their room or go away all of the doorways open in order that they’re inside earshot. Beds may be configured right into a king measurement mattress or break up into two singles.
Each room may be very spacious, with its personal toilet, mini kitchenette, tea and occasional, TV, European balcony and break up system heating/cooling.
The Charles Restaurant offers room service and charges apply for wifi.
Mantra Charles Hotel, 287 Charles Street, Launceston (03) 6337 4100
10. Red Feather Inn, Hadspen
On a earlier journey to Launceston, we stick with Lady AB on the Red Feather Inn. I used to go to the Red Feather Inn with my household when it was only a nation pub with a fire, however now it’s been reworked into a classy cooking faculty, restaurant and lodging.
Since our go to, you may not stick with a baby beneath 16 years throughout the inn itself, however youngsters are welcome in the Watchhouse and Murfetts cottages.
The restaurant is open to friends and the general public on Friday and Saturday nights by reservation and to teams on request at different occasions. Monday – Thursday the restaurant solely caters for friends.
Red Feather Inn, 42 Main Street, Hadspen +61 3 6393 6506
If you’re visiting the remainder of Tasmania learn my ideas of visiting Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art MONA
HOT Tips:
- Public transport is fairly patchy in Launceston so even for a brief go to I discover that it’s higher to rent a automobile than to depend on taxis, as the fee can mount up.
- Launceston nonetheless shuts down considerably on Sundays. I counsel that you’ve got a plan on what you need to do and the place you need to eat so that you’re not disillusioned when locations are closed.
- The airport is situated simply 15km from the town of Launceston.
- To the extent potential strive to not purchase a ticket for the final flight out of Launceston on a Sunday! And earlier than you permit for the airport test that your flight time hasn’t been delayed. Every time I’ve tried to fly out of Launceston (or Hobart) on a Sunday night time together with all the opposite weekend trippers the planes have been delayed or cancelled. Both airports are very small and there may be nothing to do there!
- Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantaslink all function frequent direct companies between Launceston and Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
- Spirit of Tasmania ferry takes about 10 hours.
- From May to November the dual ships do one crusing every a day, leaving Devonport and Melbourne within the night and arriving at their respective locations early morning. December to April the ships sail twice day by day.
- Metro is Launceston’s main metropolis and suburban public transport supplier. See the Metro timetable right here.
I hope this submit has helped or impressed you! Subscribe to my weekly publication to search out out extra methods for your loved ones to have enjoyable collectively!
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