Best Hotels in Launceston (2026)

The CBD is the only practical base for most visitors. It's compact , the main commercial area spans about six blocks between Brisbane Street and the river , and everything from Cataract Gorge to restaurants to the Tamar Valley road is accessible from there. Peppers Silo, Stillwater Seven, Mantra Charles, and Best Western Plus are all within a 5-minute walk of each other. Country Club Tasmania is out at Prospect Vale (5km south, 8 minutes by car) and suits those with a car who want golf, a pool, and space. Quamby Estate is a 25-minute drive west for a rural heritage experience. There's no compelling reason to stay outside the CBD unless you specifically want a resort or country estate atmosphere.

Stillwater Seven is the standout , just seven suites above Stillwater restaurant on the North Esk River. It operates more like a European restaurant-with-rooms than a traditional hotel. The rooms are spacious, well-designed, and benefit from the restaurant's wine and food expertise. The catch is availability: seven rooms means you book months ahead for weekends. Quamby Estate, 25 minutes west in Hagley, offers a different proposition: an 1830s sandstone manor with golf, gardens, and heritage rooms from $350/night. It's the place for a country retreat, but you'll need a car and you're removed from Launceston's dining scene. Josef Chromy Wines at Relbia has vineyard accommodation , sleep among the pinot noir vines, 10 minutes from the CBD.

Peppers Silo occupies a converted grain silo on the waterfront , the building is genuinely interesting, with circular rooms in the silo section and conventional rooms in the attached wing. At $270/night it's the best balance of character and price. Mantra Charles Hotel on Charles Street delivers standard 4-star quality from $210/night , reliable, central, no surprises. Hotel Grand Chancellor on Cameron Street has a pool, spa, and gym at $195/night. Best Western Plus from $165/night and Leisure Inn Penny Royal from $140/night cover genuine budget territory. Arthouse Backpacker Hostel at $80/night for a private room is the cheapest option with any character.

Cataract Gorge is Launceston's defining feature and the main reason most visitors come. The South Esk River cuts through dolerite cliffs less than 2km from the CBD , you can walk there in 15-20 minutes from any hotel listed here. The First Basin has a swimming pool (free), a chairlift ($15 return), and walking tracks ranging from 30-minute loops to multi-hour hikes. The gorge is at its best in autumn when the deciduous trees turn, and in spring when the river runs high. Entry is free, open year-round. From Peppers Silo or Stillwater Seven, the walk takes about 12 minutes along the river path.

The Tamar Valley runs 60km north from Launceston to the sea, with around 30 cellar doors along the way. The region specialises in pinot noir, chardonnay, sparkling, and riesling , cool-climate varieties that Tasmania does as well as anywhere in Australia. Key cellar doors within 20 minutes of the CBD: Josef Chromy (pinot noir, sparkling), Tamar Ridge (broad range), Velo Wines (small batch, excellent). For a half-day wine drive, the east side of the Tamar (heading towards Pipers River , Pipers Brook, Bay of Fires Wines, Jansz) has the highest concentration of quality producers. You need a car, and you need a designated driver or a tour operator. Tours run from about $150/person for a half day.