Mowbray: Eucalypts, Forest Trails and Horse Racing

Mowbray offers several different reasons to visit: in Heritage Forest, trails wind through a landscape of Tasmanian eucalypts and a garden of native plants. The area is also connected with horse racing in Launceston. Whether you want to spend time outdoors or include a race in your travel plans, the specific offerings vary, and both themes shape Mowbray’s character.

Heritage Forest: Eucalypts and Native Plants

The arboretum in Heritage Forest includes all 27 of Tasmania’s eucalypt species. This lets you combine a walk through the park with a look at the diversity of this group of trees. If you are particularly interested in plants, the Australian Plant Society Native Plant Garden features flowering plants and shrubs from the Tasmanian bushland.

The garden adds a different perspective to the arboretum: here, the focus is on the plant life of the Tasmanian bush rather than the eucalypts. Both areas give Heritage Forest a distinct nature theme, without limiting your visit to a single activity.

Circuit Trail, Recreation Trails and Activities

For a manageable circuit, there is the 2.9 km Heritage Forest Trail. This easy gravel path forms a loop and is suitable for family walks and bike rides. Separate from this are the more than 5 km of recreation trails in Heritage Forest, suitable for cycling, running and walking. You can choose between a specific loop and a larger network of trails.

The park also has picnic and barbecue facilities, outdoor exercise equipment and a reflection path. Other features include an off-leash dog area and a beginner cycling course. A native plant garden is also among the park’s offerings; in the play area, highlights include a 40 m flying fox and a large thylacine sculpture. These different features let you tailor your time in Heritage Forest to the activities that interest you.

The 5 km Launceston parkrun circuit also passes through Heritage Forest. If you want to include this event in your plans, check the event details before visiting. The parkrun circuit and the 2.9 km trail are different route distances, so they answer different questions about the loop you have planned.

Horse Racing in Mowbray

Thoroughbred racing events in Launceston are held at the Ladbrokes Racing Centre in Mowbray. The venue is one of Tasmania’s two multi-code racing facilities. As race dates vary, check the event schedule if you are planning a visit around a race.

The connection with horse racing extends beyond individual events: after brief, temporary stints in Newnham and Invermay, Mowbray became the long-term home of horse racing. The Listed Launceston Cup is considered a major racing event and traditionally takes place in late February. Check the current date with the event organiser when planning; the traditional timing is not a substitute for the specific date.

The two themes offer different focuses for your trip: Heritage Forest is all about trails, garden areas and recreational activities, while race dates shape plans for horse racing. If you are considering Mowbray as a base for your trip, tailor your search for a holiday rental to the focus that matters most to you. Forest trails and plant life are well suited to a nature-focused stay, while a planned visit to the races requires coordination with the relevant event date. This lets you choose your location based on your own interests without combining the different activities into a single itinerary.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Rosevears, Legana, Newnham, Hadspen.

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