Location

Spirit of Tasmania Berths – Devonport and Melbourne
The TT Line has directions to help you make your way to and from the berths in Melbourne and Devonport.  Signposting in Melbourne to Station Pier is a little elusive.

Of course, a GPS is a handy addition to any road traveller’s kit, these days.

Devonport – Gateway to Tasmania
The Spirit of Tasmania berths at Devonport and with the options of heading to the North West, Cradle Mountain, the West Coast or to Launceston.  Such a choice!  

Stanley is the stand-out location on the North West Coast.  Set below the spectacular “Nut” with plenty of craft shops and good eateries, it was once the headquarters of the Van Diemen’s Land Company and the birthplace of Tasmania’s only Prime Minister, Joe Lyons.  Travel time is about 1½ hours from Devonport.

Cradle Mountain is an icon of Tasmania. Take a short stroll through rainforest or take the 5 day walk to Lake St Clair.  Travel time is about 1 hour from Devonport.

The West Coast will reward the long winding drive through rainforest to glimpse mining history at Zeehan and Queenstown.  A visit to Strahan and the Gordon River Cruise are a must.  You can go via Cradle Mountain.  It takes about 2 hours from Cradle Mountain to Strahan.

Devonport to Launceston
Although this is an hour’s journey along the Bass Highway, it would be a shame to hurry.  There are lots of different ways to get to Launceston that will take you a little longer but include any number of attractions.  Routes could take you as far south as Sheffield or as far north as Narawntapu National Park and still have you in Launceston in plenty of time.

We will be preparing a recommended route to make the most out of this journey.


Launceston
Even though Launceston is a city of about 100,000 people, it manages to combine many of the features of a small town and large city.  There are many beautiful reserves and parks throughout the city and especially along the Tamar and Esk Rivers.  Getting around is generally easy and there are plenty of services and shopping.  Launceston’s city centre’s 19th century origins ensure that getting around the centre of the city can be surprisingly difficult due to one-way streets and traffic channelled into only a few roads, but thankfully this is only true of a small part of the town and walking is a much better way to see it.

Launceston is a pretty town that will reward a few days’ exploration.  There is plenty of information about Launceston from a number of tourist groups; Launceston and Tamar Valley, Visit Northern Tasmania and Discover Tasmania.  We hope to show you some good spots as part of the venues for Cit-In 2010 but take a good look around.

Tamar Valley
The Observation Run will introduce you to the Tamar Valley. Locals talk about the West Tamar and the East Tamar, and both are served by major roads serving the towns scattered along the length of the river.  To take in the best of the Tamar it is well worth taking the smaller roads nearer to the river which the Observation Run will do.  Vineyards dominate the West Tamar but those at Pipers Brook, East of George Town, are not to be missed.

Beaconsfield was a rich gold mining town and the mine has been revived. George Town near the mouth of the Tamar is one of the oldest towns in Australia and there are a few gems from those early days.


Cit-In 2010
The Penny Royal has you located next to the Gorge, a delightful European garden that will reward a stroll over the historic road bridge and following the footpath on the western edge of the river to the Basin.  Allow plenty of time to relax in this pleasant spot.

There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in the vicinity of the Penny Royal.The nearest is probably one of Launceston’s best, Stillwater. Also close by is the Cataract Bistro, TRC pub and Hallam’s Waterfront sea food restaurant, and along the boardwalk at the Seaport there are many more eateries.

A little further, but a wonderful walk along the edge of the river, is the Old Seaport but there is nothing old about it. Here you find a nest of café’s and restaurants, ranging from casual to sophisticated.

The shopping centre of Launceston is a walk along the street from the Penny Royal.

When you arrive on Friday either drive to the Tamar Yacht Club in Park Street or walk down from the Penny Royal. There is plenty of parking nearby: take a walk along the edge of the river but be back in time for the informal supper.








On Saturday, reward yourself with an early morning stroll along the river to find breakfast and feel virtuous for the rest of the day. Naturally, you will drive your pride and joy to Show and Shine at Inveresk, barely more than 5 minutes away. If you get tired of catching up with old friends, admiring the gleaming cars or the games we have planned for you, then you can revive at Blue Café or visit the Launceston Art Gallery & Museum. A longer walk will take you to the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania, City Park and the Design Centre Tasmania.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy.

For the informal dinner on the Saturday we journey to the Riverside Golf Club, which is a bit of trick to find but we will guide you there.

 

































Sunday gives you the chance to do the Observation Run along the Tamar or travel to Evandale and surrounds, to look at some stunning colonial buildings. Again we have given you plenty of time to take in you the scenery, history and ambience. Be back in time to put on the glad rags and walk down to the Cataract Bistro for the formal dinner. That also means that you don’t need to be as careful but still you may need to find a nominated walker!

Monday breakfast is back at the Riverside Golf Club where you can look across the greens to the eastern suburbs of Launceston with a backdrop of forested hills and mountains. But you will be probably busy chatting to old and new friends and planning to do it all again in Queensland in 2011.