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Best things to do in Launceston

Credit: Samuel Shelley

Discover the beauty of this thriving foodie city.

Launceston has become a highly appealing destination, with new restaurants and stylish places to stay opening all the time. You may already have the classics on your list, ride the chair lift at Cataract Gorge, dinner at Stillwater, peruse the Queen Victoria Museum, but the city also rewards those who seek out its lesser-known gems.

Launceston easily fills a long weekend or more: mornings admiring marvellous streetscapes and galleries, afternoons tasting cool-climate wines and local produce, and evenings settling into cosy restaurants or cool bars. To help narrow down the options, here are the best things to do in Launceston.

In short

If you only do one thing in Launceston, catch the chairlift across Cataract Gorge and then dive into the basin below.

City Park

City Park, Launceston
Enjoy a relaxing weekend in the tranquil City Park. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)

The first thing to know about City Park is that it has monkeys. A troop of Japanese macaques, gifted by Launceston’s sister city Ikeda in 1980, lives on their own little “Monkey Island", and watching them groom, squabble and lounge in the sun is reason enough to visit.

After that, the rest of the park slowly reveals itself. Duck into the warm, fern-filled John Hart Conservatory, challenge someone to a game on the giant outdoor chess board or simply stretch out on the wide lawns beneath towering English trees.

Tamar Island Wetlands Centre

Tamar Island Wetlands Centre, Launceston
Tamar Island Wetlands Centre is perfect for scenic photography and wildlife spotting. (Credit: Samuel Shelley)

Just ten minutes from the city, Tamar Island Wetlands feels a world away. This protected stretch of mudflats, lagoons and reed beds is one of the Tamar Valley’s richest pockets of wildlife, where black swans drift across the water and swamp harriers circle overhead.

The best way in is via the long timber boardwalk, which threads through tall native grasses and out across the wetlands to Tamar Island. Along the way you’ll pass bird hides and viewing platforms perfect for quiet wildlife spotting. Keep an eye out for ducks, wrens, pademelons and, if you’re lucky, a white-bellied sea eagle gliding above the river. If you’re serious about your birds, bring binoculars.

Cataract Gorge

Cataract Gorge from above
Cataract Gorge is surrounded by towering gum trees. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

Cataract Gorge sits right on the edge of Launceston’s CBD, a sudden, improbable swathe of bushland where the city simply falls away into cliffs, river and dense greenery.

Walk beneath the towering gum trees that line Cataract Gorge Reserve and follow the track as it dips toward the water. The path winds through thick bush, where lyrebirds scratch through the undergrowth. Before long, the trees part to reveal the broad, jade-green basin that forms the Gorge’s natural swimming area. On warm days locals drift down here with towels slung over their shoulders. For a different vantage point, cross the suspension bridge or glide above the basin on the Gorge Scenic Chairlift, where the river funnels through steep cliffs below.

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Harvest Launceston Community Farmers’ Market

fresh produce at Harvest Launceston Community Farmers’ Market
Fill up fresh produce from Harvest Market. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

The king of Launceston’s food attractions is Harvest Launceston , held every Saturday morning. Stalls brim with flowers, just-picked vegetables, warm pastries, small-batch cheeses and thick slices of sourdough while locals drift between tables clutching coffee and canvas bags.

Come early and treat it like breakfast. Grab something warm to eat and watch the crowd roll through: dreadlocked growers, grey-haired regulars in berets, families with market trolleys slowly filling with ethically raised meat and crusty loaves.

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston
An art gallery, science museum and social history archive in one. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

Launceston’s grandest gallery is the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery , established in 1891. Spread across two sites, it’s a mix of art gallery, science museum and social history archive, making it an easy place to lose a couple of hours.

The exhibits at the Royal Park branch include Chinese antiquities and a 19th-century temple, while the Inveresk branch sits on the site of former railway workshops and features exhibitions on Tasmania’s natural and social history, including displays about the extinct Tasmanian tiger.

The museum stands on the ancestral lands of the Tyerrenotepanner, Leterremairrener and Panninher peoples. The First Tasmanians: Our Story exhibition offers an introduction to the culture and history of Tasmania’s First Nations communities. Elsewhere, expect everything from colonial artefacts to natural science displays, plus a planetarium where you can lean back in an aircraft-style seat and watch the night sky unfold overhead.

dAda mUse

dAda mUse gallery in Launceston
Find Salvador Dalí’s works on paper at dAda mUse. (Credit: @sileomedia)

Founded by Dr Brendan Vote, dAda mUse is home to the largest collection of Salvador Dalí’s works on paper in Australia, an unexpected artistic treasure tucked into central Launceston.

