George Town

Urban

George Town is the third oldest settlement in Australia after Sydney and Hobart. The town sits on the banks of the Tamar River and has a rich maritime history.
At nearby Low Head, at the mouth of the Tamar, you’ll find one of the best-preserved examples of an early pilot station, built by convicts in 1805 to guide ships into the river. The pilot station, like the Pilot Station lighthouse, is still in operation today.
The lighthouse has the only still working Type G diaphone fog horn in the world. With a range of up to 32 km, it’s also the largest ever constructed. The fog horn is test sounded every Sunday at noon.
Also at Low Head is the Low Head Coastal Reserve, a popular spot to watch the world’s smallest penguins waddle in from the sea each night, while to the east are the vineyards of Pipers River and the Bridestowe Lavender Farm.
George Town is a 40-min drive (52 km) from Launceston.