This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2019. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
When most travellers think of Tasmania, their minds go straight to Hobart — but those who venture north quickly discover that Launceston is just as charming.
This compact city blends heritage architecture with leafy parks, cool-climate wineries, and easy access to some of northern Tasmania’s most scenic landscapes, such as the iconic Cradle Mountain.
When my husband and I touched down at Launceston Airport on our most recent trip in 2019, we were handed the keys to a massive four-wheel drive — far bigger than we’d ever need. We loaded our two tiny carry-on suitcases into the back and laughed at all the empty space, then set off to explore the Tamar Valley in our beast of a car.
Over the next few days, we balanced remote work with sightseeing, soaking up river views and discovering that Launceston had barely changed since my last visit over a decade earlier. It’s a city with beautiful old buildings, friendly locals, and the kind of small-town warmth that Tasmania does best.
Quick summary:
Launceston is an ideal weekend destination in northern Tasmania. With this 48-hour itinerary, you can explore City Park and Cataract Gorge, enjoy great food and coffee in the city centre, and spend a day wine tasting or sightseeing through the Tamar Valley.
Recommended tours & experiences:
🛥️ Cataract Gorge Cruise – See Launceston from the water on a relaxing cruise into the gorge.
🍷 Tamar Valley Wine Tour with Lunch – Sample Tasmania’s best wines on a day tour with lunch and transport included.
🚐 Cradle Mountain Day Trip from Launceston – Visit one of Tasmania’s top national parks on a popular day tour.
🛏️ Stay at Tamar River Apartments – Enjoy treetop views and vineyard scenery just 20 minutes from Launceston.
Getting to Launceston
Launceston is Tasmania’s northern hub, with direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane arriving daily. The airport is small and easy to navigate — you can collect your rental car right from the terminal and be in the city in just 15 minutes.
If you’re driving up from Hobart, it’s about a 2.5-hour journey through the Midlands Highway — a scenic road that passes rural towns and farmland along the way. For those of you visiting on a Tasmania road trip, Launceston makes a perfect first or last stop before the flight home.
How to get around Launceston
The easiest way to explore this Launceston itinerary is by car. Having your own wheels means you can easily drive to nearby attractions like Cataract Gorge, Grindelwald, and the Tamar Valley wineries.
Parking in the city centre is straightforward and inexpensive, and most hotels offer free onsite parking. If you don’t plan on driving, there are also some guided day tours from Launceston that include hotel pickup — ideal for wine tasting in the Tamar Valley!
Day 1: Explore Launceston’s city highlights
Morning
Spend your first morning in Launceston doing some city exploring. Stop in at City Park to take a leisurely stroll through pretty flower gardens, and see the historic buildings of Albert Hall (built in 1891) and John Hart Conservatory (built in 1932).
Within the park, you’ll also find a monkey enclosure. Monkeys in Tasmania may seem a little strange as these animals are not Australian natives – these Macaques arrived in 1965 as a gift from Launceston’s sister city, Ikeda, located in Japan’s Osaka Prefecture. The monkey enclosure is free to enter.
Next, walk a few blocks to Boags Brewery. An iconic warehouse building in Launceston’s city centre, this brewery was established in 1881 and has been providing the local residents with a steady flow of beer ever since. Book a brewery tour for a 90 minute guided walk around the facility (with beer tastings at the end), or just head straight to the brewery bar to sample the goods.
Lunch
For lunch, head to Tatler Lane by Sweetbrew, an expansive café space tucked away in the heart of Launceston. Housed in what was once the city’s first cinema, the venue has transformed a formerly boarded-up laneway into a light-filled, cavernous café that feels both modern and full of character. It’s a great option if you’re looking for something relaxed but elevated, with plenty of vegetarian-friendly choices and excellent coffee to fuel the rest of your afternoon.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon exploring Cataract Gorge, one of the best things to do in Launceston just 5 minutes drive from the city centre. The gorge is a natural space with attractions such as a scenic chairlift (which happens to be the world’s longest single span chairlift), a public swimming pool, a suspension bridge, and hiking trails.
I’d suggest taking some comfy shoes and walking across the suspension bridge, taking some photos from Alexandra Lookout, then continuing to Gorge Restaurant where you’ll find peacocks roaming around the gardens. From there, you can either take the chairlift back to the visitor center, or walk back via the walking track.
