Tasmania

Tasmania, Australia's smallest and most southerly state, is one of the world's most picturesque islands,  with over 100 national park, heritage and wildlife reserves covering more than one fifth of the island.  It lies about 200km south of Victoria and is separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait.  Its area is 63,000 sq. kms. (about the size of Ireland) with a population of 453,000.  Its capital is Hobart on the Derwent River, Australia's second oldest city.  Even though Tasmania is the most southerly part of the continent, it still enjoys a temperate climate.  (The average maximum summer temperature is 21deg. C).  King and the Furneaux Group of Islands also form part of Tasmania.

You can fly into either Hobart or Launceston (Tasmania's second city) from mainland Australia, or cross on the overnight ferry boat "Spirit of Tasmania" from Melbourne to Devonport.  This takes approximately 14.5 hours, and costs from £69 one way, sharing an inside cabin.  It goes three times a week.  

From December through until April you can also catch the catamaran "Devil Cat", which travels between Melbourne and George Town, with a journey time of 6 hours.

Tasmania, unlike other parts of Australia, has four distinct seasons - it even has snowfalls in the West in winter.  The vegetation is diverse with alpine heathlands, tall eucalyptus forests, and large areas of temperate rainforest and moorlands.  Many of the plant species are unique to Tasmania, as are several mammals.  Nowhere else in the world is it possible to see in the wild the Tasmanian devil, the Eastern Quoll (tiger cat), or the spotted-tail quoll (native cat).

Major industries include agriculture (Tasmania being famous for its apples, pears, berry fruits and flower farms), timber products, tourism, fishing, dairy products, confectionery and mining.  It possesses abundant power from hydro-electricity.

Each region is different in Tasmania, each having its own special attractions.

Tasmania's South and South West Wilderness

Hobart, the capital nestles below Mount Wellington and is surrounded by thickly forested rolling hills, with a harbour bustling with fishing vessels.  It is an historic city with elegant colonial Georgian and Regency buildings, full of old-world charm, yet with a modern thriving community.  No major destination on the island is more than 5 hour's drive from the capital.  There is a popular Saturday market at Salamanca Place where crafts and fresh local produce can be purchased.  Each November the Irish festival is held in the grounds of the infamous Port Arthur convict prison.  

Also in Hobart is the grand finale of the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race which runs from 27th December until January when the Taste of Tasmania food festival is on in January.  South of Hobart is the Huon Valley where they farm organic berry fruit, apples and some of the best oysters and salmon.

The South West Wilderness area has World Heritage status, with contrasting landscape of steep rugged ranges rising from treeless plains to sheer coastal cliffs dropping to the sea.  Sandy beaches are white, wave-swept and unspoilt.

The main river of the South West is the Franklin river.  Rafting this wild river is a real challenge!  The river also abounds in wildlife from mountain trout to platypus to brightly-coloured kingfishers.

The North West Wilderness

Visitors arriving by ferry will arrive here at Devonport, a picturesque town of 26,000 people.  This part of the state is very different.  The soil is a volcanic red and it is known for its dairy farming.  In Australia's springtime Table Cape is covered in tulips.

90 minutes west of Devonport the scenery changes again - this time it becomes alpine with craggy mountains, forests, fast-flowing rivers and lakes that are a mecca for trout fishermen.  The area is known as Cradle Mountain - Lake St.Clair National Park, and the mountain peaks are often covered in snow.  Visitors can stay in rustic huts or pine cabins with log fires.  To the north east lie the Western Tiers and Walls of Jerusalem National Park, known for its ancient forests of pencil pines bordering glacial lakes.

South and West of Cradle Mountain is the wilderness town of Strahan on the shores of Macquarie harbour.  This tiny village has accommodation of all types for tourists from an elegant Manor to quaint cottages, motels and a backpacker hostel.  From here visitors can explore the Gordon River by air or boat.  The most famous lake is Lake Pedder, which has its own story to tell.  Famed for its unique beach, the original lake was only accessible by walking track.  However, in the late 70's and early 80's there was tremendous controversy when the Government and the Hydro Electricity Commission wanted to flood the lake to build storage dams.  Conservationsists throughout the world were appalled.  However, the Gordon River Power Development Scheme went ahead, the upside being that afterwards the lake became much more accessible to visitors.

The North East

The East coast is the balmiest part of Tasmania with unspoilt white beaches washed by a turquoise sea, and is the favourite holiday destination of many Tasmanians.  From St Helens to Triabunna is a coastline as good as any tropical island.  Although there are no palm trees, there are hardly any people there to spoil it, and no pollution.  Along this coast is the amazing sight of three large granite monoliths known as the Hazards, in the Freycinet National Park.

The Freycinet peninsula sweeps north along the Friendly Beaches to the seaside town of Bicheno, known for its nightly march of tiny penguins returning to their nests.  Bicheno is also one of the best places to catch crayfish, or do some diving or snorkelling.  From June to November, pods of whales pass close to the shore.

About three hours' drive inland is the state's second largest city of Launceston with a population of 90,000.  At Launceston you can visit the Design Centre of Tasmania and the Wood Design Collection to buy local crafts.  Cataract Gorge, with its gardens, walking trails, suspension bridge and chairlift is only minutes from the city centre.  Cruises are also available on the Tamar river.

Launceston is also a good base for visitors wanting to explore the vineyards of the Tamar River valley, and unspoilt villages such as Brickendon, Longford, Campbell Town and Evandale (which incidentally is the venue for the annual Penny Farthing Championships).

The Derwent Valley

The Derwent Valley , south of Launceston is where most of Australia's hops are grown and bears a strong resemblance to south-western France, with old oast houses and quaint villages.  The valley is also the gateway to the Central Plateau and the Great Lakes region.  The lakes provide excellent trout fishing including the opportunity to fish from private lodges.

King Island

King Island is to the North West of Tasmania in the Bass Straits.  It is famous for its cream, its cheeses and its crayfish.  More than 150 ships have been blown onto the island, by the strong Bass Strait winds known as the "Roaring Forties".  Visitors can dive the reefs and shipwrecks, and the island is also home to fairy penguins, who are very entertaining to watch when they return from their day's fishing.

Flinders Island

Flinders Island is the largest of the Furneaux Group of Islands to the North East of Tasmania, and it is completely unspoilt.  Visitors can swim, snorkel, dive, comb the beach for the elusive "Killiecrankie diamonds" or walk the mountain ranges of Mt. Strzelecki National Park.