Ten monkeys were given to Launceston by Japanese sister city Ikeda in 1980, in exchange for 10…read morewallabies. And here's where Gayle and I found them in their own little Villa within City Park. They were fun to watch and there were a lot of them.

What a spot!…read more Picture perfect with grounds to play and run in. There is plenty of tree shade and grassland to throw down a picnic blanket. When I was there there was a wedding in the Conservatory and people enjoying a quite lunch in the park. You could stay here for hours playing, feeding the ducks or reading one of the many statues plaques. A lovely hideaway close to the city centre and if it wasn't for the hum of the cars going by you could be anywhere. A lovely spot to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Enjoy.

We went during flower season, and it was beautiful!…read more I had never seen such a vast lavender farm before! The lavenders were as fas as the eyes can see, towards the horizon. They also had a cafe which served foods for a full meal. You must get an ice cream cone! AUD $20/per person

If you sight the lavender in full bloom then you're in luck. As fortunes have it we were entranced…read moreby their beauty and the vastness of the farmyard. The $20 entry free for the car may seem steep so definitely consider this before you commit to the drive. We bumped into fellow travellers whom reported that there were long queues just to enter the estate so be prepared to wait. As a tip we arrived towards the end of the day, around 3pm; listened to the tour (every 10mins); and roamed around polishing the visit with a lavender ice cream. If lavenders are your thing then certainly stop by this place and take a photo amongst the glorious purple fields. Note: call ahead as the blooming season is notoriously short. It's around mid-January.

What an interesting place, from putting your washer into the turnstile to get into the museum to…read morethe cars and bikes displayed. Certainly not quite what I had imagined, and being listed as one of the Top 10 attractions in Launceston I thought I'd take a look. It was a very hot day and it felt hotter inside the large oversized shed where the bikes and cars were displayed. There was every type of car from little ones to bigger ones, bright ones and dark ones and everything inbetween. I got chatting to other enthusiasts, which I'm not, and learnt a little along the way which made my experience a little more enjoyable. It was a lovely way to kill an hour or so. It is close to other attractions and a inexpensive way to see a bit of history. If you're in the area I would stop and take a look. Enjoy.

We needed to kill some time before we could check into our hotel. The museum had free entry so it…read morewas a great place to learn and hang. We bought a ticket to the planetarium movie as well. You watch a short video of life getting to and on the international space station. Very informative. Then you switch to a real life version of the night sky. An instructor shows you the many things you will see in the upcoming night, key stars, planets, and the moon. Coming from the northern hemisphere, it was interesting to see the differences between the skies in each location. The instructor answered our questions as well. This ticket was definitely worth it. There are many things to look at in the free museum area. Dinosaurs, rocks, taxidermy animals, shipwrecks, transportation, art exhibits,... such a wide variety of interesting things. There is also at outdoor area. We tested out the whisper cones, echo chamber, and throwing radar. You could see an old blacksmith shop. Lots of fun areas to explore.

Our visit to the Queen Victoria Museum and Gallery was a pleasant experience. With Bugs being in…read morethe main exhibit hall we all got to find out who our spirit bug was first before wandering the exhibits. The collection of native animal exhibits had us counting all those we discovered. The Tasmanian Tiger "extinct exhibit" was compelling while those that visited the blacksmiths shop admired the distinct lack of safety regulations. The crochet exhibit was a pleasant surprise with amazing artworks spread around the sprawling hall. .

