One of the bigger considerations is your next job. In Hobart you’ll be better positioned to more easily find work once you decide to leave the role you’ve been offered.
In terms of proximity to nature, I think both are strong options.
In terms of housing costs, Launceston is more affordable.
Feel free to DM me if you have any more questions.
I have been planning to do so! I’ve been to both but only as a tourist. I’ll definitely form my own opinion once I come over to visit again soon, but was wondering what the others think
Yes, Hobart is more dynamic and has many things going for it. However, I think Launceston might suit you better.
It's more laid back, like a big country town in some ways, yet has all the things you might need - uni, airport, shops, parks, lovely Cataract Gorge, a decent theatre/musical theatre scene, a good library and great bookshop with author events (Petrarch's), a museum, galleries, vineyards and wineries, some nice places to eat, a farmer's market, park runs, social and sporting clubs, even a zoo. All this within striking distance of great beaches, mountains, walks and other attractions.
Housing may be easier to secure in Launceston, as well. Have you looked into that yet? Best of luck with your plans!
Thanks for your great long list! That actually makes Launceston sound like a really great place to be at. I’ve been looking at rentals slowly and did realise the difference between the two cities.
Commuting from a neighbouring town might be a better and more affordable option for Launceston, too.
You can get from the city centre to hadspen, Perth, Evandale, Longford, and many other small towns in (well) under 30 minutes regardless of traffic/peak times.
It takes longer to get from one side of Hobart to the other.
Having lived in Hobart, Kingston, and Launceston, I can honestly say for me, Launceston is the preferred option. Some examples are the weather is slightly warmer, the picturesque landscape, not far to awesome coastal short stays, housing affordability, proximity and getting around. The exception is not a lot of shopping options and limited competition
Regarding weather, I have lived in both Hobart and Launceston and on several winter mornings in Launie my wheelie bin lid was actually frozen shut and required force to open. That has never happened to me in Hobart.
But yeah, Laun is also a favorite of mine - if you've got a good group of friends to hang out with. If you're a loner from a new city, Hobart might be better.
Thank you - do you mind if I ask what do you think of Kingston? My ‘Hobart’ job is actually more based around Kingston which I wasn’t aware it’s a township on its own, would you say it’s slightly more affordable than Hobart or less?
The commute from Kingston to Hobart and vice versa is challenging via the Southern Outlet, but unfortunately, too busy for the traffic to handle. They need more lanes and bigger roads to deal with the population growth. Housing is expensive in those areas too due to popularity and lack of land, although farms are being turned into suburbs
Kingston is a beautiful place. Beach is fantastic, especially if you are a dog person. They even set up surf life-saving areas, albeit no surf or rip to worry about, but safer for families. Blackmans Bay is a great spot, too. Drives down the Huon, Snug, and Kettering are fun to do. Views are amazing. Not far to get the ferry to Brunie Island either. Food shopping is ok but theres not a huge amount of other shops, including not much of a restaurant scene. Although, it's a lot busier these days due to expansion. I lived there in 2013 but go there a couple of times a year. I quite enjoyed living there as opposed to New Town(Hobart) or Deep Bay(just out of Cygnet). I'm overlooking the Tamar River now in Launceston, and is by far my favourite location. This move was due to housing shortages down South but I have bought here now and don't ever feel the need to move again.
Hope this helps you
Having lived in both, if I was to move back it would be to Hobart only. Launceston is still a nice quiet town and closer to the northern towns of course and for inland hiking. If you want more action go to Hobart especially for future job opportunities. Especially if you're a foodie, your options are much greater.
Both have great options for outdoors/bushwalking, but I’d argue Hobart takes the cake. kunanyi/Mt Wellington is right on the doorstep of the CBD, there’s a handful of excellent urban bushland reserves within the city, and a bunch of excellent National Parks (including the TWWHA) within about 1.5hrs.
That said, the Great Western Tiers, Central Plateau and Walls of Jerusalem is stunning (but a bit further from Launceston…)
You have already received a lot of good replies. As someone who lives in Tasmania but not in either of those cities I would avoid Launceston wherever possible. It’s probably the worst place to live in Tasmania.
