Launceston,Tasmania-where to stay?
 

My adult daughter and I are traveling through Tasmania for two weeks in March and we are planning on spending 2/3 days in Launceston while doing a circle loop of the country. We are interested in seeing the geology of the area along with enjoying the wineries and sites of the area.
I am somewhat confused as to whether we should be actually staying in Launceston or outside of the city. Does anyone have suggestions as to where would be a great place to stay to enjoy the city? Thanks for your help!

Definitely outside of the city...Launceston is pretty charmless IMO.

We liked this place, along the Tamar Valley wine route, but close enough to town to drive in for dinner (there was also a wonderful place for dinner nearby in Rosevears).

I see that they're up for sale, hope they're still in business, we loved this place.

http://www.hotel.com.au/Launceston/R...Launceston.htm

I've become a fan of Launceston after my third visit, I like it as much as Hobart now.

Charles Hotel, and nearby Charles st, is one of the more interesting bits of the city with quite a few interesting restaurants and cafes. Fresh is great for breakfast, they also have good comedy nights.

http://www.hotelcharles.com.au/

A few things not to miss while in or around Launceston.

1. The Gorge, it's easy walking distance from the centre of the city, quite spectacular geologically with lots of walks where you can see marsupials. I'd particularly recommend the walk to the old hydro-electic station. http://www.launcestoncataractgorge.com.au/

2. Tamar Island Wetlands is just a short drive from the city, great for bird watching: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=4118

3.Narawntapu National Park, from memory I think this is about 40 minutes from Lonnie, guaranteed viewings of wombats!
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3677

<Rosevears has closed unfortunately.>

Bummer, it was a nice place.

Thanks for all of your help on this. I am madly looking at your website Susie(very helpful) and appreciate the tips/info Melnq and Susan.

We were in Tasmania many years ago and stayed a week during February. Enjoyed our visit very much and wished we had more time to see the other side of the island. We spent 2 nights in Eagleneck (near Port Arthur) in a wonderful B&B called Aspry Lodge, 2 nights in Freycinet Nat. Park at the Edge Resort (where a kangaroo came up to our deck) and 3 nights in Hobart at the Grand Chancellor hotel right along the harbor. We stopped in Launceston on our way to Hobart.

Have a fantastic trip!

Portobello-would you recommend the Grand chancellor in Hobart? My daughter's research vessel will be moored at the Macquarie dock but am torn between the location of Grand Chancellor and Hotel Collins without having a car. Any thoughts?

Hobart is quite small, and the blocks are quite short relative to American cities. Hotel Collins is two streets back from the dock, Grand Chancellor is on Davey street which runs along in front of the harbour area (it's on the opposite side of the street to the dock), so it's closer, but there's not that much in it.

If you don't have a car,which hotel would you chose for sightseeing,shopping,etc. Thanks so much-

Either would be fine in terms of the immediate city. Mount Wellington and the Cascades Female convict factory would be the sights that are a bit further out. You can get a bus to Mount Wellington

http://www.wellingtonpark.org.au/getting-there/

I've walked to Cascades, it's a pleasant walk along a canal.

The ferry to Museum of Old and New Art leaves from the dock and Salamanca Place is about a 10 minute walk from either location.

There's a free app for Iphones called The Thousands, that's quite useful for shopping and cafes even thought it's a bit out of date now. It's quite useful for cutting through the touristy stuff to direct you to the more interesting shops and bars etc, of which there's quite a lot.

Don't miss Garagistes for dinner, friends in Hobart also recommend Smolt
http://www.smolt.com.au/

I haven't stayed at Collins Hotel, Grand Chancellor has quite amazing views, my room looked towards the mountain but the front of the hotel has great views of the Derwent. If you stay there ask for an upper floor.

I usually get caught up doing my research on my next trip and didn't see that you had asked a question. We did enjoy our stay at the Grand Chancellor hotel. We had an amazing view of the harbor from our room and were fortunate to be staying there when they were having the Hobalt to Sydney Sailing race. As the other fodorite mentioned the Collins Hotel is two short blocks behind Davey street. Not sure if the Collins Hotel rooms have views or a swimming pool/fitness room like the Grand Chancellor hotel has. When we were there the Grand Chancellor had a fancy doorman and staff that retrieved our car from the garage whenever we went out which was nice.

Either hotel is walking distance to Sambalcu street where you will find restaurants and souvenir stores. We visited the Botanical Gardens (by car) which is supposed to be one of the top botanical gardens in the world. Not sure if you can walk there but the hotel can tell you.
Bon voyage!