Launceston & the North

Food, history, and the great outdoors are the attractions of Launceston and northern Tasmania. Graze your way through celebrated city restaurants, quaint riverside cafés, ethical organic farms, and some of Australia’s oldest wineries and distilleries. Walk among elegant 19th Century buildings that are now home to galleries, museums, and quirky shops. Take a river cruise, picnic in the park, and hike picturesque trails to coastal lookouts.

Feel the adrenaline rush of a zip-line adventure, treetop rope course, or mountain bike run. Enjoy gentler adventures on a Segway tour or a round of golf along the coast. Ride the world's longest single-span chairlift to the peak of Cataract Gorge. Climb above the heritage town of Stanley to the summit of the Nut. Get close up with Tasmania’s birds, marsupials, and mammals at the Tamar Island Wetlands. Or spot adorable little blue penguins on the Burnie coast.

Travel to the head of the Tamar River and discover the attractions of Tasmania’s second-largest city. Wander among elegant Georgian and Victorian architecture on heritage trails through beautifully maintained 19th Century streets. Pass St. John's Anglican Church, the Neoclassical buildings of Customs House and the Town Hall, and the second oldest synagogue in Australia. Sit a while beside the 175-year-old fountain in the former clay pit turned parade ground of Prince's Square.

Enjoy a family afternoon in Royal Park, among the elms, oaks, and little railway of City Park, or on a relaxing cruise along the Tamar. Uncover local history and international art in the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery. Take a walk along century-old trails to the clear pools and stunning views of Cataract Gorge. Most importantly, leave plenty of room for delicious foods, the true highlight of Northern Tasmania.

Recently named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Launceston is the perfect place to start an unforgettable food tour of Northern Tasmania. Enjoy local flavours in iconic city restaurants, dine with a view on the riverside, or graze chic cafés on Launceston lanes and along the island’s north coast. Chat with local farmers and artisans at the Harvest Launceston Saturday market as you browse their stalls for ethical meats, organic dairy, home-baked breads, chocolate, honey, and fresh-plucked fruits.

Take your fork to the farm when you head out of the city to discover rich and sustainable local delicacies. Sip in style among the cellar doors of the Tamar Valley, Tasmania’s oldest winegrowing region, or try a nip of something stronger on a distillery tour. Pick your own fruit in the fields, test out new skills at cheese-making and food smoking workshops, or learn from the masters with chef-led cooking classes.

Tasmania has a generally dry climate and the temperatures stay pleasant all year round. Summer averages reach 24°C on the northern coast and drop to 4°C at the peak of winter but daytime temperatures around 10-15°C are not uncommon at any time of year. Pack layers, and there’s no bad time to visit so you can easily plan your trip around a wider itinerary or any of the region’s regular festivals and events.

Celebrate art and music at Junction Arts Festival in September, or wine and farmland produce at November’s Farmgate Festival. Indulge in the very best of food, drink, and entertainment at February’s Festivale, or go truffle hunting across the northern countryside in winter. Crowds, and temperatures, are at their highest from December to February and the chilliest days will come from June to August while the spring and autumn seasons between offer a good balance for flexible travellers.