For ideas on what to do in between orienteering events or before and after the carnival take a look at the following websites:
Explore Tassie’s East Coast - The East Coast Tasmania Tourism Association
Discover Tasmania - Tourism Tasmania
National Parks - Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Launceston and Tamar Valley Region
Looking for some things to do in the Launcestion and Tamar Valley region when you arrive to Register and take part in the Sprint Distance Championships on Saturday? You are in luck as Launcestion and the surrounding Tamar Valley region have lots of options to keep you occupied.
Two things to check out are the Harvest Market and the Archies 100 on the edge of the CBD. The Harvest Market operates on Saturday morning from 8.30am to 12.30pm in Cimitere Street. This showcases the very best of local primary produce and handmade food from the regional growers and makers. The Archies 100 is at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Inveresk and is open from 8.00am to 4.00pm. This is an exhibition celebrating 100 years of the Archibald Prize and the exhibition at the QVMAG is one of the 8 at regional galleries across Australia.
Other things to do are a walk in Cataract Gorge, exploring the heritage of Lanceston by following the walk map guide or touring the scenic Tamar Valley visiting one of the many quality vineyards and other food and beverage options of the region. Check out the links below for more information courtesy of the Launceston Visitor Information Centre..
Launceston Map and Heritage Walk Map
Tamar Valley Attractions and Map
St Helens and the North East Region
There are heaps of things to do while you are in the region outside of the orienteering events.
Beaches - It goes without saying that Binalong Bay and The Bay of Fires are the places to head to first. Stunning white sand and red granite outcrops make it picture perfect. Sunrise can be very speacial there. On the other side of Georges Bay out toward St Helens Point is the awesome Peron Dunes and Beer Barrel Beach that are both definitely worth checking out.
Kayaking, Paddle Boards – Georges Bay offers some sheltered and flat water perfect for these activities. You can base yourself at one of the beach areas around the bay where you can find BBQs, playgrounds and seating.
Walks and Waterfalls - There are a number of walks in the area suitable for a range of walkers that offer different experiences from waterfalls to history and heritage. Some of the top walking experiences are:
- St Columba Falls
- Halls Falls
- The Blue Tier (There are several walks to access from here)
- Mount William National Park (There are several walks to access from here)
- Evercreech and the White Knights Reserve (featuring some of the tallest white gums in the world)
- St Patricks Head (a challenging walk that climbs 683m above sea level
- Anchor Stampers (a walk that leads to the long abandoned stamper from the Anchor tin mine)
You can find more information on these walks and others on the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife website.
Mountain Biking - If you are a mountain bike enthusast or just keen to go for a ride then there is MTB love in the world-class Blue Derby and St Helens trails. Whether it is finding yourself in Tasmania’s temperate rainforests, ridng through granite crusted hills or just enjoying the forest there are a myriad of options available from beginner to hard core.
You can find more information on the trails on the St Helens Mountain Bike Trails and the Blue Derby websites.
Don't have a bike? Easily solved. These businesses at St Helens have bikes for hire: Vertigo MTB, Gravity Isle and Giant St Helens.