Home sweet home.

Amongst other things, I am very proud of the city in which I live.  It is where I grew up, have returned to following stints living elsewhere, and the place I will always call home.  Most importantly, it is where my family are, and that means that no matter what may happen, I will always come back here.

That place I speak of is a little town in northern Tasmania by the name of Launceston.

Our population is a little over 100,000 people, and we have a few claims to fame.  Launceston is one of Australia's oldest cities, was the location of the first use of anaesthetic in the Southern Hemisphere, the first Australian city to have underground sewers, and the first Australian city to be lit by hydroelectricity.  

Launceston has bred its fair share of influential people.  It is the hometown of the likes of Ricky Ponting (former Australian cricket captain), David Boon (former Australian cricketer), Daniel Geale (World Champion boxer), Peter Sculthorpe (contemporary composer), Simon Baker (actor), Rachael Taylor (actor), and Marcos Ambrose (NASCAR driver and former V8 Supercar champion).

The reason for my post is two-fold.  I adore the place I live - the issues of living in a capital city such as spending half your day in transit to or from work, simply do not exist here.  The air is clean, the people friendly, the food incredible and the cost of living reasonable.  But I'm not trying to sell the lifestyle too much - I kinda like my small city with its conveniences, and an influx of new residents would complicate these things!

No, the main reason is to encourage people to visit.  If you, like me, are a fan of Masterchef Australia, you will recall the week they spent in Tasmania in this year's series.  They showed off much of the fantastic lifestyle we enjoy down here, focusing mainly on the fresh produce and incredible food (for obvious reasons) that we enjoy.  For this reason, I am giving a few blogs a plug below if you are considering a trip to our fair isle, because once you've visited - you may find it hard to leave.

Getting here: you can fly, or you can hop on the Spirit of Tasmania (with or without a car) out of Melbourne and take a more leisurely journey.  Word from the wise, however - I highly recommend splashing out for a bed if you're doing an overnight run (heck, even if you're doing a day crossing) - the couches and deck chairs aren't all that comfortable for a 10 hour trip, and it's kind of nice to be able to stretch out and relax.  The Spirit website often has deals so keep an eye out for specials, but Virgin and Jetstar are pretty reasonable most of the time to get on and off the island.

When in Launceston: head to the Cataract Gorge for a near-surreal experience under 5 minutes walk from the CBD.  It's my little piece of paradise and allows me to escape reality for a little while.

The Cataract Gorge - beautiful, yes?

For the wine lovers, there are plenty of beautiful wineries on the Tamar Valley Wine Route (though my personal favourite for food and wine and amazing scenery is Josef Chromy Wines at Relbia - you can thank me for this recommendation later), and the beer lovers will be delighted to know that the J. Boag and Son Beer Factory has tours and tastings in the centre of town.  

Hungry?  Oh, so many places to direct you to for fabulous food.  Stillwater, Hallams Waterfront Seafood Restaurant, Black Cow Bistro, Pierre's, Novaro's, Elaia Cafe, and Fresh on Charles,  are all consistently excellent places to eat.  I can't do justice to them individually, but some of them are reviewed in the blogs at the end of this post. 

While you're here, you should also see: the Anvers Chocolate Factory, Ashgrove Cheese Factory,  Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm... all are on your way to Launceston from the Spirit terminal in Devonport.  I recommend the Tulip Festival at Table Cape if you're around in late September - early October; or Bridestowe Lavender Estate year-round for a sea of purple flowers.  The East Coast of Tasmania is home to the Freycinet Peninsula, and is just spectacular.  Mount Wellington in Hobart is almost always home to some snow, and if you're into the cultural experiences, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is a must see.  The Salamanca Markets and Port Arthur Historic Site are also high on the bucket list for your Tassie trip.  Check out the Discover Tasmania website for more great ideas of things to do and see while you're in our gorgeous state.

Blogs that have done us justice (that I've read so far...):
Baz and Lonnie
Tara Moss does Tasmania
A Table For Two (Billy Law, 2011 Masterchef Contestant) - Part 1 & Part 2


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The moral of the story - if you're looking for a getaway to somewhere where the air is clean, the living is easy, and the food sublime; look no further.  We'd love to have you visit Tasmania, and perhaps you'll never want to leave!