Nature in Launceston — The Cataract Gorge

Cataract Gorge is where the three rivers of Launceston meet: the Tamar, the Northern Esk and the Southern Esk.

We took the Tiger Bus on our way to the River Explorer. Getting off at the Royal Park, we soon arrived at the entrance point to Cataract Gorge.

The Cataract Walk is an easy 15-minute stroll leading to the Gorge Basin. As we walked on, we saw the area gradually opening up to a nature colored in chestnut and verdant. The river basin was in greenish brown, seeming to suggest a fertility that sustained many kinds of wild lives. The chairlift claimed itself to be the longest such lift in the world.

Under the warm winter sunlight the Tamar River glowed, reflections of light glimmered against a very dark-colored water. There were yachts and sailboats at the dock, together making an impression of a waterfront leisure. We sat down for an Indian lunch at the very far end of the riverside.

Launceston left a lasting impression of quaint antiquity.

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Post by Helen Yu (Chestnut Journal) | Feb 16, 2025