Yeah, invermay is one of the milder parts around launceston, but you get those damn river fogs. and you have to pick and choose where you live there as some of it was reclaimed from the river (swamp) and other parts are still below the water level of a good high tide.
House prices are not that bad in tassie. I'm in launceston, and we sold our invermay 3 bedroom house (old weatherboard place) for around the $190,000 mark. needed some work, but $10k would have had it like new.
At the other end of the scale, we built our next house (25 square) for about the $370K mark (including land of a bit over $100K). Yes, the big mansions are 400k plus, but in the normal homes, that buys you a lot of house depending on the area.
Being a born and bred Launcestonian I am biased, but I think launceston is a better size and balance than hobart, but hobart has a lot more businesses, clubs etc etc, and much better access to the water if you are a sailor or paddler.
As for food, plenty of great produce, great resteraunts and cafes, and they are ever increasing in number and quality! I've got a friend who just got her permanency teaching in the public schools in hobart, and she isn't going to be out of work ever by the sounds of it, and she loves it. Have SWMBO come down and finish her bachellor degree here

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