This week my armchair travel destination is Launceston. Launceston is Tasmania’s second largest city and is located in the north of the state on the Tamar River. I’ve visited Launceston a few times, not as often as I’d have liked to because it was a fair drive from Geeveston and it’s not that close to Sisters Beach either. I have been with Naomi a few times as Launceston is only about an hour and a half away from Oatlands and I have been with Ally and Matt once and once on my own to see a cricket match.

So what do I like about Launceston? Well, there are some very nice old buildings. The Post Office is one of my favourites. It has a very loud and distinctive chiming clock which I enjoy listening to but apparently, some visitors have complained about.

City Park in Launceston, as well as being a nice green space, is home to a collection of Japanese Macaques. I enjoy paying them a visit.

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Launceston has some excellent museums. There is the National Motor Museum, a tram museum and my favourite, the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG). The museum is housed in the old railway workshops at Inveresk, a short walk from the CBD while the art is back in the old museum building in the city.

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On my solo visit I treated myself to a cruise on the Tamar River.

AFL football and occasionally cricket are played at UTAS Stadium which is located next to the QVMAG. Hobart people often make the drive to Launceston in winter to see their favourite interstate teams play. (There is no Tasmanian team so I don’t follow it.) I have been there twice to see charity cricket matches. In recent years the T20 “Big Bash” has had rounds there too.

Launceston’s favourite son, former Australian Cricket Captain Ricky Ponting.