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Launceston Planetarium
4.6
1871 reviewsAbout
Gaze in wonder at the stars and learn about space at the Launceston Planetarium at Inveresk.
Explore the universe from your seat at the Planetarium. The facility offers a great environment where viewers can learn about the night sky and astronomy - and much more!
With a range of films that are regularly updated, the Planetarium is an important and inspirational educational way to get people, especially young people, excited and involved in science.
The facility is located within the Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk, and is one of the few in Australia which are regularly open to the public.
Each film is displayed on the Planetarium's 8-metre-diameter dome, providing an immersive experience from the comfort of cinema-style seats. The Planetarium uses a Zeiss ZKP3 star projector with a full-dome digital system.
Each show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky. The projector is capable of displaying the stars visible to the unaided eye from anywhere in the world and simulates the apparent motion of the stars as the Earth rotates. The effect is so realistic, it is like being out under the stars!
The Launceston Planetarium is open from Tuesday to Sunday every week, and Mondays during school holidays.
The Planetarium is closed on public holidays.
Hours
See listed hours
Today: 13:00–15:30
Facilities and visitor features
14 featuresAustralian Museums and Galleries Association
Nearby places
Reviews & Ratings
Timeshare Chinchilla
Google review
The Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk is a single storied museum that is a mix of natural history, art, transport, maritime and geological collections. Upon entry I was warmly greeted by staff member KJ who explained the exhibits they had on and that the planetarium show at 11.30am was designed for kids (so I chose to skip it). She also gave me good advice on Cataract Dam walking trails which was appreciated. The main temporary gallery space had a unique exhibition of knitted animal anatomical structures by artist Michelle Beevors. Very impressive and clearly a lot of work and thought had gone into it. The main permanent gallery has history of Launceston transport from horsay days through to the now defunct rail and tram network. There was a large collection of dinosaur fossils, geological specimens, taxidermy Tasmanian endemic species and the highlight for me was the gallery on the extinct Tasmanian Tiger (RIP RIP). There is all known video footage of the tiger on a loop and several taxidermy specimens including one unfortunate one where the screw is coming through its head. There was an exhibit in bugs but it was swarming with young children so I went outside and looked at the old blacksmith workshops. Spent 2 hours here and wasn't rushed. Gift shop onsite but no cafe. Free entry and a great find. 15 min walk from main CBD area.
Melissa Buckingham
Google review
Highly recommend a visit to this museum! There is so much variety of things to see - something for everyone. History of Tassie, animals, transport, space, dinosaurs - it was seriously impressive! I liked that it wasn't too big - spent 1.5 hours here which was just perfect. Fabulous!
Alice Lau (Girl in a Food Frenzy)
Google review
This is a must see when visiting Launceston. The museum is perfect for all ages and interests. When we went there was a popular Bugs interactive display which was adorable, educational and interactive! Perfect for little ones. Great set up, it’s free and accessible facilities make it a great day out. Be sure to book the planetarium ahead of time as it tends to book out. Loved the information session after, very insightful! We went twice in our last visit as there was a lot to see!
Devon Port
Google review
OK, this museum is a hidden gem on the world stage, with world class exhibits. Yes on a smaller scale, but the natural world display matched that in the Smithsonian in Washington DC. Your museum bought back to life, taxidermied Australia wildlife and birds and the now extinct Tasmanian Tiger on display with your incredible collection of dinosaur exhibition. Incredible. A smaller, but dazzling collection of real life dinosaurs shown as skeletons, that matched those at the Natural History Museum in London. Real claws, real bones, fossils (and some from casts) that all looked like they were charging at you! And the artefacts from by gone days, laid out so openly. Brilliant to get around with a wheelchair or pram or walking frame. The gift shop was excellent value for money, a broad selection of gifts for kids, to adults, men, women. Staff super friendly. I just wish I had more time there. Unique displays, especially the bugs and giffarfe. Lots of parking, all flat land. Spacious with clean amenities right in Launceston city centre. Plus whaling and convict history artefacts and the town used to be famous for clay pipe manufacturing and merchant trading. I visited Easter 2026.
Mohammed Khan
Google review
The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Inveresk is a genuinely impressive institution that punches well above its weight for a regional museum. The collection spans natural history, social history, and fine art, and there's enough variety to keep visitors engaged for a good couple of hours. The planetarium is a highlight — a fun and educational experience that sets this museum apart from others of its size. The building itself is beautiful, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. It's clear that a lot of care goes into the curation. The natural history displays, in particular, are well-presented and fascinating. The only reason it doesn't quite reach five stars is that some exhibits feel a little dated and could benefit from more interactive or modern digital elements to bring them to life — especially for younger visitors. Signage in certain galleries could also be clearer. That said, it's free to enter, which makes it exceptional value, and a must-visit if you're in Launceston. A real credit to the city.
Get in touch
Where you'll be
2 Invermay Road
Launceston TAS 7248