🛥️ Another option is to book a Cataract Gorge Cruise. This boat tour departs form the city centre, making it an easy way to see the city from the water.
After you’ve finished, drive down to the Penny Royal Hotel. This heritage building, built in 1840, was originally a corn mill in the countryside. It was moved to Launceston to be rebuilt 130 years later, and nowadays it’s a themed hotel and activity village where kids can try zip-lining or rock climbing, and adults can enjoy the wine bar, do a river cruise, or eat dinner at the restaurant.
Dinner
Stillwater was a restaurant that was recommended to me, though unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to try it. This place sits on the waterfront and serves modern Tasmanian cuisine with fresh ingredients grown by local farmers. It looks a little pricey, but worth it – treat yourself to a fancy dinner!
Day 2: Discover the Tamar Valley wineries
Morning
Today, head north to the Tamar Valley for a scenic day trip. Start at Tamar Island Wetlands, just outside of Launceston. The visitor centre has a wooden boardwalk which stretches out over the wetlands towards the Tamar River. You’re likely to see some unique birdlife around here.
Next up, head to Grindelwald Resort – a hotel and activity park built in the 1980s. You can also stay here, if you like! Grindelwald Village is somewhat unusual as it truly feels as though you’ve been transported to a mountain village in the Swiss Alps. There are plenty of things to do here including paddleboats on the lake, an 18-hole mini golf course, a 10-hole regular golf course, boutique shops, a pub, and a chocolate cafe.
Lunch
Rob and I actually went to eat at the Alpenrose Bistro at Grindelwald, but unfortunately the food was overpriced and bland. Instead, I’d suggest eating at one of the winery cellar doors. I had lunch (on a different day) down the road at Timbre Kitchen, and it was fancy and fantastic! They had loads of veggie options, too. Definitely a thumbs-up.
Afternoon
Your afternoon can be spent checking out some of the Tamar’s wineries. Do this straight after lunch as some of them are only open until mid-afternoon. We visited Tamar Ridge and Velo Wines, but there are over 20 wineries to choose from so take your pick.
By the way – be super careful not to drink and drive! Not only is it dangerous to drive on these windy roads while inebriated, the local police can also be very strict about blood-alcohol being over the limit (which is much lower than it is in the US at 0.05%).
🍷 Alternatively, you can hop on a Tamar Valley Wine Tour with lunch if you’d like your transport from Launceston included – that way, you can have as many tastings as you want!
After your wine tasting, stop at Bradys Lookout State Reserve for a neat vista of the Tamar River in the late afternoon or for sunset, depending on what time of year you are visiting. There’s a carpark beside the highway, and it’s only a 2 minute walk up to the lookout. It had just stopped raining when we arrived, but even with a sky covered in thick grey clouds, the view was still lovely!
Dinner
There aren’t loads of dinner options in the Tamar Valley, but Rosevears Hotel down by the Tamar River offers pub meals and pizzas with a view. We didn’t get to dine there, but we drove past one evening and the venue looked like a good one.
Got an extra day in Launceston? Visit Cradle Mountain
If you have an extra day up your sleeve, a day trip to Cradle Mountain is one of the best add-ons to a Launceston weekend. Home to alpine scenery, glacial lakes, and wombat-filled walking trails, Cradle Mountain is one of Tasmania’s most iconic national parks — and it’s surprisingly doable as a long day trip from Launceston.
🚐 If you don’t want to tackle the drive yourself, join a guided Cradle Mountain Day Tour from Launceston. Tours include transport, park entry, and time to explore highlights like Dove Lake, making them ideal if you’re short on time but don’t want to miss seeing Tasmania’s wilderness.
Where to stay in Launceston
🛏️ We stayed just outside of Launceston at Tamar River Apartments, which is about 20 minutes drive into the Tamar Valley. I really cannot recommend this place enough!
This vineyard retreat has stilted houses that sit in the treetops overlooking the vines below, and each house is split into two apartments divided down the middle.
We were in apartment #2, which ended up being a fantastic choice as the even-numbered apartments had a better view over the river. The room also had a luxe bathtub, so we could sip wine in a bubble bath with a killer view of the trees outside (yep, I did this multiple times!).
If you’re looking to stay closer to the city, there are plenty of options. Something in the heart of downtown like The Sebel Launceston would be a solid choice.
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