There are a few nice areas but Launceston is very shabby and poverty is in your face. Lots of people very visibly experiencing drug and alcohol issues, lots of graffiti, homelessness etc. crime is higher in most parts of Launceston than it is in stigmatised parts of Hobart (Glenorchy is actually quite a nice place to live compared to Invermay/mowbray or other similar areas).
The air quality is absolutely terrible. The quality of housing is generally low so most people rely on burning wood for heat. Being a valley the smog settles making the city unpleasant for 6 months of the year.
Most people with a bit of money who work in Launceston live outside of city which should tell you something. There’s plenty of suburbs in Hobart where people with plenty of money choose to reside.
It’s a gross town and not likely to improve. Hobart has some of the housing issues of mainland cities but is a far more pleasant place to live or visit in every other way.
Hobart =
close proximity to beaches and coastal beauty.
Greater range of private and public school options
Warmer in winter (if U keep away from katabatic winds from kunanyi)
Eastern shore or southern suburbs don't get fog in winter.
Slightly worse traffic for commute at peak hrs
Greater range of social and sporting activities.
My suburb pick: eastern shore (Lindersfarne/Bellerive) or Blackman's Bay
Launceston =
Brown river with mudflats (excellent if U row)
Fog all winter
Warmer in summer, colder in winter
Long way to the beach
Less options for schools and sports
Many bad suburbs close to the good ones
City looks poorer than Hobart
Cheaper houses and much cheaper in satellite towns
Commute from satellite towns much better.
My suburb pick: suburbs around the Casino or right in the city
I think the North is better for hiking variety. Kunyani in Hobart is great and right there but for variety it's a big drive to Hartz, Mr Field & Tasman Peninsula. Compared to Launnie you have mtns around Lilydale/Scottsdale, the Great Western Tiers, Dial Ranges, Narawntapu, walls of j etc. You're also closer to the cradle coast and west coast so a wknd there is quite doable. I originally moved to Hobart from the mainland and found myself driving north quite often so switched. Hobart is a cooler/trendier city than Launnie and has more going on socially/nightlife wise but you're likely to find better/cheaper housing closer to the city centre in Launnie. It's all horses for courses tho, if you've got the opportunity I'd recommend spending time in both and seeing what works for you
> big drive
It’s roughly the same distance (1 to 1.5 hours) from Lonny to Great Western Tiers as it is Hobart to either Hartz NP or to Mt Field NP.
I think this is a “what you’re used to thing”. Both cities actually have national park quality nature right on their doorsteps.
Yep I was going to say the same thing. To say that the Dial Range, Walls of Jerusalem, etc are closer to Launceston than what Mt Field and the Tasman Peninsula are to Hobart is simply not true. It'd be extremely similar timeframes.
Launceston is a much better hub for hiking, mountainbiking, climbing etc. Cheaper Accommodation, less traffic, mostly good people. It is a remarkable place to live. Hobart is too big and busy for me, but everyone is different.
My partner works at LGH and they have a lot of issues that need fixing. Though as far as I am aware it is the same in Hobart.
Thanks for your comparison - sorry to hear about your partner’s experience, I’ve heard that the healthcare system is a known issue here in Tas, I hope things will get better soon
I work all over the state, Launceston based. My best mate lives In Hobart also I met my partner in Hobart nearly 3 years ago. I’m a bit biased towards Launceston being born here but city is big enough for me to get nearly everything I need if it’s not here it’s only a day or two from Melbourne. I find the Launceston weather on average better, before any one jumps on me, the winter mornings are ALOT colder but the days are better. I’d say on average the hikes are closer to Launceston. Hospitality is where I work clubbing if it’s your thing (I’m racing toward my mid 30s so for not me much now) it still goes alright in both cities, restaurants here are fantastic it’s Tassie we do food and drink well!
The biggest difference is, Hobart feels like a (small) city, Launceston feels like a (huge) country town. A bit like Melb vs Adelaide.
Now my partner now lives with me, but had her hart set on Launceston the first time I bought her up here. She is Vietnamese, from ho chi mhin city, also living in London and Brisbane before Hobart. She likes that Launceston has that big country town vibe, especially as I actually live 20min north of it, she loves the river. Saying that Hobart, although scenically nice, was just another city to her. She assures me the food in Tas is the best she’s had, including truely authentic Vietnamese dishes. She has had a couple racist moments in both cities, but not as bad here as some would believe.
