Grindelwald, Tasmania

Grindelwald is a small Swiss Village inspired town developed just north of Launceston by a Dutch immigrant to Tasmania, Roelf Vos, after he sold his supermarket chain to Woolworths. Since his son Mike Vos took over, the town was converted to a golfing center and many of the original attractions left to deteriorate. The strict building codes were also lifted and many new buildings do not reflect the swiss theme.

The Town has 4 main lakes around which it is built and a fifth that is out of site and used to maintain water levels in the other 4 in times of drought. Lake Serene on which the main village is located is the uppermost in a chain of 3 that run through the golf course with the creek that they feed being a tributary of Muddy Creek. Lake Louise is the largest of the accessible lakes and is located in its own drainage basin. A swiss style restaurant and church are located on its shore and with a bridge connecting the lake's island.

Grindelwald is located on top of a prominent volcanic hill that rises 200 meters above the Tamar River and the town of Legana. Though largely level on top, steep slopes and basalt cliffs drop away on the hill's north, east and southern faces with 2 access roads tracking around the base of the hill before coming in via the western slopes.

The town has many amenities and attractions including a clock tower, church, lookout, shopping area and village square, hotel with indoor pool, restaurants, retirement village, bakery, BBQ area, public toilets, Band Rotunda and outdoor recreation areas such as a golf course, mini golf course, tennis courts, playground and canoes.

In the 1990s, the town expanded with a new suburb named Pleasant Hills, though not in keeping with the swiss theme. An olive grove was also established in 2006 at the end of the valley on which the golf course is located. A series of cabins have also been built just outside the main village.

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