Walks and Hiking Trails
Launceston is noted as having one of the most intact early cityscapes in Australia. Its early Colonial and Victorian buildings give the city a wonderful historic character. The best way to explore the city is to take one of the three walking trails that take you past many living architectural examples dating back to early colonial times.
Hollybank has spacious picnic facilities nestled amongst ash and pine trees. Walking tracks lead through a mix of native bush and plantation forests. The ash trees, originally planted as a wood supply for cricket bats and tennis racquets, are particularly attractive in autumn.
Distance from Launceston: 20 km | GPS Directions
Follow the South Esk River from Launceston s famous Cataract Gorge to the historic Duck Reach power station. This walk will generally suit groups with children. Work on the Duck Reach Power Station began in 1855 but it wasn't until 1895 that the turbines began to power the new electric streetlights. The station was destroyed by floods in 1929 and rebuilt the following year. It continued to operate until 1956. Today an interpretation centre provides a history of the station.
Distance from Launceston: 4 km | GPS Directions
Just 10 minutes drive from the heart of Launceston, you can walk through wetlands and across a river channel to the 7 hectare Tamar Island. For company you ll have pelicans, swans, cormorants and numerous other bird species as well as frogs, dragonflies and lizards. The wetlands centre has displays and information. The Tamar River Conservation Area is part of an estuarine wetland. Such wetlands are important habitats for a wide diversity of plant and animal life. It remains the stronghold for one of Tasmania's poorly reserved vegetation comunities - coastal paperbark forest.
Distance from Launceston: 10 km | GPS Directions
A full day's walk that gets you away from the more popular areas and into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Take road C167 from Deloraine to Meander, then follow signs to Meander Forest Reserve. 4.5 - 6 hours return (5km one way).
Distance from Launceston: 80 km | GPS Directions
This short, 400m loop walk takes visitors through some beautiful rainforest that’s regenerating strongly after the ravages of tin mining. Leaving from Poimena car park, the Goblin Forest Walk is short, easy and wheelchair-friendly. This acknowledges the strong community work of a local identity, who was confined to a wheelchair. His is one of many fascinating local stories told in some on-site interpretive panels. The wider Blue Tier area has a series of other tracks that offer a variety of experience, duration and level of challenge for both walkers and mountain bike riders.
Distance from Launceston: 136 km | GPS Directions
Launceston's own piece of wilderness is just 15 minutes walk from the city centre. Here you'll find walking and hiking trails, the world's longest single span chairlift, swimming pool, restaurant, kiosk, cafe peacocks and wildlife, beautiful gardens, suspension bridge, inclinator for easy access, Interpretation Centre and panoramic lookouts with spectacular views. Cataract Gorge Reserve, or "The Gorge" as the locals call it, is a unique natural formation within a two-minute drive of central Launceston - a rare natural phenomenon in any city. In 15 minutes you can walk from the city centre along the banks of the Tamar River into "The Gorge". From here you follow a pathway along the cliff face, originally built in the 1890s, looking down onto the South Esk River. The Kings Bridge over "The Gorge" was floated into place in 1867.
Distance from Launceston: 4 km | GPS Directions
Notley Fern Gorge is a forest dominated by large, old eucalypts over a understorey of rainforest. Towards the creek, there are a variety of fern species growing in abundance. The gorge is a 3/4 hour walk from the carpark along a well constructed path following a creek, with a 1.5 km return walking track through the forest. Look out for Brady's tree, a giant hollowed-out tree that bush-ranger Matthew Brady and his band of followers sheltered in during the 1820s. Brady’s Tree is only five minutes’ walk from the car park. The Fern Gorge trail is ideal for for beginners, it's easy to walk, not too long, with lots of interesting fungi to photograph. There are plenty of fallen logs, fairy-tale moss-covered trees and plenty of ferns, not to mention white gums and blackwoods overhead. The Gorge has a picnic area is at the car park along with clean rest rooms. Unfortunatlry, no dogs are allowed so as to not disturb the abundant wildlife.
Distance from Launceston: 26 km | GPS Directions
Holwell Gorge reserve (8 km south-east via Kellys Lookout Road) is centred around a narrow gorge and fern glade in the Dazzler Range. It features many beautiful tall trees, ferns and a 45-minute scenic walking track past three waterfalls. The walk to the first falls is relatively easy - in fact it's a leisurely 15 minute stroll to the Holwell Gorge Falls.
Distance from Launceston: 48 km | GPS Directions