Launceston Guided Walks & Walking Tours

Walking tours in Launceston are full-day guided trips into national parks, with the walking tracks around Cradle Mountain, Freycinet and the Huon Valley as the main event. The Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay tours leave from Cameron Street in Launceston, and the rest start in Hobart. These sit within Launceston tours, and the sections below split the walks by park.

Day walks near Launceston at Cradle Mountain

The Cradle Mountain National Park Guided Tour leaves Launceston Monday to Friday at 7.30am and gives you four to five hours in the park. The easy Enchanted Walk follows Pencil Pine Creek, and from Dove Lake you can take on the six-kilometre Dove Lake Circuit or climb to Marion's Lookout at 1200m. The walks are guided and interpreted, the group limit is 20, and the day includes spotting wombats in their natural habitat.

The Hobart to Launceston Transfer & Cradle Mountain Tour adds the Dove Lake Circuit and the Enchanted Forest Walk to a one-way trip from Hobart CBD hotels to Launceston CBD hotels, with a coffee stop in Campbell Town and a look at the murals in Sheffield.

Walking tracks at Freycinet and Wineglass Bay

From Launceston, the Wineglass Bay and Freycinet National Park Tour runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30am. Cape Tourville Lighthouse is an easy walk with 360-degree views, and the track to the Wineglass Bay Lookout is a 1.3km uphill walk. Honeymoon Bay is the place to wind down afterwards, and the day passes through Evandale and Campbell Town on the way.

The Hobart departure, the Wine Glass Bay & Freycinet National Park Day Tour, lets you hike the trails at your own pace or join a guided uphill walk to the lookouts, then swim at Honeymoon Bay. It runs Mondays and Thursdays at 7.30am as a 10-hour day.

Guided walks in the Huon Valley

South of Hobart, the Tahune Airwalk and Hastings Caves Guided Tour climbs 104 forest steps to the 619-metre cantilever 40 to 50m above the Huon River. Keen walkers can cross the 100m and 60m swinging bridges, and the easy 20-minute Huon Pine Walk passes trees around 2,500 years old. The Hot Springs Nature Track and a guided tour of Hastings Caves fill out the 9-hour day.

The Hastings Cave, Tahune Airwalk and Huon Tasting Trail tour covers the Swinging Bridges Track and a riverbank stroll through ancient Huon pines, then adds a Huon Valley tasting board over a 10-hour day.

Choosing a guided walk

The walks range from easy to demanding. The Enchanted Walk and Cape Tourville Lighthouse walk are gentle, the Huon Pine Walk is a 20-minute stroll, and the Wineglass Bay Lookout track and Dove Lake Circuit ask for more legs. If you are staying in Launceston, the Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay tours save a trip to Hobart.

Pack closed, sturdy walking shoes, a refillable water bottle, a waterproof jacket, a hat and warm layers. Cradle Mountain can be very cold, and snow is possible there even in summer. None of the Launceston departures run on weekends or public holidays.

For walking tours elsewhere, see walking tours across Australia.

Frequently asked questions

Are there guided walking tours from Launceston?

Yes. The Cradle Mountain National Park Guided Tour and the Wineglass Bay and Freycinet National Park Tour both leave from 29 Cameron Street, Launceston, and include guided walks in the national park.

What walks are included on the Cradle Mountain tour from Launceston?

The Cradle Mountain National Park Guided Tour includes the easy Enchanted Walk, and from Dove Lake you can choose the six-kilometre Dove Lake Circuit or the climb to Marion's Lookout at 1200m.

How hard are the walks on these Launceston tours?

They range from easy to uphill. The Enchanted Walk and the Cape Tourville Lighthouse walk are easy, while the track to the Wineglass Bay Lookout is a 1.3km uphill walk.

What should I wear on a guided walk near Launceston?

Wear closed, sturdy walking shoes and sensible layers, and carry a waterproof jacket, a hat and a refillable water bottle. Cradle Mountain can have snow even in summer.

Which days do Launceston walking tours run?

The Cradle Mountain tour from Launceston runs Monday to Friday at 7.30am and the Wineglass Bay tour runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30am. Neither runs on weekends or public holidays.

Book a guided walk at Cradle Mountain or Wineglass Bay from Launceston, or look at the Huon Valley from Hobart.