Launceston is the second-largest city in Tasmania after the capital city of Hobart in the south, home to just under 95,000 people.
Tasmania is an island and the southernmost state in Australia, located across the Bass Strait from Victoria. It's a stunning state, full of beauty to explore. Launceston is a great place to base yourself to explore the northern part of the state and to spend a few days enjoying the slow pace of local life.
I am currently solo traveling around Australia, following the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport. I traveled to Launceston from Melbourne on the mainland.
For thousands of years, Aboriginal Tasmanians lived on the island, long before any Europeans arrived. Tasmania used to be connected to mainland Australia but rising sea levels flooded the Bass Strait around 6000 BC.
Tasmania was colonized by the British which devastated Aboriginal Tasmanian communities through disease, violence, dispossesion and forced removal. Many were moved to Flinders Island, also in the Bass Strait.
Heading to Australia? Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Australia (including its three external territories) can be found in my Ultimate Australia Map!
This is a digital map featuring hundreds of my favourite:
- restaurants and cafés
- campgrounds and accommodations
- shops
- photo spots
- museums and galleries
- beaches and lakes
- places to see animals
- bridges and viewpoints
- hikes
- snorkeling spots
- AND SO MUCH MORE!
Each pin includes the exact location (plus the ability to open it directly in Google Maps), lots of photos for inspiration, detailed information to help you visit the spot plus a link to my relevant blog post to read lots more about it.
Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to Launceston. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. In Tasmania, the traditional language of the Aboriginal people is palawa kani.
→ Learn more about the language of the Aboriginal Tasmanians.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data/WiFi: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
We travel with a Starlink in our campervan which enables us to have unlimited WiFi wherever we are, even in places without coverage.
There is free WiFi available throughout Launceston offered by the City of Launceston.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. Launceston is on the island of Tasmania, the furthest south state in Australia, located across the Bass Strait from Victoria. Tasmania can get extremely busy especially around the school summer holidays and cool in the winter months. I recommend visiting in spring (September-November) or autumn (March-May) for pleasant, sunny days, although summer is the best time to be at the beach.
Length of stay: I spent two days exploring Launceston. The capital of Tasmania is Hobart further south, but Launceston is a good base for exploring the northern part of the island.
By flight: Launceston has one of Tasmania's two main airports, the other being down south in the capital, Hobart. There are a number of other smaller, regional airports dotted across the island. Launceston Airport connects to Australia's major cities including Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.
Launceston Airport is just a 15-minute drive south of the city.
→ Rent a car at Launceston Airport.
If you don't want to drive, there is no public transport available but you can book an airport shuttle in advance.
By car: If you're already on Tasmania, then you can drive to Launceston. It's about a two and a half hour drive from Hobart, Tasmania's capital city in the south.
By ferry: The other way to reach Tasmania is by ferry, useful if you are hoping to bring your car or campervan across from the mainland. Ferries are operated by the Spirit of Tasmania; tickets can be quite expensive and must be booked far in advance.
→ Book your ferry with Spirit of Tasmania.
By guided tour: There are a number of multi-day guided tours exploring all of Tasmania, usually departing from Hobart, which include visiting Launceston.
On foot: The main downtown area around the River Tamar is very walkable and exploring on foot is the best way to get around and visit many of the city's main highlights.
By public transport: Metro Tasmania offers a comprehensive bus network around the city, making this a practical and affordable way to get around.
→ Plan your trip by bus around Launceston.
By car: If you have your own wheels, of course you can drive yourself around.
→ Find out about parking in Launceston.
By Uber: Uber is readily available throughout Launceston.
By guided tour: There are a number of guided tours of all sorts in Launceston available, no matter what you're interested in, including city tours, boat cruises, hiking trips, wine tours and much more.
I visited Launceston during a solo backpacking trip around Australia so was staying in hostels.
→ Find a hostel to stay in in Launceston.
I stayed at Launceston Backpackers, a cute little hostel just a 15-minute walk from the city's main highlights. The hostel is situated in a 100-year-old Victorian brick building with communal spaces including a lounge area and a kitchen. It's nothing fancy but it's comfortable and the owners are lovely.
When visiting Launceston, I simply had to visit Charlie's Dessert House because it's owned by one of my favourite travel bloggers, World of Wanderlust. She blogged all about how she started this delightful spot in her home city and so I had to see it for myself! I indulged in a gooey perfect white chocolate macadamia nut skillet cookie... You won't regret this place!
Launceston is a small, sweet and slow-going place where you can unwind and enjoy. A day or two is plenty to see everything within the city, but make sure you have enough days to spend on day trips to further-away attractions.
If you've got a week to spare, I recommend hiking the famous Overland Track at Cradle Mountain.
Go hiking in Cataract Gorge Reserve
Explore Cataract Gorge Reserve full of hiking trails, nature and, if you're lucky, resident wallabies! I hiked from King's Bridge along the fenced cliff face all the way to the gardens at the end. To return, cross over the Alexandra Suspension Bridge and hike the Zig Zag Trail back.
Wander through Royal Park
Wander through Royal Park's big steps along the waterfront. You can also visit the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery here.
Hang out in City Park
City Park is a peaceful escape in the heart of Launceston. Make sure to visit the little conservatory and wave to the adorable Japanese Macaques enjoying the sun.
There are many more parts of Tasmania I want to explore but I only had so much time on my solo backpacking trip. Here is where I went this time around... with more to come one day!
Bridestowe Lavender Estate
Just under an hour away from Launceston is the stunning Bridestowe Lavender Estate. Lavenders are my favourite flowers and so I had to visit this beautiful place.
→ Check out my guide to visiting Bridestowe Lavender Estate!
Bay of Fires
This place is pure paradise, with the whites sand which squeaks under your feet and crystal clear blue water lapping up on the shore.
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE IN LAUNCESTON!
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
