Discover Launceston

Launceston offers nature experiences, historic architecture and cultural attractions to explore in different ways. Walking trails, collections and a visit to the market make for a varied travel itinerary.

Gorge, gardens and trails

On the outskirts of Launceston lies Cataract Gorge, a natural water basin surrounded by steep cliffs, native bushland, gardens, walking trails and wildlife. The landscape brings striking rock formations together with planted areas and trails; visitors looking to include nature and activity in their stay will find a distinct contrast to the city’s cultural offerings.

From First Basin, walking and hiking trails lead through gardens and wilderness to lookouts with panoramic views. The Incline lift at First Basin provides access for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. As trail conditions can change and the lift needs to be operating, check the latest information about the trails and lift before your visit.

QVMAG: Collections and Planetarium

QVMAG has two locations in Launceston: the museum at Inveresk and the art gallery at Royal Park. A level, scenic walking path along the Tamar and North Esk connects the two venues; the walk is listed as taking 20 to 40 minutes. This makes it easy to plan the journey between the museum and gallery as part of a walk. The collections span art, history and natural sciences, offering different ways to explore the subjects covered by the venues.

At the museum in Inveresk, the planetarium offers another highlight. Each show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky. The visit brings together a planetarium program and a shared observation of the sky. If you’d like to experience science as well as architecture and collections, you can include this stop in your plans.

Albert Hall and historic walks

Albert Hall is a historically significant building beside City Park. J.T. Farmil built it in 1891 at a cost of £14,000 to host the Tasmanian Industrial Exhibition of 1891–92. Today, the hall houses the Brindley Organ: it is a rare example of the work of organ builder Charles Brindley and Australia’s largest surviving organ from before 1860. The building’s history and its organ give you two specific points of interest, rather than making the hall simply part of the city’s architecture.

Launceston’s historic walking trails also showcase the city’s impressive architecture. The Rags-to-Riches Trail is a 90-minute historic walk. Together with the 20-to-40-minute walk between the two QVMAG locations, it offers a practical distinction for planning your time: one walk connects the museum and gallery, while the other is a longer historic route. This lets you balance cultural activities and exercise to suit your daily schedule.

Market and travel tips

The Harvest Launceston Community Farmers’ Market showcases Tasmania’s finest produce. It takes place every Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at 71 Cimitiere Street. If you plan to visit the market, check the date and times before you go, as weekly schedules can change.

One practical piece of information for getting around the city is that all Metro Tasmania buses in Launceston are accessible low-floor buses. From there, focus your search on the experiences you actually want to include. This way, time slots, interests and the choice of a suitable base all become part of your travel planning.

Discover more destinations: Legana, Newnham, Rosevears, Hadspen, Mowbray, Lewisham, Lake St Clair.

Back to the main travel overview: Tasmania.