Ronnie in Lonnie.

Status
Not open for further replies.

drron

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2002
Posts
34,163
I am spending the next few weeks working in Launceston.I really enjoy Tasmania and like to do a little to promote it.
First to my travel down to LST.It was a Sunday and QF don't have a flight out of MCY on Sundays.So a choice of JQ or VA.Well at least with VA I will get some more points for SQ.So VA it was.Mrsdrron was feeling a little unwell but drove me to MCY but went straight home.Lovely VA checkin agent and soon off to security.Let A VA FA go past me and started unpacking.Just about to push my things through and a woman comes in front of me and starts getting her computer etc out so holding me up.But karma meant she got the secondary screening and even after a wanding I waltzed past her.

Premium boarding just doesn't work at MCY.Always a bun rush.I let a few go before boarding.Most of the urgers boarded by the rear door whilst I was nearer the front.
VA 1510. MCY-MEL ETD-1325. Push back-1326. Take off-1331. Seat-7D.
ETA-1555. Landed-1611. At gate-1616.
Basically uneventful flight but when handed the refreshment-a glass of water and a small biscuit with lemon filling.The couple next to me said to each other-What is this?I just said Lunch.

When I left MCY the LST flight was listed as going from Gate 13-which meant leaving the terminal and going through the T4 security.I checked the board-nothing listed so asked the gate agent-assured it was still gate 13 so off I trotted.As I was leaving Josh Frydenburg was walking to his gate.
Now a very unusual experience at T4 security.As usual I take my belt,watch and shoes off then go through and as usual I set off the alarm.I tell the woman I have a metal knee.She says go back out.I protested I had already taken everything off that was needed.She insisted I go back and wait until there was an officer to do the wanding.The first time this has happened to me.

After the wanding and packing up my gear I thought I had missed the secondary screening as 2 fellows already there.but no asked to stop.The same swab used for all 3 of us.Thankfully still negative.
So had a bit of sushi and then to gate and pulled out the computer.At 1800 nothing had happened.A SYD flight was on the board but the plane had been there for at least 90 minutes.Checked the board and a flight listed for LST but wrong flight number and time but Gate 1.Went to GA.She insisted the LST flight was at gate 1.So back out of T$ and back through security again as well as another secondary screening.

The board now says my flight is going from Gate 3 so go there.The TV screen shows flights to DRW and HBA.So to the Gate agent.She says no the next flight is to Kalgoorlie!The phone rings and she says sorry my flight has been changed to Gate 11.
Another gate agent appears and now there is a line behind me for the LST flight.She thinks she is here for the DRW flight so rings to find the LST flight.She then says sorry but the next flight from this gate is the LST flight.Where upon all the seated pax get up and ask where the DRW flight is going from.

Sorry VA I really don't want to fly with you again.
VA 1378. MEL-LST. ETD-1910. Push back-1911. Take off-1916. Seat-29C
When I am seated beside a delightful older couple we noticed a woman trying to come down the aisle but being held up by people who quite properly boarded from the back.After being held up she turns to her husband and very loudly says-"Come on idiot I am sick and tired of being polite we are going to our seat and vigorously pushes her way back.They are in seats 30A,B.
When she gets there she again turns to her husband and says-"Hurry up idiot you are next to the window.Quick."We are all laughing.Funnily when we arrive she is up,pushes the woman in 30C aside so she and idiot are first off the rear stairs.

Next my accommodation.
 
So on arrival in the terminal the quarantine dog sat by my carry on.Very good skills as that is the first time a Tassie dog has picked up my frozen curry.
Then a really nice taxi driver into town.It poured whilst I was in the taxi but stopped as we arrived at the Quest.I had a 1 bedroom apartment.
37328287841_758c3314f4_n.jpg
.
36658878243_045d6f5047_n.jpg
.
37328282391_7718993d4c_n.jpg
.
36618859474_220ecb985e_n.jpg
.
23476615758_bb60fabcb1_n.jpg
.

And the view the next night-
37328277181_f43a111193_n.jpg
.
37328272671_81b97419c4_n.jpg
.
 
I have been in Launceston It's famed for the Cataract Gorge, with panoramic views, walking trails, sculpted gardens and a chairlift. Was interesting. However I had only really worked there for a week or two. I took a liking to Saint Mary's
 
On my first weekend I started Saturday at Harvest Launceston.If you are here on a Saturday morning I recommend a visit.I bought some hot smoked salmon and salmon rillete from 41 South-a favourite of mine.I also for brekkie had a bolani-an Afghan vegetarian food pocket.Quite nice.This week I will have something from One on the Slide-looked good.
Then a walk around the CBD.There are a lot of old buildings here.It is Australia's 9th oldest city.Quite a few buildings have the entrance to the stables similar to that you see in Europe.So some random shots.
37427816311_d89b6df369_n.jpg
.
23575951038_cc5a591fd2_n.jpg
.
23575950938_b91559c9db_n.jpg
.
Then the office of a Green's Senator.The building was built by a former mayor who was also Chairman of the Launceston Hospital Board-
23575950828_34ce8a04f4_n.jpg
.
23575950748_2cf74d2ea0_n.jpg
.
Now something rare in Australia-the office of an Australian shipping line-ANL.
23575950568_df0ee43e22_n.jpg
.
23575950028_f182bb1dee_n.jpg
.
23575949958_bf34eec927_n.jpg
.
23575949798_ee5c754d63_n.jpg
.
23575948658_c26edd9631_n.jpg
.
 
