11 of the best things to do in Launceston

Perched on the banks of Kanamaluka/The Tamar River, the historic city of Launceston is an oft-overlooked hub for great food, wine, arts and culture.

Launceston fuses countryside charm with creative urban energy. The result is a city with a unique and diverse array of cultural offerings, topped off with beautiful heritage architecture and beautiful nature to boot.

Albert Hall Launceston — Albert Hall is just one example of stunning architecture to admire in Launceston. (Image: Tourism Australia/ Nick H Visuals)

There are plenty of things to do in Launceston, whether you want to delve into the foodie scene, explore the natural surroundings or uncover the city’s rich arts and culture. Although Launceston seems to fall under the radar when travelling in Tasmania, it’s bursting at the seams with pleasant surprises and lots of things to discover. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite things to do in Launceston that will help you make the most out of your stay.

1. Hop between wineries

Tamar Valley is a haven for wine aficionados. The picturesque valley is dotted with more than thirty wineries, each putting their unique spin on cool-climate winemaking. Spend the day hopping between Tamar Valley’s wineries, admiring the view from the cellar door and sampling some of Tasmania’s finest wines. Most vineyards will have sumptuous platters of local produce on offer, so you can enjoy a perfectly paired snack while you sip.

Tamar Valley has something for everyone. If you’ve got a penchant for Pinot Noir, the passionate Pinot specialists at Tamar Ridge Cellar Door have you covered. White wine appreciators will find lots to love at Iron Pot Bay Vineyard , where you can sip on Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and more at the cellar door located in a historic cottage. If sparkling is more your style, exchange your wine glass for a champagne flute over at Jansz Vineyards . There is a lot to discover— and if you require a designated driver, there are plenty of tour operators to ferry you from vineyard to vineyard.

Wine being poured at Jansz Vineyard in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia — Exchange your wine glass for a champagne flute over at Jansz Vineyards. (Image: Adam Gibson)

2. Go for a swim in Cataract Gorge

Get a glimpse of Tasmania’s mystical forest when you walk underneath a canopy of massive branches belonging to stands of giant slate-grey gums that line the Cataract Gorge Reserve. Immerse yourself in the landscape by descending into the wilderness and finding a sheltered pocket of shade by the water.

View of cataract gorge pool Launceston — Go for a dip at Cataract Gorge or just admire the view. (Image: Tourism Tasmania/Jarrad Seng)

Launceston has its fair share of shiny hippie people: follow their lead and sway down the path that snakes its way to the cool, jade-green water. Having a swim in Cataract Gorge is a quintessential thing to do in Launceston, so don’t forget your swimmers.

Suspension bridge Cataract Gorge Launceston — Cross the suspension bridge in Cataract Gorge for panoramic views. (Image: Tourism Tasmania/Jarrad Seng)

You can also enjoy views over the water percolating down from the mountain courtesy of the Gorge Scenic Chairlift or suspension bridge, both of which offer panoramic views. Sit near the ribbon of water and listen to the branches squeaking in the breeze and the mournful echoes of birds sending their songs high into the trees.

Cataract George in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia — Walk along Cataract Gorge to get a glimpse of Tasmania’s mystical forests. (Image: Nat Mendham)

3. Visit Harvest Market

A visit to Launceston’s Harvest Market on a Saturday morning is a little like buying tickets to a travelling production of Hair. There are dreadlocked hippies, grey-haired gents wearing brown berets, middle-aged women in carefully coiffed up-dos and little girls with beribboned braids.

Harvest Market in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia — Ease into Saturday mornings at Launceston’s Harvest Market. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Go for breakfast, when Launnie locals are sitting with their perambulating trolleys filled with haunches of ethically farmed meat and hand-shaped loaves of sourdough from APC.

