Launceston is the secondary metropolis of Tasmania. While it might not be as renowned as other prominent cities, it merits recognition. Boasting a population of slightly more than 110,000, this bustling city offers a wealth of attractions and activities. From breathtaking landmarks to sumptuous eateries, Launceston delivers a complete package. Below is a compilation of top experiences in Launceston.
The best things to do in Launceston
Below are prime pursuits to partake in while in Launceston, encompassing unique gastronomy, exhilarating natural beauty, and first-rate cultural offerings.
Exploration of the Low-Head Penguin Settlement
Tasmania boasts habitats of Little Penguins, the tiniest penguin breed globally, which can be witnessed during penguin-spotting expeditions led by Low Head Penguin Tours. These excursions occur nightly post-dusk and have an optional bus shuttle service from Launceston.
Embarking on this expedition is a considerate and pleasurable method to view Little Penguins. The trip guarantees that the penguins remain undisturbed as they return to their nightly shelters.
Taste Walk Talk Adventure
Taste Walk Talk provides culinary walking excursions within and around Launceston’s core district. The enterprise is managed by Brock and Fiona Kerskale, a local duo enthusiastic about presenting Tasmanian goods to travellers and locals alike.
Tourists can explore choices in Launceston, encompassing brunch, morning meals, and comprehensive day trips that journey through the city’s leading pubs, coffee shops, dining establishments, and suppliers. Furthermore, the custom-made tour alternative permits the exploration of tinier and more unique locations.
The Queen Victoria Display and Art Repository
Australia’s most expansive regional museum is a multifaceted venue featuring a star theatre, a settler art anthology, a forge, and a continual showcase of the extinct Tasmanian tiger.
Guests might be drawn to the museum given its vast array of changing displays, covering subjects like arachnids and decorative street art. Moreover, the museum displays the traditions and heritage of the Tasmanian Indigenous community, highlighted by a wall illustration that outlines the regions inhabited by 57 recognised tribes throughout over 30,000 years of pre-settlement chronicle.
Saint John Artisanal Brews
The craft beer movement in Tasmania has seen notable expansion lately, with St John’s being a forerunner in this domain. They offer an expansive menu with up to 14 tap choices and over 170 bottled beer varieties at any moment.
Multiple incentives draw visitors to this locale. Although the setting exudes an industrial charm, the team is friendly and well-versed in beer nuances. Patrons can carry their meals for midday, yet a street food trailer dishes out burgers and nibbles during nighttime. Their potato sticks are notably crispy and have quite a reputation.
Design Tasmania Showcase
Cataract Gorge
This city-based sanctuary comprises wild terrain and cliffs, offering walking pathways suitable for visitors of every skill level. It’s a brief stroll from the urban core, following the North Esk River.
Guests can partake in various activities, like dipping in the open-air pool or venturing on the globe’s lengthiest single-span chairlift. Subsequently, they can relish a meal at the Gorge eatery, where they might spot peacocks and pademelons eager for a bite of their food.
Riverside Stillwater Eatery
Situated alongside the Tamar River, Stillwater is a restaurant within a repurposed 1830s grain mill. They serve breakfast, midday, and evening dinners, complementing a comprehensive wine selection.
The local populace favours this dining spot. It has been honoured with national accolades for its dedication to season-driven local ingredients, featuring items like Cape Grim cattle meat, sea snails, and marsupials. The co-proprietor, Kim Seagram, is also affiliated with the Abel’s Gin crew, making it an ideal locale to commence with a mixed drink.
Harvest Gathering
This occasion is a weekly farmers market hosted every Saturday morning, showcasing up to 80 vendor booths. It’s ensured that those vending the produce are the very individuals who nurtured it.
This marketplace is a pillar of the local community and offers a superb experience for visitors. It’s the ideal spot for those cooking for themselves to replenish their supplies. You’ll find artisan bread makers, craft brewers, heritage pork providers, cattle and sheep ranchers, traditional garlic-infused olive oil makers, and hazelnut cultivators among the vendors. Guests are encouraged to sample and savour the offerings.
Josef Chromy Vintages
Located in Relbia, just south of Launceston, the Josef Chromy vineyard boasts a dining venue amidst picturesque settings. Chromy is consistently hailed as one of the premier tasting rooms in Australia, with their vintages garnering numerous accolades.
Guests can embark on an in-depth tour of the winemaking facilities, gain insights into the journey from vine to bottle, indulge in sampling sessions, and partake in a meal.
Metropolitan Greenspace
Launceston’s City Park isn’t merely an expanse of vegetation. It acts as the pivotal locale for happenings and feasts year-round. If feeling weary, traverse the park via its mini train circuit.
The park has tall-standing trees and bushes, floral exhibitions, a greenhouse, and a sensory garden. Additionally, it shelters a space dedicated to macaque primates, a token from Ikeda City in Japan, Launceston’s twin town.
Hollybank Canopy Voyage
This trio of hours grants an unparalleled view of Tasmanian woodlands as guests journey through the canopy via aerial cables, transitioning between stations up to 30 meters over the woodland ground.
This provides a splendid occasion to revel in breathtaking landscapes whilst indulging in a thrilling escapade. For an added dose of excitement, consider opting for the dusk journey or blending your aerial cable ride with another of Hollybank’s offerings, like the Segway, trail cycling, or the rope challenge.