Do you know that Launceston is my hometown? I moved there from Hong Kong within the 80s once I was 6 years previous and it’s modified lots within the 30 years since I left (to maneuver to Brisbane after which Melbourne).
I took 7yo Woman AB and 5yo Child 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 well accessible from Melbourne by way of a 45-minute flight or in a single day on the Spirit of Tasmania. We’ve 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.
Listed here are my prime household pleasant issues to do in Launceston!
For excellent family-friendly lodging within the Launceston Tasmania I like to recommend trying to find what’s appropriate on Airbnb.
Issues to do in Launceston with youngsters
1. Penny Royal, Launceston
Because of 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.
After I was rising up in was just a little 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 are able to 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 a few of the extra high-intensity adventures equivalent to Cliff Adventures and rock-climbing.
Penny Royal, 1 Bridge Street, Launceston
2. Cataract Gorgem Launceston
Cataract Gorge is the number one 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 by way of the suspension bridge. I can’t consider after 30 years it’s nonetheless secured by only a bar throughout your lap! Dangle your toes over the South Esk River and hold your sneakers on (I do not advocate sporting thongs!).
Cataract Gorge, Basin Street, Launceston
3. Queen Victoria Museum and Artwork Gallery, Inveresk
The Queen Victoria Museum and Artwork Gallery is a museum of artwork, historical past and pure sciences spanning over two places; the Artwork 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 right vacation spot for a few hours. Entry is free.
We gawp on the dinosaurs contained in the Tasmanian Pure Science and Historical past 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’s additionally a youngsters’s play space which has image books and toys extra appropriate for below 5s. Word the planetarium isn’t open on Sundays.
Queen Victoria Museum and Artwork Gallery
Museum: 2 Invermay Street, Launceston
Artwork Gallery: 2 Wellington Avenue, 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 tools in Australia – the Sky Stroll – and is split into 4 zones: the River Play space, Gorge Play space, Wild Core space, and the City Plaza.
A 120-metre-long bridge between Launceston CBD and Riverbend Park means you may stroll or experience from one facet of the river to the opposite simply.
It is also very near the Queen Victoria Museum and Artwork Gallery so you can also make a complete day of it!
Riverbend Park, Invermay
Discover Motels and Airbnbs in Launceston
5. Reader suggestions:
- We aren’t capable of go to Launceston Tramway Museum because it’s closed on Sundays, nevertheless it appears good.
- Centrally-located Metropolis Park is known for its Japanese Macaque Monkey enclosure. There’s additionally a playground and a miniature prepare.
- Grindelwald is a faux Swiss village simply outdoors of Launceston. I bear in mind being taken to Grindelwald for Sunday lunch as a toddler and consuming schnitzel. You may also keep there in a single day for an ultra-kitsch expertise!
I take into account visiting Tasmania Zoo however to be trustworthy I am delay by the Tripadvisor critiques and the price.
The place to eat in Launceston with children
6. Penny Royal Restaurant & Brady’s Tavern, Launceston
Do you know 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 take pleasure in 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’ve pizza from Brady’s Tavern, sitting inside the lounge of the wine-tasting space of Relbia Property’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 Street, Launceston
7. Stillwater, Launceston
Launceston’s high-end restaurant Stillwater might be not an appropriate place to take youngsters for dinner. However for breakfast, it’s a extra fairly priced choice. We take pleasure in eggs and waffles whereas looking onto the misty Tamar River.
The restaurant itself is gorgeous too, with a Nordic-fishing really feel to the low ceilings and uncovered picket beams.
Stillwater, 2 Bridge Rd, Launceston, +61(0)3 6331 4153
8. Reader suggestions:
The place to remain in Launceston
For excellent family-friendly lodging within the Launceston Tasmania I like to recommend trying to find what’s appropriate on Airbnb.
9. Mantra Charles Resort, Launceston
The previous Launceston Normal Hospital is now the Mantra Charles Resort, a part of the Mantra lodging group.
There are nonetheless a number of indicators of its former life – tremendous large corridors, large 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 giant entry door. Relying 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.
Every room may be very spacious, with its personal rest room, 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 Resort, 287 Charles Avenue, Launceston (03) 6337 4100
10. Pink Feather Inn, Hadspen
On a earlier journey to Launceston, we stick with Woman AB on the Pink Feather Inn. I used to go to the Pink Feather Inn with my household when it was only a nation pub with a hearth, however now it’s been remodeled into a classy cooking college, restaurant and lodging.
Since our go to, you may not stick with a toddler below 16 years throughout the inn itself, however youngsters are welcome in the Watchhouse and Murfetts cottages.
The restaurant is open to visitors 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 visitors.
Pink Feather Inn, 42 Fundamental Avenue, Hadspen +61 3 6393 6506
If you happen to’re visiting the remainder of Tasmania learn my ideas of visiting Hobart’s Museum of Previous and New Artwork MONA