Harvest Market Launceston — Fill up on the goods at Harvest Market. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Launceston is a no-fuss kind of place and the market is a microcosm of that: it’s a relaxing place to be marooned at. Harvest Market is the most well-known of Launceston’s markets, but it’s by no means the only one. We’ve rounded up the best Launceston markets to check out here.

Harvest Market overhead — Attending Harvest Market on a Saturday is a weekly ritual for many Launceston locals. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Markets are a fixture of Launceston’s lively foodie scene, so don’t stress if you miss out on Saturday. Keep an eye out for the myriad of other markets in Launceston throughout the week and the year.

Fresh flowers Harvest Market Launceston — Pick up fresh flowers as well as edible goods at Harvest Market. (Image: Tourism Australia)

4. Explore the cafe scene

Exploring the city’s trendy cafes, eateries and brunch spots is one of the best ways to experience Launceston.

Bread & Butter is a choice highlight. The quaint cafe is the brainchild of small-batch butter producers, The Tasmanian Butter Co., and is Launceston’s trendiest brunch spot, mainly due to its mouth-watering baked goods and, you guessed it, incredible butter.

Bread + Butter Launceston — Bread & Butter Cafe and Bakery is Launceston’s trendiest brunch spot. (Image: Supplied)

The large warehouse space boasts an open-fronted bakery and kitchen, enabling hungry customers to see the heart of the action as trays of piping hot croissants, loaves and cinnamon-laced buns are churned out. Get in early on weekends to be sure to have your pick of the pastries.

Bread + Butter croissants — Bread + Butter are renowned for their mouth-watering baked goods. (Image: Supplied)

There are many more great cafes and eateries to be discovered. We’ve compiled a more comprehensive list of the best cafes in Launceston so you can cafe-hop like a local.

5. Enjoy a tipple at a trendy bar

Snooty beer nerds can also get their thrills on an ale trail that veers from the newly refurbished James Boag Brewery to Tandy’s Alehouse and St John Craft Beer Bar which has 14 brews on tap. Saint John’s celebrates the best native brews alongside lesser-known guest beers in a cosy bar. Founded by local beer nerds Tim Jarosz, Luke Dempsey and Ryan Campling, expert advice on what to sip on comes as standard.

Make like a tree and wrap yourself in a colourful knit to better blend in with the Launnie locals at the Kingsway Bar , where you can sample small-batch tipples such as Abel Gin and Poltergeist Gin.

If you don’t have time to head out to any of the Tamar valley wineries, you can enjoy a taste of local wine at Bar Two . You’ll be cosseted in a warm ambience, with plenty of great snack options to graze on while you enjoy a tipple.

wines and spirits on display at Bar Two, Launceston — Pick from an array of wines and spirits on display at Bar Two.

6. Dine out in style

Launceston was recently crowned a UNESCO’s City of Gastronomy. And after a visit to some of the city’s renowned restaurants, you’ll be able to see why.

Housed in an old flour mill, fine-dining restaurant Stillwater serves up modern Tasmanian dishes alongside its river views. Stillwater’s events calendar is always worth a look, as the venue frequently welcomes internationally recognised chefs and specialists through its doors to host sought-after experiences. Booking is recommended, especially at weekends, when you will want to be sure to ask for a window seat.

An appetizer spread at Stillwater restaurant in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia — Housed in an old flour mill, fine-dining restaurant Stillwater serves up modern Tasmanian dishes. (Image: Nat Mendham)

7. Embrace the local art scene

Tassie is prime territory for those who love the arts: events worth circling on your cultural calendar include Effervescence , Festivale and Junction Arts Festival.

Festivale held in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia — Festivale is one of Launceston’s many annual events. (Image: Adam Gibson)

While you’re in town, be sure to check out the local arts, crafts and design scene and discover the local talent.

Seagrass Design is Launceston’s go-to for adult and children’s fashion, homewares, ceramics and art prints. The brand was founded over a decade ago in Brisbane by Jamie and Kimberley McCabe. The couple has since relocated to Launnie, which is where – if you’re lucky – you’ll find them selling their colourful wares.

