As a travel journalist, I’m often asked where the best place I’ve travelled in Australia is. Rottnest Island, the Gold Coast and Canberra quickly come to mind, but Hobart has my heart. Tasmania’s capital has a lot going for it – this 16-minute city is the world’s most beautiful road trip destination, ranked fifth globally for free tourist activities, and, in my opinion, has the most underrated food scene in Australia. As much as I adore Hobart, it might be time to spread my wings next time I ‘come down for air’ because a surprising region just 2.5 hours away has been named one of the world's best destinations to visit in 2025.
Every year, Lonely Planet releases its Best in Travel guide spotlighting 30 must-visit destinations across the globe, divided into the top ten regions, countries and cities. The 15th edition has just dropped, and this time, a surprising Aussie region was the only one to make the cut.
Tasmania’s second city might not get quite so much love as the island’s capital, but that’s all about to change. For 2025, Lonely Planet has ranked Launceston and the Tamar Valley as the fourth-best region to visit in the world.
‘Launnie’ has plenty to brag about on the nature front. This city of 77,000 is perhaps best known for Cataract Gorge, a serene slice of wilderness located just a 15-minute walk from the CBD, with river trails, an outdoor swimming pool, a gorgeous restaurant and the world’s longest single-span chairlift. *Immediately adds to bucket list*.
Launceston keeps racking up records, proudly home to Australia’s largest regional museum, the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. Here, you can deep dive into Tasmania’s fascinating past, with a special focus on the thylacine. This iconic animal is especially intriguing as it’s part of the world’s first and largest attempt to bring an extinct animal back to life.
As Australia’s second UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Launceston delivers big on the food front, with the intimate Stillwater Restaurant claiming the top spot on our restaurant bucket list. Just a short drive away, the state’s oldest and largest wine region, the Tamar Valley, is home to more than 30 vineyards spread along the Tamar Valley Wine Route. A visit to House of Arras will put you in the company of Australia’s most-awarded sparkling wine, while Josef Chromy will have you wishing every city had a world-class cellar door within a ten-minute drive of the CBD.
We could go on and on about why we’re hyped to visit Launceston and the Tamar Valley next year, but we’ll save the full travel guide to Lonely Planet. If you’re keen for more reasons to visit, check out our round-up of the best things to do in Launceston here.
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