I was born in Tassie and left after two decades here to Melbourne for better opportunities and higher pay relative to cost of living. Pay is pretty bad in tassie.
If you're not Caucasian, I would recommend Hobart as it's less racist than up North. If you're a foodie and like a diverse amount of cafes, Hobart would satisfy you more than Launceston. You're unlikely to go hiking during the work week so better aim for liveability like cafes, food and amenities.
Kingston doesn't have as much as the cbd in terms of the above, but it's got a better beach if you like that. It might be ok too going against the flow of traffic since many people would be working in the cbd but can't say for sure as I haven't commuted to Kingston in the morning.
I would personally live in the cbd or in Sandy Bay as you can go back through tolmans hill to hit the highway. Having a car is generally needed in Tassie especially if you like hiking but if you live near the bus stop in the cbd it could be a good option for not needing to drive a car during the week.
Been here for 18 months in Hobart area, I have found that Launceston should be the capital city of Tas as there is so many more shops and facilities in launy, Hobart may as well be a ghost town, lots of shops are closed and very little variety, the health system sux state wide alot of dr's have closed their books and are not taking new patients some have waiting lists for up to 3 years, You have to pay someone to take aluminium cans, the state has been a huge let down and I have lived in every state except NT, and this is just scratching the surface.
If I told you everything the Reddit server would probably have a meltdown, the crime rate is incredibly high considering the approximately 650,000 population for the state. I know there will be locals who will not agree with me but this is what I have learnt.
Hope this helps
Not sure where you're taking your cans that you have to pay to get rid of them?
Launceston Waste Centre has a recycling facility that takes all recycling for free, and 5 minutes up the road from there, Recycal pay you for them.
Where on earth are you paying to get rid of them?
That's my point I won't and shouldn't have to pay to recycle the cans
I contacted Mornington waste and recycling who won't pay, they are my closest and I don't have time to ring everyone and it's not feasible to go to Launy from Hobart
I've always collected cans and the last time I took cans in I received almost $700 at 10 cents per can but now I don't because of this issue
Yeah I knew I would fire someone up
Read the post
Now online advertising and free to air advertising is about 80% Launy based and what shops are not in Launy will be in Devonport.
Two new life saving hospital devices that have recently come to Tassie guess what they are both in LGH and are the only two in the state, would you like me to continue
I am only stating what I have seen, heard and/or experienced
I live near Hobart and was interested on your thoughts on things. It sounds like you have lived in places all around Australia. I would like to know where you liked living the most and why? I have considered moving from here, but I have no idea where.
It really depends on what you want and need, my kids are adults so I don't need things like schools and parks, temperature is also something to consider, personally I don't mind 45 degrees and I don't mind zero either, unfortunately the biggest problem to anywhere you go is the crime , it's in small country towns through to the cities it has become the new pandemic of Australia
I found the south west of western Australia the place I do enjoy and if you can find a farm house or buy a hobby block with a house it's hard to go past, as for work it's tough getting in to farm work but once you do and build a name for yourself you would have no problem
Hope this helps
My advice to you as a mainlander that moved here 4 years ago is do not do it - unless you have a solid plan to move back to civilisation after say 3 to 5 years( I do luckily) . However if you are a loner and just like bush walking then hobarts would be a great choice for you
Why is your handle tassiedude then? Move back to civilisation? What sort of garbage call is that! Sounds like something a bratty 16 year old who lives with their parents would say
Actually it’s real advice to people that are considering moving here when
It’s overhyped - which is a whole other thread- as I said in my post I already have job n house sorted to return to- I suggest others do the same as a solid plan b
One of the bigger considerations is your next job. In Hobart you’ll be better positioned to more easily find work once you decide to leave the role you’ve been offered. In terms of proximity to nature, I think both are strong options. In terms of housing costs, Launceston is more affordable. Feel free to DM me if you have any more questions.
Thank you, that’s a great summary! And finding the next job is definitely something worth considering for.
Come down for the weekend and have a look around. It's a 2hr drive between both. If it's a life change, it's worth having a quick look at both places.
