LAUNCESTON & the TAMAR
TAMAR VALLEY is divided into two regions by the Tamar River. The attractions on the eastern side can also be interpreted as being part of the north east.
Note that there are only two bridges across the Tamar River. One is in LAUNCESTON and the other is near BEACONSFIELD at Kayena.
From LAUNCESTON you can easily access attractions in the northern MIDLANDS and the NORTH EAST regions, as easily as those in the Tamar region.
From LAUNCESTON you are within 30 minutes of EXETER, GRINDELWALD, LILYDALE FALLS, TAMAR ISLAND, TASMANIA ZOO, WESTBURY, EVANDALE, CARRICK and LONGFORD.
View Region Tamar in a larger map
SIGHTS: LAUNCESTON, BEACONSFIELD, EVANDALE, WESTBURY and LONGFORD have impressive historic assets to view. In TREVALLYN, a northern suburb of LAUNCESTON, and in WEST LAUNCESTON you can see complete 19th Century middle class streetscapes. LAUNCESTON City has many well preserved historic buildings and the modern buildings do not clash much with them.
The attractions of the Tamar Valley are easy to reach from LAUNCESTON, as are the attractions of the NORTH EAST and the northern MIDLANDS. Access roads parallel to the Tamar River, on both the western and eastern sides, make many of the towns and hamlets along the Tamar good accommodation options as well.
Visitors also love to see the CATARACT GORGE and the VINEYARDS along the TAMAR, as well as the devils at TASMANIA ZOO. You can also see many wetland birds at TAMAR ISLAND just North of LAUNCESTON.
The BEACONSFIELD MINE & HERITATE CENTRE at BEACONSFIELD has an impressive display of mining history.
You can also easily access Mt BEN LOMOND and Mt BEN NEVIS, as well as Mt ARTHUR, Mt BARROW and Mt QUAMBY BLUFF from LAUNCESTON. You can see most of these mountains on the LAUNCESTON skyline. Turning from left to right you will see Mt Arthur then Mt Barrow and finally the Mt Ben Lomond Plateau.
There are beautiful beaches at GREENS BEACH and WEYMOUTH, which are easy to access from LAUNCESTON.
Finally, both LILYDALE FALLS and LIFFEY FALLS are easy to drive to and reach by walking.
ACCOMMODATION: LAUNCESTON is the second largest city in Tasmania and has abundant accommodation suitable for all budgets. You can also stay at EVANDALE, LONGFORD, LILYDALE, PERTH, EXETER and GRINDELWALD and easily access Lonie.
ROUTES: You will enter Launceston from one of the following directions:
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From HOBART you approach LAUNCESTON on the A1 Midland Highway, which is the best road in Tasmania.
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From Burnie and the west you enter Launceston on the A1 Bass Highway.
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From the north east you enter Launceston on the A3 Tasman Highway.
Travel up the Tamar Valley on the western side is via the A7 West Tamar Highway, while travel up the East side of the Tamar Valley is via the A8 East Tamar Highway. These roads are amongst the best in Tasmania. North of Launceston there is only one bridge linking the East and West Tamar regions. This is near Beaconsfield.
