What to know about Launceston
- The City of Launceston lists 12 oversized vehicle bays at the First Basin car park in the Cataract Gorge Reserve (72 Basin Road, West Launceston) and says the car park gates are locked at 10pm.Source: City of Launceston
- The City of Launceston's parking locations list shows 2 oversized vehicle bays in Park Street as well as the 12 at the Basin.Source: City of Launceston
- The City of Launceston says it has transferred ownership of the stadium it used to own to Stadiums Tasmania, and it points people to the stadium's own website for venue information and what's on.Source: City of Launceston
- In Tasmania, a person who intends to drive a public passenger vehicle needs an ancillary certificate, which requires being at least 20, holding a current Australian driver licence for at least 12 months and holding a current Working with Vulnerable People (children) registration.Source: Australian Business Licence and Information Service
- Under the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's standard hours, a solo bus or coach driver may work no more than 12 hours in any 24 hours and must have at least 7 continuous hours of stationary rest in that period.Source: National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
- The Launceston Significant Urban Area had 90,953 people at the 2021 Census.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Coach access around Launceston
Cataract Gorge is the first stop on plenty of Launceston group days. The City of Launceston lists 12 oversized vehicle bays at the First Basin car park on Basin Road in West Launceston. The car park gates are locked at 10pm. Oversized bays are not the same thing as coach bays, so ask the operator whether their vehicle suits that car park, and mention it if your group plans to stay at the Gorge into the evening.
The council's parking locations list also shows 2 oversized vehicle bays in Park Street. For football and other big nights at York Park in Invermay, the City of Launceston says it has transferred ownership of the stadium to Stadiums Tasmania, so coach set-down on a Launceston game day is something to raise with the operator and check against the venue's event information.
The ABS counted 90,953 people in the Launceston urban area at the 2021 Census, from Invermay and Mowbray to Kings Meadows, Prospect Vale and Legana, and requests can start anywhere in that spread.
Tasmanian driver and hours rules
Anyone who intends to drive a public passenger vehicle in Tasmania needs an ancillary certificate. To be eligible a driver must be at least 20, have held a current Australian driver licence for at least 12 months and hold a current Working with Vulnerable People (children) registration, which is worth asking about for Launceston school and junior sport trips.
Day tours from Launceston to Cradle Mountain, the Tamar Valley wineries or the north-east can make for long driving days. Under the NHVR's standard hours, a solo bus or coach driver can work no more than 12 hours in any 24 hours and needs at least 7 continuous hours of stationary rest, so ask how a long Launceston itinerary will be scheduled.
When your Launceston plans are taking shape, send a request with the dates, stops and group size.
Launceston charter hire: questions
Which areas does a Launceston charter request cover?
Launceston and its suburbs, including Invermay, Mowbray, Newnham, Kings Meadows, Youngtown, Ravenswood, Riverside and Trevallyn, plus Prospect Vale, Legana and Hadspen on the edges of town. Pick TAS and type your Launceston suburb into the form.
Can a coach bring a Launceston group to Cataract Gorge?
You can ask for it. The First Basin car park has oversized vehicle bays and its gates are locked at 10pm, so tell the operator how big your Launceston group is and when you plan to leave the Gorge.
Can I book a charter for a game at York Park?
Yes. Put the match, the kick-off time and your pickup suburb in the Launceston request, and ask the operator where they plan to set down near the Invermay stadium and wait after the final siren.