Do you know that Launceston is my hometown? I moved there from Hong Kong within the 80s after I was 6 years previous and it’s modified quite a bit 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 through a 45-minute flight or in a single day on the Spirit of Tasmania. We now 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.
Listed below are my high 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 kids
1. Penny Royal, Launceston
Because of Penny Royal Adventures the youngsters and I go to Penny Royal, a vacationer attraction which harks again to Tasmania’s convict previous in addition to offering adrenalin thrills.
Once I was rising up in was somewhat 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 similar to Cliff Adventures and rock-climbing.
Penny Royal, 1 Bridge Highway, 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 imagine after 30 years it’s nonetheless secured by only a bar throughout your lap! Dangle your toes over the South Esk River and preserve your sneakers on (I do not advocate sporting thongs!).
Cataract Gorge, Basin Highway, 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 areas; 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 about up with a touring exhibition of Alice’s Wonderland (which was beforehand at Scienceworks).
There’s additionally a kids’s play space which has image books and toys extra appropriate for beneath 5s. Word the planetarium isn’t open on Sundays.
Queen Victoria Museum and Artwork Gallery
Museum: 2 Invermay Highway, Launceston
Artwork Gallery: 2 Wellington Road, Launceston
4. Riverbend Park, Invermay
Launceston’s latest park is Riverbend Park, a re-imagining of an previous industrial website into an incredible play house. It options one of many tallest items of play gear 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 journey from one aspect of the river to the opposite simply.
It is also very near the Queen Victoria Museum and Artwork Gallery so you may make a complete day of it!
Riverbend Park, Invermay
Discover Resorts and Airbnbs in Launceston
5. Reader suggestions:
- We’re not capable of go to Launceston Tramway Museum because it’s closed on Sundays, but it surely appears good.
- Centrally-located Metropolis Park is legendary for its Japanese Macaque Monkey enclosure. There’s additionally a playground and a miniature practice.
- Grindelwald is a faux Swiss village simply exterior of Launceston. I bear in mind being taken to Grindelwald for Sunday lunch as a toddler and consuming schnitzel. It’s also possible to keep there in a single day for an ultra-kitsch expertise!
I contemplate visiting Tasmania Zoo however to be trustworthy I am delay by the Tripadvisor evaluations and the fee.
The place to eat in Launceston with children
6. Penny Royal Restaurant & Brady’s Tavern, Launceston
Do you know you could 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 now we have 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 contemporary Tasmanian berries on the Ice Creamery Cafe!
Penny Royal, 1 Bridge Highway, Launceston
7. Stillwater, Launceston
Launceston’s high-end restaurant Stillwater might be not an acceptable place to take kids for dinner. However for breakfast, it’s a extra moderately priced possibility. We get pleasure from 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 Lodge, Launceston
The previous Launceston Normal Hospital is now the Mantra Charles Lodge, a part of the Mantra lodging group.
There are nonetheless a number of indicators of its former life – tremendous extensive corridors, extensive 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. Relying on the age of your kids 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 might be configured right into a king measurement mattress or cut up into two singles.
Every room could be very spacious, with its personal toilet, mini kitchenette, tea and low, TV, European balcony and cut up system heating/cooling.
The Charles Restaurant gives room service and charges apply for wifi.
Mantra Charles Lodge, 287 Charles Road, Launceston (03) 6337 4100
10. Crimson Feather Inn, Hadspen
On a earlier journey to Launceston, we stick with Woman AB on the Crimson Feather Inn. I used to go to the Crimson Feather Inn with my household when it was only a nation pub with a fire, however now it’s been reworked into a trendy cooking faculty, restaurant and lodging.
Since our go to, you may now not stick with a toddler beneath 16 years throughout the inn itself, however kids 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 instances. Monday – Thursday the restaurant solely caters for visitors.
Crimson Feather Inn, 42 Foremost Road, Hadspen +61 3 6393 6506
For those who’re visiting the remainder of Tasmania learn my ideas of visiting Hobart’s Museum of Previous and New Artwork MONA