Glass Manifesto is a charming studio and gallery belonging to Anne Clifton and Peter Bowles, where you can browse their captivating glass sculptures and handicrafts at your leisure.

Those who value craftsmanship should factor in a pit stop at Design Tasmania , a not-for-profit design centre and museum which celebrates beautiful workmanship.

8. Visit the Galleries and Museums

A stroll through The Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery in Launceston does not have the same disorienting effect as tumbling down the rabbit hole that is MONA in Hobart. But the gallery is still a major destination for art, history and the natural sciences in northern Tassie.

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG) — Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery is a Tassie destination in its own right. (Image: Tourism Australia)

QVMAG stands on the ancestral lands of the Tyerrenotepanner, Leterremairrener and Panninher clans and The First Tasmanians: Our Story is a permanent exhibition that pays respect to their customs and culture. You can also strap yourself into a former aircraft seat for a feature presentation of the night sky, presented like a dot-to-dot at the planetarium.

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia — The sprawling interiors of The Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Take a step back in time at the Launceston Tramway Museum . This delightful museum was made possible by the local community, which restored Launceston’s only surviving double bogie tram in 1990. Car enthusiasts will find a lot to love over at the National Car Museum , which exhibits a dazzling range of vintage automobiles, motorbikes and memorabilia.

9. Explore the antiques

Launceston is a treasure trove for vintage, second-hand and antique goods. Take a journey into the past and check out a few of the antique stores. Red Fox Antiques located on Tamar Street is the perfect spot to pick up a precious memento when visiting. Home to a hand-picked selection of silverware, jewellery, furniture, homewares, textiles and vintage fashion pieces, the tiny shop is part museum, part retail space, all enviably stylish.

An antique store in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia — Launceston is a treasure trove for vintage, second-hand and antique goods. (Image: Alastair Bett)

10. Bed down in a Historic Hotel

Launceston offers an excellent choice of hotels to suit every traveller. But for those who prefer bedding down in a pocket-friendly property that sings with history, The Florance guest house is for you. Combining traditional Victorian architecture with contemporary styling, it’s a stone’s throw from the city’s action. Think original stained glass, sumptuous textiles, and a light-filled conservatory in which to bookend your days. The friendly hosts are happy to share local secrets and offer suggestions for places to see and things to do in Launceston.

The Florance in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia — The Florance combines traditional Victorian architecture with contemporary styling, all while being a stone’s throw from the city. (Image: Anjie Blair)

The Airbnbs in Launceston also have many great options on offer. FLAX at Duck Reach offers guests the incredible opportunity to stay in a heritage-listed cottage, originally built in 1895 for the workers at the Duck Reach power station.

Flax at Duck Reach Airbnb in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia — Spend the night in a heritage-listed cottage at Flax at Duck Reach. (Image: Flax at Duck Reach Airbnb)

11. Take a day trip further afield

Launceston sits at the doorstep of some incredible day trip experiences in the region. Head up to Low Head to discover the smallest (and cutest!) species of penguin— aptly known as ‘Fairy Penguins’.

Low Head Penguin Tours lets you get up close to these curious creatures while you watch them return to their burrows in the evening. Watching the penguins emerge from the waters to waddle home for the night is a truly enchanting way to end your day. In case you don’t have your own transport, there are transfer companies that will pick you up from your accommodation.

Take an excursion to the highly photogenic Bridestowe Lavender Estate , where you can spend a romantic day among the lavender fields. The fields generally reach full bloom in summer, when they become transformed into a majestic sea of purple. Taste lavender-infused ice cream and other delights at the cafe and peruse the selection of artisanal lavender products at the gift shop. Truly the stuff of dreams!

Lavender Estate fields in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia — The highly photogenic lavender fields at Bridestowe Lavender Estate. (Image: Jamie Douros & Camille Helm)

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)

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