Five Free Things To Do in Launceston

When you no longer have the luxury of a fortnightly / monthly deposit of cash (thanks work) coming into your bank account, you really have to put your thinking cap on and look outside the glossy tourist brochures for things to do (anyone for a three hour guided tour of the local area? That'll be $60 each thanks!). After arriving in Tasmania, like most tourist friendly hot spots, we were bombarded with pamphlets about such-and-such and their award winning strawberry farm ($7 entry) and you-know-who and their 'has to be seen to be believed' trout stream ($25 to fish). But as we made our way into the beautiful town of Launceston, we were determined to find a few ways to entertain ourselves, without blowing our 12 month travel budget in the first week. And it wasn't nearly as hard as we first thought.

Here are our top five ways to see Launceston without pulling out the credit card once.

1. Visit the amazing Cararact Gorge. This place is more like a fun park than a free nature reserve and will keep you occupied for hours (or like us, almost 2 days!). Free public swimming pools, tons of bush walks, lush gardens with peacocks trekking around - it really looks like something out of a picture book. But don't think you'll have the place to yourself - the locals love the joint and with the nearest beach an hour drive away, the gorge can look a little like Bondi beach, come Summer. The chair lift is the only thing with a price tag and will set you back $8.50 each way.
   

   

   


2. Head along to the interstate polling booth to vote (this is only applicable if a federal election falls around the same time as your Tassie getaway). Not only will you feel empowered after having your say in the country's future, but there's usually a few election day loonies hanging around, sprooking their election day pick - this is free entertainment in itself.


3. Take a walk through City Park. This place is beautiful and in my opinion, is what every city park should look like (open monkey enclosure included). Yep, there are 16 Japanese monkeys who call Launceston's City Park home in a cool open cage and you can watch them for as long as you like. Cheeky little fellas.



4. Watch the annual Launceston City Christmas Parade. Again this is only applicable if you head to Tassie around the time when Santa is gearing up for the silly season, but if you are lucky enough to stumble upon this little gem, as did we, you'll be in the company of every other resident of Launceston and the surrounding area too, and will have to stand on your tippy toes just to see a bit of the action. The parade won't be giving Australia's other major city's Christmas do's a run for their money any time soon, but you will see a bunch of hired trucks decked out with more tinsel than a Myer Christmas tree display, school kids dressed as reindeer and singing carols and a couple of town bagpipe bands. Classic.
   
   
   



5. Look up Elly May's Cafe in the town center and head along for a $2 cappuccino. I know, I know, that's money that your spending right there, but gee, is it worth it. I haven't seen a cappuccino advertised for $2 since Gloria Jeans was nothing but a really good business idea and most people only went to a 'cafe' as a special treat. Your suspicion as to why Elly May's can offer such a cheap cup disappear, after you discover they actually make a really good brew.

So there you have it. Launceston for free (okay, $4). And these ideas are just the tip of the freebie fun iceberg. The heritage listed houses, Boag's Brewery, bush walks, nature reserves, art galleries and amazing gardens will keep your hands out of your pockets for days.

Yours in the great outdoors,

Odette