Two qualities will strike you about "Lonnie": it's both elegant and unpretentious.  This laid back city at the rich agricultural heart of Tasmania oozes both natural and architectural beauty. It's one of Australia's oldest cities situated where three rivers meet, and, with its proximity to Melbourne, is sought after as a sea-change city where parking is easy, walking is encouraged, and many of its eateries are acknowledged nationally.

The best way to sense this place (pop: approx 90,000) is to walk it; in fact, it's made for the promenade!

There are some excellent guided walks (Launceston historic walks, ghost tours, Gorge walks) available if you want to make your day even more rewarding, or if you prefer to do your own thing, here is a pick of 10 of the best walks in and around Launceston. 

CENTRAL

First Basin to Kings Bridge circuit 1 hr 2.7km return
The Cataract Gorge Reserve is a piece of wilderness just 15 minutes walk from the city centre, first developed as a resort in the late 1880s for the citizens of Launceston. It is dramatic, romantic (by day and night when its walks are lit up like Fairyland), and breath taking (especially when flood rains cascade through the dolerite cliffs like a mini Niagara Falls). Local power walkers start their day with this spectacular circuit walk: up the Zig Zag Track, across the First Basin, and back along Main Walk to King's Bridge. Walking and hiking trails, freshwater pools, the world's longest single span chairlift, abseiling and rock climbing, and beautiful Victorian gardens will tempt the visitor to spend longer than a jogger. The Basin Café and Gorge Restaurant are highly recommended.

Inveresk Boardwalk 45-60 mins 2.5km
Another popular route for fitness walkers is, for the visitor, a fascinating introduction to Launceston's rail history, peppered with parklands, waterways, and cycle ways. The Inveresk Railyards were once the centre of Tasmania's rail and mining boom, and now house the excellent Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery. The elevated boardwalk is bliss to walk on, and small pavilions punctuate the route, which on Sundays takes you right past the Launceston Farmers' Market (highly recommended for local produce or as a pit-stop for picnic ingredients). Blue at Inveresk is a great arts-loving cafe, specializing in local organic produce and good coffee.

Royal Park to Seaport circuit 30-40 mins 1.5km
Refer to the Heritage Walks Souvenir Map for three trails taking in Launceston's fascinating early colonial and Victorian history. At a recent national conference of regional authorities held in Launceston, attendees were openly envious of the number and diversity of well-restored, historic buildings in the city. The Government to Gorge Blue Trail includes Royal Park (don't miss the English rose garden in summer) and the civilized boardwalk promenade along the Tamar and North Esk rivers, which takes in great views upstream to Cataract Gorge, the landmark of Ritchie's Flour Mill (circa 1836), as well as the pretty marina, cafes and restaurants at Seaport. And if you want to rest your legs, you can take a cruise up the river from here.

City Park (easy strolls)
A microcosm of the city: historic parkland featuring a conservatory, duck pond, senses garden, barbecue area, playground, monkey island, Albert Hall, and impressive Design Centre of Tasmania, in grounds established by the Launceston Horticultural Society in the early 19th century, with trees and plants sent from the Royal Society of England. There's any number of places to picnic, or you can indulge at Victoria's indoor/outdoor café.

TREVALLYN

Hoo Hoo Hut to Trevallyn Dam 10 MIN DRIVE 1-1.5 hours, 4km return
Trevallyn State Recreation Reserve sits in the hills of West Launceston on the South Esk River. A 450-hectare recreation area offers hang gliding, bushwalking, archery, orienteering and aquatic activities. This largely level hillside walk to Hoo Hoo Hut takes in great views of the Deadmans Hollow section of the South Esk, as well as open forests of tall eucalypts and grassland. The energetic will want to scurry down the trail near Hoo Hoo Hut to the river's edge, but if you're less inclined to face the trek back up, head straight on to the sheltered picnic and barbecue area of Hoo Hoo Hut.

WEST TAMAR VALLEY

Tamar Island 10 MIN DRIVE 1.5 hrs 4km return
You may well be greeted by Welcome swallows and a family of swans at the start of this wetlands walk (mainly boardwalk) to historic Tamar Island, first farmed in the 19th century. Abundant birdlife will satisfy bird lovers, and the walk itself is a treat, through reeds and nests, across water and onto the hilly island (where there's a free gas BBQ), and you can sit in the shade of one of the century old oaks or elms. Tamar Island is also recognized as an area of Aboriginal significance. 

Paper Beach to Supply River Mill 30 MIN DRIVE 2 hrs 6km return
A walk to satisfy both heart and head. Start at the picturesque, newly fashionable weekender spot of Paper Beach (white sands with sunset views through Batman Bridge), along the riverbank and marshes, cross the road and continue up the Supply River towards the romantic, periwinkle covered ruins of Tasmania's earliest water-driven flour mill, situated at the bottom of a magnificent waterfall. Peaceful and historically interesting, and rewarding if you head back to Paper Beach for a swim and picnic with one of the local Tamar Valley wines in your rucksack.

Notley Fern Gorge 45 mins 1.5km return
A stunning walk if you want to cool down in the heat of summer, through dense wet sclerophyll forest, a huge canopy of manfern, moss-covered gullies, ferny glades, and a cooling creek. Once shelter for infamous bushrangers, now home for a diversity of birdlife. Matthew Brady reportedly hid out here in the 1820s: flintlock muskets were found in the area, and there's a giant tree with his name on it. Don't forget the steady climb back. And if you're really lucky you may spot a very rare and endangered giant freshwater crayfish in the beautiful stream en route (watch out for leeches!).

Badger Head to Copper Cove 45-60 MIN DRIVE 4 hrs 9km return
This coastal predominantly cliff top walk through Narawntapu National Park abounds with flora and fauna and gives stunning views of Bass Strait and its many rocky spits and sandy coves. Wallabies and black cockatoo keep a curious eye on walkers; banksia, grass trees and jewel-coloured wildflowers line the track, as do devil and wombat scats (if you're with someone who can spot them). Picnic in a grove of native Casurina at Copper Cove (so named because of the area's mining past) before enjoying the return trip back.

EAST TAMAR VALLEY

Hollybank Forest 30 MIN DRIVE 1-1.5 hr 3km return
This park between Launceston and Lilydale has rare beauty and was one of the earliest private tree plantations. Now managed by Forestry Tasmania, it's a unique blend of magnificent trees, native and exotic, evergreen and deciduous, many planted by English settlers dating back to the 1850s. English ash, Corsican pines, Douglas Fir, Californian redwood, and holly form walks with enchanting names such as "The Avenue" and "Walk of Change". Hollybank's autumn is splendid, spring is renowned for wild daffodils growing between the ash trees, and at any other time of the year it's a great spot to ramble, explore, or just lie back.

Further Info available from:
50 Family Walks Around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania by Jan Hardy and Bert Elson (Hillside Publishing $16.95)
Launceston Heritage Walks Souvenir Map $2.00
Launceston Travel & Information Centre (also Launceston Walking Tours) cnr St John & Cimitiere Streets, Tel: 03 6336 3122
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