Launceston, or ‘Lonnie’, as it is more affectionately called by Launcestonians, is a northern Tasmanian town that sits by the banks of the Tamar River. Its outdoorsy lifestyle, with good food and trendy cafés thrown in, makes it very hard for travelers to resist it. Lonnie traces its roots back to the ancient land of the Midland Plain Aboriginal community. The town’s highlight is its natural feature of Cataract Gorge with its landscaped gardens, popular walking trails and hilltop views of the town spread out beneath you. Bits of Tasmanian history are displayed at the Queen Victoria Museum, which was created from an old colonial-era railway workshop. The town’s elegant art galleries, the Royal Park by the Tamar River and the lovely vineyards of Tamar Valley that lie just beyond the city are all worth a visit.