Luxury holidays in Launceston

When to go

Come for mists and mellow fruitfulness in autumn or manageably balmy summers away from the desert and tropical heat of the mainland. The island can get a little closed-down during winter, but the fires are toasty even if the winds are Antarctic.

Getting there

• Planes

  There are no international flights that land in Tasmania, but Qantas has connections between Launceston and mainland cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane).

• Automobiles

  Scheduled bus and coach services can be sporadic (especially in winter), so if you’re planning to explore, hire a car at Launceston Airport, which has most of the big-name rental companies on-site.

• Taxis

  Launceston’s largest fleet of cabs is Taxi Combined (13 2227; www.taxicombined.com.au). A ride from the airport into town costs around AU$32.