What is Launceston known for?
Launceston is Tasmania's second-largest city, on the Tamar River in the north. Founded in 1806, it is known for Cataract Gorge, Victorian architecture and as a gateway to the Tamar Valley wine region.
Launceston is one of Australia's oldest cities and has many well-preserved nineteenth-century buildings. Its parks, churches and old warehouses give it a historic feel.
Cataract Gorge, just minutes from the city centre, offers walking tracks, a swimming pool, a chairlift and a suspension bridge.
Food and culture
James Boag's brewery has made beer in Launceston since the 1880s. The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery has sites at Inveresk and Royal Park.
City Park is home to a group of Japanese macaques, a gift from Launceston's sister city Ikeda.
Launceston was named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2021, recognising its local food and wine.
The city has around 90,000 people and is surrounded by hills, farmland and vineyards, with Launceston Airport offering direct flights to the mainland.
Did You Know?
Launceston was one of the first cities in the Southern Hemisphere to use hydroelectric street lighting, in 1895.