Launceston makes Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 list

Tassie’s Launceston and the Tamar Valley have made it to number 4 in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 list – the only Australian entry in its global top five must-visit destinations of the year.

Launceston makes Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 list. Lonely Planet’s Senior Director of Global Trade Sales and Marketing, Chris Zeiher, praised the region’s culinary offerings, describing it as “all about food glorious food”.

“We love leafy Launnie … it offers this lovely blend of old and new and I’m especially taken with its gorgeous 19th-century industrial architecture,” he said.

Many of our pack-free guided walks start in Launceston so get there a day or two before your walk – or stay a day or two after – to see what all the fuss is about!

Chris Zeiher suggests an itinerary that includes a morning brew from Sweetbrew, a stroll through the city’s historic streets, a lunch at Josef Chromy Wines and an exploration of Cataract Gorge in the afternoon.

“Launceston and the Tamar Valley’s inclusion in this year’s Top Regions list underlines why domestic travelers should reconsider the obvious Aussie holiday hotspots,” he said.

Launceston favourite, Cataract Gorge, offers panoramic views, walking trails, sculpted gardens and a chairlift.

The Queen Victoria Museum, in a 19th-century railway workshop, has exhibitions on Tasmanian history.

Its sister Art Gallery lies across the river, by sprawling Royal Park. The vineyards of the Tamar Valley stretch northwest along the Tamar River.

This vibrant cultural and gastronomic hub is also home to a tight-knit and diverse community of winemakers, artists, distillers, designers, growers and nature lovers from around the world.