Tasmania is much cooler than where I live on the sub tropical Gold Coast. Tasmania has a much older feel to it with a strong sense of the colonial past.

We landed in Launceston, in the north, having flown with Virgin Blue from the Gold Coast via Sydney. Virgin Blue service was great, as it usually is, and we experienced no hassles. On arrival at the airport we collected our pre booked hire car from Budget. Our experience with Budget was excellent and I will write a separate post about the research I conducted prior to booking, as well as the service we received; which I am sure will be useful to people contemplating car hire.

So, top marks to Virgin Blue and Budget.

The first day and night were spent in Launceston with a look around the town, which included a visit to Gourlay’s Sweets – Australia’s oldest surviving lolly shop – founded in 1896 buy a guy from Motherwell in Scotland. (We did not visit the factory which is on the outskirts of town). Unfortunately, due to the presence of my supervisor (wife), I was unable to stock up with loads of sweets/lollies. Cry.

Note: Sweets is an English/British term. Lolly is the Australian equivalent.

While in Launceston we also hiked up into the Cataract Gorge Reserve – a beautiful place.

I will write more about our Tasmania trip in due course, however you will find more information on my wife’s blog:

Our trip to Tasmania.

(She has written a much better post than mine, and has included some photos).

Tasmania trip is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

Related posts:

1. Gold Coast Queensland, Australia – Where I live.
2. Sushi & Yum Cha on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia