Tasmania's second largest city Launceston is serviced by the major Australian airlines.  There is much to experience from waterfalls, fine wine and good food.

This inspiring account is taken from pieces of 'Uncomplicated Travels About Tasmania's North East', the travel tales of Greg Clarke.

'Uncomplicated' is one of the most beautiful words in English. Works a treat for job interviews, relationships and car repairs. When it comes to travel, well an uncomplicated airport is a thing of increasingly rare beauty.

You can get to Launceston on all major airlines, its quite quick with the planes pulling up barely a wingspan from the car parks. It's a skip across the tarmac to the terminal where you pick your bags straight off the luggage cart. The hire car will be faithfully waiting about 20 metres away.

Launceston is the gateway to some of the best experiences in the north-east but before you take to the uncluttered highways make for Relbia and you can, without encountering a traffic light, be exchanging salutations with vintners within 10 minutes of leaving the airport.

Fine Wine
At the Relbia end of the Tamar Valley Wine Route many wineries are smaller family- run operations. Along the route there are 24 cellar doors showcasing a selection of wines from zesty Rieslings, superb cool climate Chardonnay and excellent Pinot Noir.

Good Food
What's fine wine without good food? Tassie specialises in food as fresh as the air that helps nurture the plump and juicy grapes. From seafood including oysters shucked just minutes before you buy them, to artisan breads made from stone-ground organic flour, wheels of cheeses, berries and natural ice creams, rock lobster patés and meats smoked to old family recipes.

In and around the east coast fishing village of St Helens you won't just be eating. There are beaches and cruises around Georges Bay. St Helens is also the game-fishing capital of Tassie.

Eagle Eyes
With so much good food in Tassie, you've got to keep up some sort of exercise regime. Walk up Mount William and you'll get the same view of the local eagles from the highest point on the east coast. A well-defined track leads to the 216-metre peak. In clear weather there are extensive views inland and beyond the coast, some of the Furneaux Group of islands in Bass Strait.

But it's not like you have to slog to reach the summit. A walk of about 1.5 hours will get you there and back to your food-filled car. The park has thriving populations of Forester kangaroos, wallabies and wombats

Water Works
At 90 metres St Columba Falls is one of Tasmania's highest waterfalls. It's an easy walk from the car park to the falls under canopies of rainforest including sassafras, myrtle and man ferns. The water tumbles at a rate of around 200,000 litres a minute and the viewing platform gets you so close to the action you can almost shower in the spray.

When your holiday is finished you virtually park your hire car right out front of the terminal. The whole procedure of returning the car and checking in for the flight takes, oh, about 15 minutes. It's a beautifully uncomplicated way to finish.