Launceston

Start your visit by walking Launceston’s streets lined with Georgian and Victorian buildings, which mark this as Australia’s third-oldest city. The kanamaluka/Tamar River flows past steep gorges and farmland here. Locals call it ‘Launnie,’ and you’ll find colonial-era landmarks alongside restaurants serving local lamb, cheeses, and seafood approved by UNESCO’s City of Gastronomy program. Walk the trails at Cataract Gorge, ride its chairlift, or taste wines from nearby vineyards like Josef Chromy. Visit the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery to see colonial paintings, or pedal along the river to farmers’ markets held every Saturday.

Cataract Gorge: Trails, Chairlift, and History

A 15-minute walk from downtown brings you to Cataract Gorge Reserve. Hike along paths that wind past the South Esk River, which has cut through sandstone over millennia to form deep pools and cliffs. Cross the suspension bridge or ride the chairlift, which stretches 308 meters above the river. Green slopes near First Basin fill with people eating lunch on sunny days, and you might spot wallabies near the walking tracks. Signs along the trails explain how Tasmanian Aboriginal communities gathered here for thousands of years. Start the Cataract Walk at Kings Bridge to see old hydroelectric equipment and reach the gorge’s steepest rock faces.

Local Food and Wine

Every Saturday, the Harvest Market sets up near Charles Street with stalls selling just-picked berries, handmade cheeses, and oysters from nearby bays. Drive 10 minutes north to the Tamar Valley Wine Trail, where over 30 vineyards let you sample Pinot Noir and sparkling wines. Back in Launceston, order grilled salmon or abalone at Seaport Marina’s restaurants. Try ciders made from Tasmanian apples at Saint John Craft Beer Bar, which keeps 10 local varieties on tap. Many cafes in the city center bake bread with flour from nearby farms.

19th-Century Buildings and Walking Routes

Launceston’s downtown has Australia’s best-preserved 19th-century architecture. Walk St. John Street to see Victorian shopfronts with detailed ironwork, leading to the 1830s Custom House and its grand sandstone columns. Pick up a map for self-guided tours of Art Deco buildings like the old Lyceum Theatre, which still has its 1920s ticket booth. Visit Entally House, a Georgian estate 15 minutes from downtown, to see furniture from the 1820s and gardens planted with heritage roses. Look for remnants of the city’s tram system, like tracks embedded in Brisbane Street’s asphalt.

Museums, Art, and Live Performances

The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG) operates two sites: a converted railway workshop at Inveresk and a gallery in Royal Park. Both display Tasmanian Aboriginal tools, colonial-era landscapes, and a planetarium with daily shows. Design Tasmania, inside a former church on Cameron Street, exhibits wooden furniture made by local crafters using native timbers. Check the schedule at the Princess Theatre, built in 1911, for plays, comedy nights, or live music under its original pressed-tin ceiling.

Hiking, Cycling, and Nearby Parks

Rent a bike to follow the Tamar Island Wetlands Trail, a flat 12-kilometer path with boardwalks over marshes where herons and swans nest. Drive two hours west to Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park for hikes like the six-hour Cradle Mountain summit climb or the easier Dove Lake loop. Grindelwald Swiss Village, 15 minutes north, has a small lake with paddleboats and a golf course surrounded by fake-Alpine buildings. At Narawntapu National Park, an hour’s drive northeast, walk coastal heathlands to see kangaroos and wombats at dusk.

Weather and When to Go

January and February are warmest, with temperatures reaching 24°C (75°F)—good for eating outdoors or cruising the river. Winters (June–August) drop to 12°C (54°F), with foggy mornings clearing into sunny afternoons suited for museum visits. March to May brings quieter streets and vineyards with red and gold leaves. September to November has cherry blossoms in City Park and baby animals at wildlife parks. Carry a jacket year-round, as rain showers can start suddenly.

Transport and Getting Around

Fly into Launceston Airport, 15 minutes from downtown, with daily arrivals from Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Metro buses run from St. John Street to Cataract Gorge, QVMAG, and other key spots. Walk to explore downtown’s compact grid, or rent a bike for trips to Trevallyn Dam. Local tour companies organize half-day wine tours stopping at Tamar Ridge Cellar Door and other vineyards.

Tasmanian Aboriginal Culture

Tasmanian Aboriginal communities have lived around the kanamaluka/Tamar River for over 40,000 years. Join a guided walk with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre to learn how plants like native pepper were used for food and medicine. At QVMAG’s “First Peoples” exhibit, hear oral histories from Palawa elders. Look for public art like the metal sculpture near Civic Square that depicts stars from Aboriginal astronomy. Efforts to preserve rock carvings near Mount Direction involve collaboration between Aboriginal groups and park rangers.