Third-oldest city in Australia, Launceston is the commercial centre of northern Tasmania. It has recently become more popular with travellers since the opening of a few new museums, and there are many city parks, the beautiful Cataract Gorge, Boag’s Brewery and Beer Lovers Centre, and plenty of accommodation and restaurants. Here is some information about the city, and in the end is the page is a map of Launceston.
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Launceston Tourism Information: City Centre The city centre of Launceston is in the blocks around the Brisbane Street Mall and the central Civic Square. On the Civic Square, there are a few churches, library and Town Hall. South of it is the central shopping Mall and Quadrant Mall. Further south is Princes Square; and Franklin House.
Launceston Tourism Information: Around Royal Park West of the Civic Square are Royal Park, Kings Park, Penny Royal World and the Royal Park site of the excellent Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, with a planetarium, and exhibitions about Australian animals, Tasmanian Aboriginal People and Chinese immigrants. The other, northern brach of the same museum is north of the North Esk River in the Inveresk Railyards where there is an art gallery with Aboriginal jewellery and stories.
Launceston Tourism Information: Cataract Gorge West of the city centre is the beautiful Cataract Gorge where Tamar and South Esk Rivers meet. It is only 10 minutes walk from the city, and it’s very popular with picnickers and bushwalkers. There is a wildlife reserve, a swimming pool, a suspension bridge, and a few good walking tracks.
Launceston Tourism Information: City Park Launceston North-east of the city centre are the Old Umbrella Shop, Yorktown Square and City Park. The Old Umbrella Shop in an old historical building still sells old umbrellas. In the city Park there is a Monkey Enclosure, and plenty of walking tracks. Further west is the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania with some classic cars and vintage motorcycles.
Launceston Tourism Information: Boag's Brewery In the northern end of George Street are the Boag’s Brewery and the Boag’s Centre for Beer Lovers, where you can go on 1.5 hours tours and sample the products that have been brewed here since 1881. Further north is the Australian Maritime College – the most famous of Launceston’s educational institutions.
Bars and Restaurants Launceston There are a few restaurants in the blocks south of the Brisbane Street Mall, like Hari’s Curry, Morty’s Food Hall, Sushi Shack, Metz and Pasta Resistance Too. But a dinner with best views is in the old Launceston Seaport, on the bank of North Esk River. Lounge Bar and Royal on George are nice for a drink.
Launceston Cheap Hotel Accommodation Places to stay in the city centre are Irish Murphy’s and Metro Backpackers. A bit further from the centre are Launceston Backpackers, Launceston City Youth Hostel and Treasure Island Caravan Park. If you are around in mid-February, don’t miss the Festivale – a three-day food, wine and arts festival in the City Park.
Here's a map of Launceston where I have tagged the places that I mentioned on this web page. You can click on the tags to see what places they are, and double-click anywhere on the map to zoom it in and see the places closer. Drag the map to move around, and if you want to see the satellite image with Google Earth, click on "Sat" in the top right hand corner.
NOTE: This website is written in British English, which is the English we use in Australia. You will find words like "traveller", "harbour" and "realise", and they are all correct in the language used in Australia.