Our fourth winery stop (out of five) was at the new digs (opened in mid December 2017) of Clover…read moreHill Vineyard. We hadn't even planned to check out CH but one of the other wine hosts recommended it to us. Spoiler alert: this should be in the #1 spot for Tamar Valley. We dropped in on a Monday afternoon (around 2:15pm). This is easily the most beautiful winery we've been to in Australia! The view is sublime and the space is spacious with comfy lounge chairs/couches/bean chairs and blankets. A very cozy, relaxing vibe. Wine tastings are complimentary and you can sample from their whole range. They had a mix of 5 sparkling, 4 whites and 2 reds. Yes, you can try all 11 like we did. Even if you don't think that you will like a particular wine...trust me, just do it. Our wine communicator, Ian (as he called his role), was incredibly knowledgeable and one of the best we've come across. Great pace, understanding and ability to interact with different customers. He knows his craft well. It was a one man show. He even made up a cheese platter ($30.00 AUD) fresh for a group of four. They only have cheese platters on weekdays and tapas on weekends. Didn't see a real food menu. - Clover Hill Tasmanian cuvée NV - Clover Hill blanc de blancs cuvée exceptionelle 2011 - Clover Hill vintage brut 2013 - Clover Hill Tasmanian cuvée rosé NV - Clover Hill brut rosé cuvée exceptionelle 2013 - Estate pinot gris 2017 - Estate sauvignon blanc 2016 - this was our favourite. We got a bottle ($30.00 AUD). I don't know how but all the estate and single vineyard bottles smelt unbelievable. - Estate chardonnay 2016 - Single vineyard chardonnay 2016 - Estate pinot noir 2015 - Single vineyard pinot noir 2016 Fantastic, luscious wines, pristine views and unbelievable service. Our favourite winery out of all the ones we visited in Australia and New Zealand. A must visit for all you winos.

During our stay in Tasmania, we were fortunate to visit a number of great wineries. None of the…read moreothers could compare to the friendly and knowledgeable staff we encountered, the incredible food we enjoyed or the sparkling wines we loved at Clover Hill Vineyard. The views from their outdoor dining area were breathtaking and only enhanced our experience at this beautiful winery. Thanks to all for making us feel so welcome.

You see this wine in many bottle shops and the remarkable vineyard is well laid out with a…read moresubstantial visit center with good facilities and great view. The official wine tasting stopped at 3? So we bought six pairs of glasses of wine to try for ourselves. Pino gris really exceptional. It is quite a rare wine. They also have reserve grade wines which do taste different to their standard counterparts. Outside play area to drink or play a mixture of garden games. Worth a visit if going up east coast

If there's one place that shows off the rugged beauty of Tasmania, it's Devil's Corner. This winery…read moreand oyster bar has the freshest oysters, great wine, & views for days. The winery looks out at the Freycinet Peninsula, the shimmering waters of Moulting Lagoon, and the vineyards stretching everywhere in front of you. The wine is the star attraction. Devil's Corner is known for its cool-climate varietals, especially its crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Don't miss this stop!

Design Tasmania is a non-profit design center and gallery located in Launceston, Tasmania,…read morededicated to showcasing and championing the island's unique design and craftsmanship. Established in 1976, it serves as a central hub for Tasmanian creative culture, featuring world-class exhibitions, a curated retail store, and an iconic permanent wood collection. I had to sneak away from our tour group (and Gayle) to come here and take a look. There was so much to admire about the wood/furniture collection, plus the pieces in the shop. I came away with a couple outstanding Brad Moss pieces, including this Tiger Myrtle Document Box. It wasn't cheap, but solid craftsmanship rarely is. My only regret is that I didn't have more time.

Stunning hand-crafted timber furniture and artwork by local Tasmanian artists…read more There is an exhibition section and a substantial store where you can purchase anything from jewellery to lamps and bed frames. The work is of the highest quality and beautifully displayed. The scent of the timber and oils are delicious and really add to the experience. Well worth the trip if you are into industrial design and artisanal pieces.

Great gallery, great cafe - I have stopped by here a couple of times now since moving back to…read moreTasmania late last year. I appreciate the wide range of art and craft available, presented professionally I might add. It is wonderful to be able to view, buy and support local artists. Hard to hold a conversation over the meal though as I want to keep looking at everything! Both times I have been in here the hostess has greeted us in a friendly attentive way, and I am pretty sure if I come often enough we will know each other by name - I have observed a large array of people come and go greeting her and vice versa - a local celebrity perhaps! And perhaps well so, since this gallery cafe has created great revenue for Scottsdale I am sure. Open 7 days per week means stopping by on your Sunday country drive for lunch or brunch - n.b. pretty good coffee and a variety of tasty meals, not just your standard fare - last one I had was roasted vegetable salad with a delightful home made dressing. I know I will be back - for the art and the food!