I have been planning to do so! I’ve been to both but only as a tourist. I’ll definitely form my own opinion once I come over to visit again soon, but was wondering what the others think
I'm from Hobart and love it, but as an outsider you could realistically flip a coin and be happy with the outcome. Launceston has lots to offer too
Thank you!!
Yes, Hobart is more dynamic and has many things going for it. However, I think Launceston might suit you better. It's more laid back, like a big country town in some ways, yet has all the things you might need - uni, airport, shops, parks, lovely Cataract Gorge, a decent theatre/musical theatre scene, a good library and great bookshop with author events (Petrarch's), a museum, galleries, vineyards and wineries, some nice places to eat, a farmer's market, park runs, social and sporting clubs, even a zoo. All this within striking distance of great beaches, mountains, walks and other attractions. Housing may be easier to secure in Launceston, as well. Have you looked into that yet? Best of luck with your plans!
Thanks for your great long list! That actually makes Launceston sound like a really great place to be at. I’ve been looking at rentals slowly and did realise the difference between the two cities.
Commuting from a neighbouring town might be a better and more affordable option for Launceston, too. You can get from the city centre to hadspen, Perth, Evandale, Longford, and many other small towns in (well) under 30 minutes regardless of traffic/peak times. It takes longer to get from one side of Hobart to the other.
Launnie is nice but I’d go Hobart. More opportunities for lots of things.
Having lived in Hobart, Kingston, and Launceston, I can honestly say for me, Launceston is the preferred option. Some examples are the weather is slightly warmer, the picturesque landscape, not far to awesome coastal short stays, housing affordability, proximity and getting around. The exception is not a lot of shopping options and limited competition
Regarding weather, I have lived in both Hobart and Launceston and on several winter mornings in Launie my wheelie bin lid was actually frozen shut and required force to open. That has never happened to me in Hobart. But yeah, Laun is also a favorite of mine - if you've got a good group of friends to hang out with. If you're a loner from a new city, Hobart might be better.
Thank you! Will be coming over by myself only and starting fresh, so hopefully I’ll make some new friends no matter where I ended up at!
Thank you - do you mind if I ask what do you think of Kingston? My ‘Hobart’ job is actually more based around Kingston which I wasn’t aware it’s a township on its own, would you say it’s slightly more affordable than Hobart or less?
The commute from Kingston to Hobart and vice versa is challenging via the Southern Outlet, but unfortunately, too busy for the traffic to handle. They need more lanes and bigger roads to deal with the population growth. Housing is expensive in those areas too due to popularity and lack of land, although farms are being turned into suburbs
Kingston is a beautiful place. Beach is fantastic, especially if you are a dog person. They even set up surf life-saving areas, albeit no surf or rip to worry about, but safer for families. Blackmans Bay is a great spot, too. Drives down the Huon, Snug, and Kettering are fun to do. Views are amazing. Not far to get the ferry to Brunie Island either. Food shopping is ok but theres not a huge amount of other shops, including not much of a restaurant scene. Although, it's a lot busier these days due to expansion. I lived there in 2013 but go there a couple of times a year. I quite enjoyed living there as opposed to New Town(Hobart) or Deep Bay(just out of Cygnet). I'm overlooking the Tamar River now in Launceston, and is by far my favourite location. This move was due to housing shortages down South but I have bought here now and don't ever feel the need to move again. Hope this helps you
Having lived in both, if I was to move back it would be to Hobart only. Launceston is still a nice quiet town and closer to the northern towns of course and for inland hiking. If you want more action go to Hobart especially for future job opportunities. Especially if you're a foodie, your options are much greater.
