City Park

A Victorian park in the centre of Launceston with a colony of Japanese macaques in an enclosure

City Park is a handsome Victorian public garden in the heart of Launceston, established by the Launceston Horticultural Society in the 1820s and given to the city in 1863. The park has the usual complement of mature European trees, ornamental fountains, a conservatory, and a bandstand — but its real draw is an enclosure on the Cameron Street side containing a colony of Japanese macaques. About ten of them live here, and they are active and highly visible.

The macaques arrived in Launceston in the 1890s and have been here ever since, making this one of the most unusual things in any Australian city. Entry to the park is free; the macaque enclosure is open during daylight hours. The park also contains a war memorial and the Launceston Conservatory, whose orchid collection is notable. A good place to sit in the sun with a coffee from one of the nearby cafés.

things to do sight
A story
The Japanese macaques arrived in Launceston in 1895 as a gift from the Japanese government. They have lived in the park for over 130 years, making the troop one of the longest-established populations of Japanese macaques outside Japan. In winter the macaques huddle together for warmth on the exposed wooden platforms — a behaviour they share with their wild relatives bathing in the snow-fed hot springs of Nagano.