Day Trips from Launceston
A brilliant base for northern Tasmania — lavender fields, an alpine plateau and Georgian villages within the hour, with Cradle Mountain, Freycinet and Hobart within 2.5.
Day Trips from Launceston
Launceston is a brilliant base for northern Tasmania. Within an hour you can wander purple lavender fields, climb to an alpine plateau or step into a Georgian village — and with a longer drive, some of the island’s greatest landscapes are in reach. Here are the day trips we’d point you to, from easy half-days to big, memorable drives.
Lavender, an alpine plateau and Georgian streetscapes within the hour — and the great wilds within 2.5.
Easy Escapes
Bridestowe Lavender
Purple summer rows at Nabowla, at their best around December and January.
Bridestowe → AlpineBen Lomond
Winter skiing via the Jacobs Ladder switchbacks and summer alpine walking.
Ben Lomond → GeorgianEvandale & Clarendon
A heritage village and one of Tasmania’s grand Georgian homes.
Evandale →The Big Three at ~2.5 Hours
Plan the Drives
- Time Bridestowe for December–January to catch the bloom
- Check road and snow conditions before driving up Ben Lomond
- Pair Evandale with its Sunday market if timing allows
- For Cradle, Freycinet or Hobart, start early or stay a night
- Prefer guided? See our Launceston tours or enquire
Day Trips — FAQ
What are the best day trips from Launceston?
Close to town: Bridestowe lavender at Nabowla (about 50 minutes), the alpine Ben Lomond National Park, and Georgian Evandale and Clarendon House. Further afield, Cradle Mountain, Freycinet and Hobart are each about 2.5 hours’ drive.
When is Bridestowe lavender in bloom?
The rows at Bridestowe Lavender Estate typically flower in summer, roughly December to January, when the fields turn purple. Bloom timing shifts with the season, so check current details before making the ~50-minute drive to Nabowla. See Bridestowe.
Can you drive up Ben Lomond?
Yes — the road climbs the dramatic switchbacks of Jacobs Ladder to Tasmania’s main ski field, which runs in winter snow. In the warmer months it’s a fine spot for alpine walking. Conditions change fast, so check current details. See Ben Lomond.
Can you day-trip to Cradle Mountain or Freycinet?
Both are about 2.5 hours from Launceston, as is Hobart, so a day trip is long but doable — staying overnight is more relaxed. See Cradle Mountain, Freycinet or Hobart.
Launceston, Planned Around You
Cataract Gorge in the heart of the city, the Tamar Valley’s cool-climate wine, lavender fields and Ben Lomond — with the driving and bookings handled by the family that’s toured Australia since 1974.
Call 0409 661 342 Plan My Trip — Free Enquiry