Date: 28-2nd March 2022
Travelled: 135 kms from Pyengana to Launceston, Tasmania.
Visited: Launceston
Stayed: Mac Farm, $35, S41.44901, E147.18245 ย
Budget: 33 days @ $0 per day.
We continue west along the Tasman Hwy, stopping at Weldborough for breakfast. The road is demanding, just constant tight corners as the Jayco climbs and descends. We stop briefly in Derby as there are three bike shops in this tiny village as I need a part for one of our bikes. No luck but I do get a recommendation for a particular bike shop in Launceston. The challenging drive continues onto Scottsdale.
We had started the day planning to stop in Scottsdale, I ring the bike shop in Launceston and bingo they have what I need. So we decide to leave Scottsdale and its rail trail for our next visit to Tasmania.
The road follows the same theme until it weโre approaching Launceston when it finally relaxes a little.
Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Had no idea how hilly Launceston is or how large. We drive straight to the bike shop get the part we need, then proceed on to Macโs Farm or perhaps Macโs Gold Mine would appear to be a more appropriate name, as there are more than a hundred caravans and motorhomes here. We take a powered site so we can do some washing and tidying up.
The following are some random photos of our visit to Launcestonโฆ
The Town Hall circa 1864 
Across the road the clock tower 
Civic Square.
St Andrewโs Kirk circa 1850 
Brisbane Street Mall, the extinct Thylacine seems the theme of the street art.
Walking Quadrant Mall 
One of the many old federation homes on Brisbane Street 
The entrance to City Park.
More City Parkโฆ 
โฆ 
City Parkโs Japanese Macaques enclosure.
Did you know Pam doesnโt like monkeys, Iโm not sure how the monkeyโs feel about Pam. A natural standoff seemed to developed based on avoiding eye contact. So itโs time to moved on. We call it a day and head back to Macs for the night.
Next morning we drive into central Launceston to continue our exploring. Finding a parking place we walk to the Queen Victoria Art Museum.
The Holy Trinity Church 
Cameron Street 
The Queen Victoria Art Gallery
The gallery done, we drive up to Cataract Gorge, its only a few kms from downtown Launceston.
The Alexandra Suspension Bridge in the background with an Olympic swimming pool and parklands in the foreground. The gorge has some good walks as well.
Just when we thought it would be a quiet evening Andy and Simone from the Bruny social club appear, they have just arrived at Macs. So we spend a couple of hours chatting about our adventures since our last meeting. What great friendships we have developed touring Tassie.
Anyway our tour of Tasmania is drawing to a close. We have been busy cleaning the Jayco and getting everything ready for the handover to Greg and Julia, when not wandering Launceston. Itโs a beautiful morning in Tassie this morning and we have a bleak, wet and windy Sydney to look forward too this afternoon.
Thanks for following our Tasmanian travels.
Michael + Pam
