Cataract Gorge Reserve

About Cataract Gorge Reserve

Cataract Gorge Reserve is a things to do venue in Launceston, Tasmania.

Located approximately 1.5 km from the city centre, it is one of the premier tourist attractions in the region, offering a range of exciting and breathtaking activities for visitors to enjoy. The site has a rich history that dates back to 1804 when the earliest known European visitor, William Collins, discovered its entrance.

In the 1890s, a pathway known as the King’s Bridge-Cataract Walk was built by volunteers and runs along the north bank, making it a popular tourist destination. The reserve’s First Basin on the southern side is a hub of exciting activity, featuring a swimming pool, two cafés, the longest single-span chairlift in the world, a funicular railway, and an open area surrounded by beautiful bushland.

On the northern side of the reserve are the Cliff Grounds, a beautifully landscaped Victorian garden with exotic plants, ferns, and peacocks. Upstream is the Duck Reach Power Station, a historic building now transformed into an Interpretation Centre.

Other activities available include a boat cruise along the accessible section of river, a 200-metre cable hang gliding experience that takes off from the top of a cliff, and rock climbing. For kayakers, the section of the South Esk River that flows through the reserve is a well-known, world-class section of whitewater.

The lower end of the gorge is where the South Esk spills into the Tamar River under two bridges, King’s Bridge and the more recent Paterson Bridge, which was opened on November 2nd, 1973. Cataract Gorge Reserve is a unique and exciting destination that offers an array of outdoor

Good to know

• Type: Things to Do
• Area: Launceston, Tasmania
• Phone: 363233000
• Website: visit ↗

Frequently asked questions

Find more things to do in Launceston or browse the Launceston local guide.