The gallery occupies the beautifully restored 1842 Johnstone and Wilmot building on Cimitiere Street. Inside, Dalí’s surreal prints and etchings sit alongside rotating contemporary exhibitions. Even if surrealism isn’t usually your thing, the building itself is worth seeing. Carefully restored, it retains many of its historic features while housing modern gallery spaces.

Design Tasmania

Design Tasmania, Launceston
Discover Australia’s only collection of contemporary wood design. (Credit: Jess Bonde)

Launceston is the headquarters of Design Tasmania , and its flagship gallery is a beautiful space on the edge of City Park.

The permanent collection celebrates northern Tasmania’s long tradition of finely crafted timber furniture and objects. The gallery shop, housed in an adjoining former church hall, is filled with covetable items ranging from sculptural lamps to beautifully turned bowls made from local timbers such as huon pine and blackwood.

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James Boag Brewery

James Boag Brewery, Launceston
Stop by James Boag Brewery for a cold beer. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)

Beer lovers shouldn’t miss the James Boag Brewery , which has been operating in Launceston since 1881. Guided tours walk visitors through the brewing process before finishing with a tasting of several beers paired with local cheese.

The highlight for many visitors is hearing the story of Wizard Smith, a brewery worker who famously rescued the brewery’s draught horses during the devastating 1929 floods. There’s now a pale ale named in his honour.

Penny Royal World

Penny Royal World sits just outside central Launceston, tucked into a pocket of old quarry cliffs and water channels that once powered the city’s early industry.

Today it’s part historical playground, part adrenaline park. Visitors can climb sheer rock faces, zipline across the basin or tackle the cliff walk that edges along the quarry walls. There’s also a theatrical dark ride that retells Tasmania’s bushranger stories with a bit of drama and smoke. Even if you skip the activities, it’s worth wandering through to see the old waterworks and sandstone cliffs up close.

National Automobile Museum of Tasmania

National Automobile Museum of Tasmania, Launceston
Marvel at the vintage cars on display. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)

Muscle cars, Porsches, tiny Fiats, Austins and plenty of motorcycles. If you’re even slightly interested in cars you’ll enjoy the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania .

Located in Invermay opposite Peppers Silos Hotel, the museum displays a rotating collection of vintage and classic vehicles. Exhibits change regularly, so there’s often something new on show.

Launceston Leisure & Aquatic Centre

Launceston Leisure & Aquatic Centre from above
Cool off at the family-friendly Launceston Leisure & Aquatic Centre. (Credit: Nick Hanson)

If you’re travelling with kids, the Leisure and Aquatic Centre is an easy win. The star attraction is the 65-metre outdoor waterslide, which fires riders down a twisting run into the pool below.

Inside there are additional slides and splash areas for younger swimmers, plus a 50-metre competition pool, so families tend to settle in for a few hours while kids loop back for “just one more go".

Leah McLennan
Leah McLennan is a freelance writer based in Darwin. She was a journalist in Sydney for over a decade and counts her time as travel editor for Australian Associated Press as one of the highlights of her career. From exploring remote campsites in the Top End with her family, to seeking out new art galleries in faraway cities, she’ll grab an adventurous or arty travel experience within her reach.
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5 of the best day trips from Hobart

    Rachel Lay Rachel Lay
    Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

    In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

    Where to stay

    Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

    For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart . Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

    For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles . Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

    A stylish, Tasmanian-inspired bedroom at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, your perfect base for relaxing after the best day trips from Hobart.
    Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

    1. Bruny Island

    Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

    Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

    Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked . Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

    Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island.
    Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)

    2. Mount Wellington

    At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

    Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

    For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

    No matter where you are in Hobart you are never far away from the City's beloved mountain, Kunanyi / Mount Wellington
    Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)

    2. Port Arthur

    Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

    The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

    Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

    The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Australia's most important heritage sites and tourist destinations. Located on the scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area.
    Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)

    3. Launceston

    You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

    Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

    Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo , for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

    Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)

    4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

    Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary . This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

    Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

    Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We're a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart.
    Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

    Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol , said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

    Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.

    Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart.
    Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)

    Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com .