Launceston, Australia Travel Guide | Things To Do in Launceston

A historic town with easy charm

Tasmania’s second-biggest city, Launceston is the perfect base for exploring the island’s north and the celebrated Tamar Valley. Expect superb local produce, some of the country’s best-preserved architecture, and a thriving arts scene.

Get to the heart of the city at its Saturday morning farmers market and see its creative best at Design Tasmania and the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery. Admire the city’s architectural history with a stroll along stunningly preserved Georgian and Victorian streetscapes. Keep an eye out for Art Deco treasures.

You’re only a hop away from Tasmania’s wilderness here. Get a taste at Cataract Gorge in the heart of the city. A little further afield, Narawntapu National Park is known for its abundant wildlife, and Mount William National Park, for its long sandy beaches.

Foodies, the rich farmland and cool-climate vineyards of the island’s north mean you’re never far away from an excellent tipple, superb dining and regional paddock-to-plate experiences.

Things to do: Launceston

Local food and wine

Join the locals every Saturday at Harvest Farmers’ Market as they stock their larders direct from local farmers and producers. Sample everything from fresh local seafood and summer berries to cider and artisanal dairy products. Paddock-to-plate is natural when you’re situated amidst such abundance, and Launceston’s thriving dining scene reflects the regional bounty. Take your tastebuds on a tour of the city’s top-notch restaurants, cafes and food trucks. Book a special occasion meal at Stillwater for contemporary Tasmanian cuisine.

Image credit: Tourism Tasmania, Rob Burnett
Tamar Valley

One of the prettiest spots in Tasmania, renowned for its cool-climate wines, the Tamar Valley is a perfect day trip from Launceston. The Tamar Valley Wine Route visits over 30 wineries producing riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir and the best sparkling wines this side of Champagne. The cellar door experience, with gourmet food and stunning views, is something special – make sure to stop at Josef Chromy, Clover Hill and Tamar Ridge.

Image credit: Andrew Wilson
Art galleries

Launceston is a cultural hotspot with venues to pique the interest of any artistic type. Design Tasmania is an edgy design hub that’s been promoting inventive Tasmanian designs to the world since 1976. View the wood collection, then browse the shop for an example to take home. Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery boasts history and natural science collections and an extensive colonial art section. Gallery 81 is a local artist’s showpiece, filled with landscape paintings and housing a boutique wine bar with sweeping views.

Image credit: Chris Crerar
Cataract Gorge

Find wilderness just a 15-minute walk from Launceston’s city centre at Cataract Gorge Reserve. It’s a favourite local spot for picnics and barbecues. The park has walking trails, a suspension bridge and the world's longest single-span chairlift. It also has a swimming pool, restaurant, cafe, and panoramic lookouts with spectacular views. This popular urban playground includes both manicured Victorian gardens and wild bushland, so peacocks and wallabies can live side by side.

Image credit: Tourism Tasmania, Rob Burnett
Colonial history

Launceston’s colonial and early Victorian streetscapes are among the country’s most intact. Pick up a map from the Visitor Information Centre and take a self-guided tour. Outside the city, historic homesteads offer a vivid glimpse of rural colonial life. Woolmers Estate, a pioneer farm of the early 1800s, is a time capsule of heritage treasures. Clarendon Estate is a grand Georgian Regency estate, stunningly set on the South Esk River. Explore the heritage walled gardens, stone barn and other outbuildings within the seven-hectare colonial complex.

Airport information

Launceston Airport (LST)

Distance to city centre 15km

Taxi A taxi into Launceston will take around 15 minutes and cost about AUD $35-40.

Rideshare You'll find the rideshare pick-up point adjacent to the undercover car park.

Shuttle The airport shuttle meets all flights and costs around AUD $15 one-way.

When to go

Launceston has a cool, mild climate with four very distinct seasons. It’s chilly in winter, pleasant in summer. The warmest months are January and February with an average temperature ranging from 12–24°C. The coolest month is July, with an average temperature range of 2–13°C. Launceston rarely receives snowfall.

Geographically situated in the Tamar Valley in northern Tasmania, it’s in hilly and mountainous terrain, so the weather can change markedly across a short period. Layered clothing is essential.

Getting around

Local buses are run by Metro Tasmania, with most departing from St John Street between Paterson and York streets. Bicycles are available for daily hire or longer-term use, from several operators.