So Sunday and the plan was to walk to Cataract Gorge after I finished my laundry.The first building is just up the road from the Quest.The part closest is the National Trust office,in the middle Government offices and furthest the Premier's northern office.Next comes the Post office-
36757550293_0780b18090_n.jpg
.
23575946318_be9aef9de3_n.jpg
.
23575946438_da3866f8d8_n.jpg
.
23575946098_b54c3939a3_n.jpg
.
36718205774_f275ecb61d_n.jpg
.
36718205734_49e16b7a22_n.jpg
.
36718205384_f3a3cfda5e_n.jpg
.
36718205414_8a339500e9_n.jpg
.
And as usual in Australia there are a lot of old pubs.Some still in use-
36718204604_032022bd2e_n.jpg
.
36718204404_dc93b8a35e_n.jpg
.
 
I was wandering down to the riverbank.Turning a corner I saw this sign.My first thought was that I didn't think there was a Marriott in Tasmania-
23575945588_95ceb47e3a_n.jpg
.
Across the road was the Cascade building-
36718204084_6f8e10e10d_n.jpg
.
23575945408_49e38335f9_n.jpg
.
But on the cross street was this-
36718204494_c275e2c0c3_n.jpg
.
37170808580_ee62df7886_n.jpg
.
The original brewery building established in 1881 as the Esk brewery.Taken over by James Boag in 1883-
23575945298_b6350891db_n.jpg
.
36718203234_62d7f7045c_n.jpg
.
37380898536_0d3f49cafa_n.jpg
.
And last the new bits-
37380898126_c048a3e2a2_n.jpg
.
 
At the riverbank now and not surprisingly some old buildings that relied on sea trade-
23575944948_29b3fc0666_n.jpg
.
36718202314_81c3dcffd3_n.jpg
.
37380897576_f00991f7ca_n.jpg
.
And the views from the riverbank-forest to the east and some worrying clouds to the west-
36718201964_36957620bb_n.jpg
.
23575944748_6686d5bb5a_n.jpg
.
37380897286_43c01b2c4e_n.jpg
.
And a magnificent Customs building-
36718201494_72f3131ca5_n.jpg
.
I could now see where I was headed-
23575944508_5ffdfbe8bd_n.jpg
.
36718201074_51b78a2d9b_n.jpg
.
And that is my favourite restaurant here,Stillwater.To the left you may make out people happily eating outside despite the wind.
Now the Information centre said there was an old trail on the southern side of the gorge-
23575944558_dc07995af5_n.jpg
.
Lots of stairs,lot of uphill.No I will go the easy way on the north side of the gorge.
 
Shouldn't it be Raunie in Launie? :)
Or Raunny in Launny??

Either way, enjoying this. Used to travel to Launceston every few months from Burnie as a kid. Sadly mainly for medical appointments and the like. Drove through it in January on way to some wineries but haven’t actually been there for well over a decade.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Thanks for the photos. I have been to "lonnie" twice and they have brought back some good memories.
 
When we visited around this time last year, we trod most of the same paths as in your pics. Had a lovely meal at Novaro's one night. I lived in Tas between 1955-1959, during those years referred to by Arisltotle ("Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man). Lived in Hobart but made many visits to Launceston, Burnie, Devonport, Queenstown etc, and So I feel the pull to go back there regularly, and am never disappointed.
 
Yes I love Tassie too_Over the last 11 years I am now just over 3 years as the time I have worked in Tasmania.Previously Latrobe and Burnie.First time working in Launceston.
 
Continuing up the river and there is a bit of a squeeze on the track.
37397081932_53c2133293_n.jpg
.
37397081662_ec114bbb3a_n.jpg
.
37397081502_360e1a8bc3_n.jpg
.
37397081292_eef3178be6_n.jpg
.
37397080682_f121f9d226_n.jpg
.
Now I could have crossed the river again but that track is described as very steep and rough so not today.Hopefully I will get a bit fitter and in 5 weeks time attempt the Zig zag track to the basin and then back to the basin this way.
37397080242_29da24f63e_n.jpg
.
36757530463_12a2720389_n.jpg
.
So I turned back to the Basin-
37397079662_3c4e5595bc_n.jpg
.
37397079512_ba52d1fc0e_n.jpg
.
36757530053_71b3848c5e_n.jpg
.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..

Recent Posts

Back
Top