LAUNCESTON - POPULATION: 106,153

LAUNCESTON HARBOUR

TUESDAY 20.3.2012:  F-i-n-a-l-l-y, we made our way to Launceston. Settled by Europeans in March 1806, Launceston is one of Australia's oldest cities and is home to many historic buildings. Like many Australian places, it was named after a town in the United Kingdom – in this case, Launceston, Cornwall. Launceston has also been home to several firsts such as the first use of anaesthetic in the Southern Hemisphere, the first Australian city to have underground sewers and to be lit by hydroelectricity. We headed for the Launceston Basin Chairlift, which is the longest single chairlift span in the world (total length 457m - centre span 308m). Early citizens of Launceston took a ragged swamp and turned it into the Cliff Grounds Gardens.

CATARACT GORGE
BACKS ONTO THE GARDENS

SUSPENSION BRIDGE

FANTAIL PIGEONS, GUINEA
FOWL AND PEACOCKS WERE
INTRODUCED IN THE 1800'S

There were walks throughout the gardens all of varied lengths and difficulty. Naturally we took the chair lift to the top and found the cafe for lunch. Lunch is shared with the resident peacock families - imperative that you stayed on alert otherwise a head on a rather skinny neck would appear over the table edge and proceed to take the food either off the plate or out of your hand - due to apathy, one lady actually lost her entire sandwich, with no refunds available! On the way back to the chair lift we had to wait for the locals to move.

The plan was to view Cataract Gorge from both the chair lift and boat. We climbed aboard the Lady Launceston for a Cataract Cruise. The riverbanks and slopes of the gorge shelter several of Tasmania's rarest plant species and vegetation. It is also home to the tiny Cataract Gorge Snail, possibly only found in this reserve.

CATARACT GORGE