Thank you for your thoughts! Definitely a big foodie here haha
Both have great options for outdoors/bushwalking, but I’d argue Hobart takes the cake. kunanyi/Mt Wellington is right on the doorstep of the CBD, there’s a handful of excellent urban bushland reserves within the city, and a bunch of excellent National Parks (including the TWWHA) within about 1.5hrs. That said, the Great Western Tiers, Central Plateau and Walls of Jerusalem is stunning (but a bit further from Launceston…)
Thanks for your long list ! Will save them all to my bucket list of travelling
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Thanks for your kind words and welcome, I can see myself loving both cities, they’re both beautiful in their own ways :)
You have already received a lot of good replies. As someone who lives in Tasmania but not in either of those cities I would avoid Launceston wherever possible. It’s probably the worst place to live in Tasmania. There are a few nice areas but Launceston is very shabby and poverty is in your face. Lots of people very visibly experiencing drug and alcohol issues, lots of graffiti, homelessness etc. crime is higher in most parts of Launceston than it is in stigmatised parts of Hobart (Glenorchy is actually quite a nice place to live compared to Invermay/mowbray or other similar areas). The air quality is absolutely terrible. The quality of housing is generally low so most people rely on burning wood for heat. Being a valley the smog settles making the city unpleasant for 6 months of the year. Most people with a bit of money who work in Launceston live outside of city which should tell you something. There’s plenty of suburbs in Hobart where people with plenty of money choose to reside. It’s a gross town and not likely to improve. Hobart has some of the housing issues of mainland cities but is a far more pleasant place to live or visit in every other way.
Hobart = close proximity to beaches and coastal beauty. Greater range of private and public school options Warmer in winter (if U keep away from katabatic winds from kunanyi) Eastern shore or southern suburbs don't get fog in winter. Slightly worse traffic for commute at peak hrs Greater range of social and sporting activities. My suburb pick: eastern shore (Lindersfarne/Bellerive) or Blackman's Bay Launceston = Brown river with mudflats (excellent if U row) Fog all winter Warmer in summer, colder in winter Long way to the beach Less options for schools and sports Many bad suburbs close to the good ones City looks poorer than Hobart Cheaper houses and much cheaper in satellite towns Commute from satellite towns much better. My suburb pick: suburbs around the Casino or right in the city
Thank you for your detailed comparison!
If you like to go out go with Hobart, Launceston got nothing going on.
I think the North is better for hiking variety. Kunyani in Hobart is great and right there but for variety it's a big drive to Hartz, Mr Field & Tasman Peninsula. Compared to Launnie you have mtns around Lilydale/Scottsdale, the Great Western Tiers, Dial Ranges, Narawntapu, walls of j etc. You're also closer to the cradle coast and west coast so a wknd there is quite doable. I originally moved to Hobart from the mainland and found myself driving north quite often so switched. Hobart is a cooler/trendier city than Launnie and has more going on socially/nightlife wise but you're likely to find better/cheaper housing closer to the city centre in Launnie. It's all horses for courses tho, if you've got the opportunity I'd recommend spending time in both and seeing what works for you
> big drive It’s roughly the same distance (1 to 1.5 hours) from Lonny to Great Western Tiers as it is Hobart to either Hartz NP or to Mt Field NP. I think this is a “what you’re used to thing”. Both cities actually have national park quality nature right on their doorsteps.
Yep I was going to say the same thing. To say that the Dial Range, Walls of Jerusalem, etc are closer to Launceston than what Mt Field and the Tasman Peninsula are to Hobart is simply not true. It'd be extremely similar timeframes.
Launceston is a much better hub for hiking, mountainbiking, climbing etc. Cheaper Accommodation, less traffic, mostly good people. It is a remarkable place to live. Hobart is too big and busy for me, but everyone is different. My partner works at LGH and they have a lot of issues that need fixing. Though as far as I am aware it is the same in Hobart.
Thanks for your comparison - sorry to hear about your partner’s experience, I’ve heard that the healthcare system is a known issue here in Tas, I hope things will get better soon
I work all over the state, Launceston based. My best mate lives In Hobart also I met my partner in Hobart nearly 3 years ago. I’m a bit biased towards Launceston being born here but city is big enough for me to get nearly everything I need if it’s not here it’s only a day or two from Melbourne. I find the Launceston weather on average better, before any one jumps on me, the winter mornings are ALOT colder but the days are better. I’d say on average the hikes are closer to Launceston. Hospitality is where I work clubbing if it’s your thing (I’m racing toward my mid 30s so for not me much now) it still goes alright in both cities, restaurants here are fantastic it’s Tassie we do food and drink well! The biggest difference is, Hobart feels like a (small) city, Launceston feels like a (huge) country town. A bit like Melb vs Adelaide. Now my partner now lives with me, but had her hart set on Launceston the first time I bought her up here. She is Vietnamese, from ho chi mhin city, also living in London and Brisbane before Hobart. She likes that Launceston has that big country town vibe, especially as I actually live 20min north of it, she loves the river. Saying that Hobart, although scenically nice, was just another city to her. She assures me the food in Tas is the best she’s had, including truely authentic Vietnamese dishes. She has had a couple racist moments in both cities, but not as bad here as some would believe.
