Metro Tasmania operates local bus services that can easily get you around Launceston. Single and day-trip tickets can be purchased on-board with cash. Single tickets remain valid for 90 minutes. There's also a free tourist bus, with pickup points in the major tourist locations. The bus runs along two different 30-minute loops, the City Explorer and the River Explorer.
Being so compact, there's really no need to hire a car unless you plan to travel further afield. Whilst it's best to book car hire ahead, if you don't, it's easy to book at the airport or at a city rental office once you arrive. Get a map and you're ready to go. Even the CBD is easy to drive around.
Launceston is a wonderful city to walk around with so much beautiful architecture to admire and a river offering great up-close views. The CBD is also easy to navigate. As well as the brilliant walkway all the way to Cataract Gorge, there are three different Launceston Heritage Walks, all wheelchair and pram-accessible, starting from Civic Square.
There are plenty of taxis in Launceston to save you time and make travel easy. Hail a taxi on the street or book ahead by phone. Taxi ranks are located in major city locations. Taxi Combined Services is a commonly used taxi company. Alternatively, Regency VIP Hire Cars offer full and half-day car tours out of Launceston.
The 15-minute walk from town is the best way to visit Cataract Gorge. The bushlands, cliffs and tumbling waters offer amazing sights, with a few different walking tracks allowing you to really explore the area. There's an outdoor swimming pool, picnic spots, a fine dining restaurant, cafe and kiosk. At First Basin you'll find the world's longest single-span chairlift and a footbridge.
Beer lovers rejoice. Launceston is the proud home of James Boag, ‘Tasmania's finest', as the slogan goes. Established by Scotsman James Boag in 1881, today Boag's Brewery opens its doors to tourists, offering a one-hour Discovery Tour and a slightly longer Beer Lovers Tour, both including tastings. The Centre for Beer Lovers museum is free, presenting the story behind it all.
Discover Tasmania's history and identity at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG), the cultural heart of Launceston. The guardian of a fantastic collection of Australian colonial art, post-1945 craft and design, Tasmanian natural history and a special convict collection, another fascinating must-see exhibit is the planetarium. The museum is located on two sites: Royal Park and Inveresk.
The oldest wine region in Tasmania, the Tamar Valley is full of cool climate vineyards, cellar doors, and character-filled cafes and restaurants serving fresh, local gourmet bites to match. The Tamar Valley Wine Route winds past 32 wineries within easy reach of Launceston. If you can't drive yourself, join a bus tour or hire a limousine or taxi so you don't miss out.
Leisurely make your way to Charles Street, at the south of the CBD. Here's you'll find the ‘cafe precinct' and many great options for breakfast and coffee. Once you're fuelled up for the day, amble north along Charles Street towards the city centre, which is set out in a grid system around Brisbane Street Mall. Take the time to explore the many laneways and arcades around the city and then find your way to Civic Square. This is the starting point for the lovely 15-minute walk to Cataract Gorge, a Launceston Heritage Walk that's been aptly titled Government to Gorge. When you arrive at Cataract Gorge, go for a dip in the outdoor swimming pool to cool down and then refuel with a bite to eat at the restaurant, cafe or kiosk. Now it's time to explore the walking trails, take the chair lift for a different point of view and don't miss the suspended bridge. Head back into town to relax before a nice dinner out in the CBD.
Start the day at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery for an interesting encounter with Tasmania's history and character. Spread across two different locations, make sure you take the time to visit both and don't miss the planetarium. If you have a love for cars, on your way back to the city stop at the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania, just opposite the City Park. Grab a bite to eat nearby then embark on one of the other two Launceston Heritage Walks – the Rags to Riches Walk or the Merchants and Machinery Walk. Fill the rest of your afternoon with some local shopping in one of the city malls or arcades. Once it's dark, head to the Princess Theatre for a drama, dance or comedy act and take in the night.
Head to Seaport in the morning and choose from one of the river cruises along the Tamar River. Australia's longest navigable estuarine river, there are many natural coves and protected inlets that provide a home to many native water birds, which you'll only get the chance to see from the water. Cruise past vineyards and farms and into the Cataract Gorge for unique view from the bottom of the soaring cliffs. At the end of the cruise, stroll around Seaport and grab a late lunch from one of the many great restaurants in the precinct. Explore the marina and the boardwalk before heading to Boag's Brewery. Then dress up for some cocktails and a fun night out.
If you don't have a hire car, hire a taxi or limousine for the day or join one of the bus tours that'll take you for a ride along the Tamar Valley Wine Route. Stop at the many wineries and cellar doors, taste the gourmet local produce and admire the beauty of the Northern Tasmanian countryside – including pretty lavender fields. Keep an eye out for local art galleries, historic settlements, strawberry farms and walking trails to waterfalls and gorges. You can even fish in the Tamar River if you have a line to throw in.
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Expedia Holidays > Launceston Holidays
