Ruth Dawkins

Ah, lovely Launceston. Tasmania’s second city might not get quite so much love as more famous cities on the Australian mainland (or, for that matter, the island’s capital city, Hobart), but it most certainly should. This home of just over 75,000 people teems with stuff to see and do, from gorgeous sights and majestic nature to underrated restaurants. Here’s our lowdown of the best things to do in Launceston. RECOMMENDED: All the best things to do in Hobart right now.

There’s always time for a tipple when you’re travelling around Australia. Our thirsty country is swimming in stellar watering holes that are loved by locals and tourists alike. We’ve even got a handful of contenders on the World’s 50 Best Bars list to back us up. Whether you’re looking for the best spot for cleverly crafted cocktails or a natural wine bar with superb snacks, drink your way through our selection of the best bars in Australia. After a meal? Check out the best restaurants in Australia here.

Australians have a love affair with art, and with incredible galleries dotted throughout the country, it’s also one of the top reasons we travel interstate. Every year, our nation welcomes blockbuster international exhibitions, along with major showings of our most colourful and creative local talents.  Whether it’s contemporary Aboriginal art in Alice Springs, delicate glassworks in Wagga Wagga, topical portraits in Canberra or 21st-century Chinese art in Sydney, these are the best public galleries worth visiting in Australia.  RECOMMENDED: These are the 20 top tourist attractions in Australia.

Many of Tasmania’s attractions are already well known throughout Australia. The Port Arthur Historic Site, Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay are on everyone’s hit list whatever the weather (and in Tassie the weather can be challenging.) But many of the most interesting things to see and do on the island are kept a little quieter. You won’t find these places on a picture postcard, but every one of them is worth going out of your way to find, and when you get there it will almost certainly be quiet enough to enjoy.

It’s easy to understand the allure of Australia’s small southernmost state, and diverse things to do in Tasmania abound. Beyond extraordinary food and wine and the world-famous Museum of Old and New Art, Tasmania also has 40 per cent of its land reserved as national parks and world heritage wilderness. A 20-minute drive from any of the state’s major cities will see you walking in the bush, biking down a spectacular mountain trail, or lounging on the beach. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.

There has been much talk of the “Mona effect”, referring to the positive artistic, social and financial impact of David Walsh’s Museum of Old and New Art, but the newfound vibrancy and confidence of Hobart extends well beyond Mona’s sandstone walls. A thriving food and drink scene, along with festivals, markets and close proximity to some of the world’s most pristine wilderness have seen Hobart attracting record numbers of visitors from both Australia and overseas. With a population of just over 200,000, Hobart punches well above its weight in terms of attractions, but still maintains the friendly welcome and accessibility of a smaller city. Word of Hobart’s charms seems to be spreading fast, so it might pay to visit sooner rather than later. // (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-74661476-2', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); setTimeout("ga('send','event','11 seconds','time on page more than 10 sec')",11000); setTimeout("ga('send','event','31 seconds','time on page more than 30 sec')",31000); setTimeout("ga('send','event','61 seconds','time on page more than 60 sec')",61000); setTimeout("ga('send','event','181 seconds','time on page more than 180 sec')",181000); set

There has been much talk of the “Mona effect”, referring to the positive artistic, social and financial impact of David Walsh’s Museum of Old and New Art, but the newfound vibrancy and confidence of Hobart extends well beyond Mona’s sandstone walls. A thriving food and drink scene, along with festivals, markets and close proximity to some of the world’s most pristine wilderness have seen Hobart attracting record numbers of visitors from both Australia and overseas. With a population of just over 200,000, Hobart punches well above its weight in terms of attractions, but still maintains the friendly welcome and accessibility of a smaller city. Word of Hobart’s charms seems to be spreading fast, so it might pay to visit sooner rather than later. // (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-74661476-2', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); setTimeout("ga('send','event','11 seconds','time on page more than 10 sec')",11000); setTimeout("ga('send','event','31 seconds','time on page more than 30 sec')",31000); setTimeout("ga('send','event','61 seconds','time on page more than 60 sec')",61000); setTimeout("ga('send','event','181 seconds','time on page more than 180 sec')",181000); set

Many of Tasmania’s attractions are already well known throughout Australia. Visitor numbers at the Port Arthur Historic Site, Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay remain high whatever the weather (and in Tassie the weather can be challenging.) But many of the most interesting things to see and do on the island are kept a little quieter. You won’t find any of these places on a picture postcard, but every one of them is worth going out of your way to find, and when you get there it will almost certainly be quiet enough to enjoy.

Many of Tasmania’s attractions are already well known throughout Australia. Visitor numbers at the Port Arthur Historic Site, Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay remain high whatever the weather (and in Tassie the weather can be challenging.) But many of the most interesting things to see and do on the island are kept a little quieter. You won’t find any of these places on a picture postcard, but every one of them is worth going out of your way to find, and when you get there it will almost certainly be quiet enough to enjoy.

Tasmania’s North West coast is known for being one of the state’s most prosperous agricultural and farming areas, but it’s becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination. There are huge areas of wilderness that are home to rare and endangered wildlife, scenic coastlines, and small towns packed with independently run shops and restaurants. This is the purest, greenest corner of Tassie; reliable rainfall, geographical isolation and lack of pollution mean that the air here is regularly monitored and recorded as being the cleanest in the world. Combine those environmentally friendly credentials with an abundance of fresh produce and outstanding scenery, and it’s no wonder the North West is thriving. Whether you’re more into boutique accommodation and gourmet food, or backpacking through the bush with your swag and snags, there’s guaranteed to be something that will interest you in the area.

Tasmania’s North West coast is known for being one of the state’s most prosperous agricultural and farming areas, but it’s becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination. There are huge areas of wilderness that are home to rare and endangered wildlife, scenic coastlines, and small towns packed with independently run shops and restaurants. This is the purest, greenest corner of Tassie; reliable rainfall, geographical isolation and lack of pollution mean that the air here is regularly monitored and recorded as being the cleanest in the world. Combine those environmentally friendly credentials with an abundance of fresh produce and outstanding scenery, and it’s no wonder the North West is thriving. Whether you’re more into boutique accommodation and gourmet food, or backpacking through the bush with your swag and snags, there’s guaranteed to be something that will interest you in the area.

What is it? Much more than just a green space, City Park is the beating heart of Launceston, hosting events and festivals almost year-round. If you’ve got tired feet, explore the park via the miniature railway. Why go? In addition to mature trees and shrubs, flower displays, a beautiful conservatory and a sense garden, the park is home to an enclosure of macaque monkeys – a gift from Launceston’s sister city Ikeda City in Japan.

What is it? A whole new way of seeing Tasmania’s beautiful forests. This 2.5-hour tour takes you through the treetops via zipline, making your way from platform to platform up to 50 metres above the forest floor. Why go? This is the perfect way to combine spectacular scenery with a thrill-seeking experience. To really up the ante, pair your zipline adventure with one of Hollybank's other experiences, including an off-road Segway adventure, ropes course or mountain biking.

What is it? With its numerous antique shops, car boot sales and auction houses, Tasmania is an absolute paradise for second-hand fans. Tulloch’s is one of the best, selling fine art, antiques, jewellery, collector cars and quality general goods. Why go? Browse the Tullochs showroom and then sign up for an online or in-room auction, and you might find yourself leaving Tasmania with anything from a collection of pottery marbles, an old enamel advertising board or a 1980s DeLorean.