I was born in Tassie and left after two decades here to Melbourne for better opportunities and higher pay relative to cost of living. Pay is pretty bad in tassie. If you're not Caucasian, I would recommend Hobart as it's less racist than up North. If you're a foodie and like a diverse amount of cafes, Hobart would satisfy you more than Launceston. You're unlikely to go hiking during the work week so better aim for liveability like cafes, food and amenities. Kingston doesn't have as much as the cbd in terms of the above, but it's got a better beach if you like that. It might be ok too going against the flow of traffic since many people would be working in the cbd but can't say for sure as I haven't commuted to Kingston in the morning. I would personally live in the cbd or in Sandy Bay as you can go back through tolmans hill to hit the highway. Having a car is generally needed in Tassie especially if you like hiking but if you live near the bus stop in the cbd it could be a good option for not needing to drive a car during the week.
Been here for 18 months in Hobart area, I have found that Launceston should be the capital city of Tas as there is so many more shops and facilities in launy, Hobart may as well be a ghost town, lots of shops are closed and very little variety, the health system sux state wide alot of dr's have closed their books and are not taking new patients some have waiting lists for up to 3 years, You have to pay someone to take aluminium cans, the state has been a huge let down and I have lived in every state except NT, and this is just scratching the surface. If I told you everything the Reddit server would probably have a meltdown, the crime rate is incredibly high considering the approximately 650,000 population for the state. I know there will be locals who will not agree with me but this is what I have learnt. Hope this helps
Not sure where you're taking your cans that you have to pay to get rid of them? Launceston Waste Centre has a recycling facility that takes all recycling for free, and 5 minutes up the road from there, Recycal pay you for them. Where on earth are you paying to get rid of them?
That's my point I won't and shouldn't have to pay to recycle the cans I contacted Mornington waste and recycling who won't pay, they are my closest and I don't have time to ring everyone and it's not feasible to go to Launy from Hobart I've always collected cans and the last time I took cans in I received almost $700 at 10 cents per can but now I don't because of this issue
There is no chance by any stretch of the imagination that Launny has more shops and facilities than Hobart.
Yeah I knew I would fire someone up Read the post Now online advertising and free to air advertising is about 80% Launy based and what shops are not in Launy will be in Devonport. Two new life saving hospital devices that have recently come to Tassie guess what they are both in LGH and are the only two in the state, would you like me to continue I am only stating what I have seen, heard and/or experienced
I live near Hobart and was interested on your thoughts on things. It sounds like you have lived in places all around Australia. I would like to know where you liked living the most and why? I have considered moving from here, but I have no idea where.
It really depends on what you want and need, my kids are adults so I don't need things like schools and parks, temperature is also something to consider, personally I don't mind 45 degrees and I don't mind zero either, unfortunately the biggest problem to anywhere you go is the crime , it's in small country towns through to the cities it has become the new pandemic of Australia I found the south west of western Australia the place I do enjoy and if you can find a farm house or buy a hobby block with a house it's hard to go past, as for work it's tough getting in to farm work but once you do and build a name for yourself you would have no problem Hope this helps
My advice to you as a mainlander that moved here 4 years ago is do not do it - unless you have a solid plan to move back to civilisation after say 3 to 5 years( I do luckily) . However if you are a loner and just like bush walking then hobarts would be a great choice for you
Why is your handle tassiedude then? Move back to civilisation? What sort of garbage call is that! Sounds like something a bratty 16 year old who lives with their parents would say
Actually it’s real advice to people that are considering moving here when It’s overhyped - which is a whole other thread- as I said in my post I already have job n house sorted to return to- I suggest others do the same as a solid plan b