My first visit to Tasmania was on a business trip; what’s called a "familiarization trip", or Fam trip for short, in the travel industry. Just as the name implies, these trips are to familarize the agent with hotels, tour operators, transportation, etc. We spend a good deal of time inspecting hotels in each location.
But when I told my clients, family and friends where I was going, nearly everyone responded the same way….."oh, WOW! Tasmania!!!!…..um…where IS that exactly?"
(my sister-in-law thought it was somewhere near Russia)
Tasmania lies south of the 40th latitude, which means, before the wind reaches it, the last place it touches is the tip of South America, thousands of miles to the west. Because of this, Tasmania is known for having the cleanest air in the world!
It’s separated from mainland Australia by 240 km, with the Bass Strait lying in between. It’s the smallest Australian state, equivalent in size to Ireland, West Virginia, or twice the size of Switzerland.
Climate
For the second year running,Conde Nast named Tasmania as the "Best Temperate Island in the World", which means a mild climate with 4 different seasons, each with its own appeal.
| Summer | (Dec – Feb) | 70 degrees |
| Winter | (Jun – Aug) | 52 degrees |
| Fall | (Mar – May) | 63 degrees |
| Spring | (Sep – Nov) | 63 degrees |
Population
472,000, with the majority of people living in the capital, Hobart, with approx. 195,000 people; then Launceston at 98,500 Devonport 25,000 and Burnie with 18,000 people.
So……what’s in the REST of the state?
How about 1000 km of walking tracks and 16 national parks?
A World Heritage area that covers over 3 million acres (or 30% of the country). What do all these figures mean? It means a beautiful, unspoiled, pristine area that is protected by the government.
Heritage
Tens of thousands of years ago, the first Tasmanians walked across a land bridge from mainland Australia. When sea levels rose after the last Ice Age, Tasmanian Aborigines were isolated for 10,000 years until Europeans arrived in the early 1800’s, settling down in the beginning of the 19th century.
Convicts
Try to imagine a new British colony in the 19th century….the British sent ships crowded with settlers, soldiers and convicts. The settlers struggled to live off the land, the military ruled the settlements, and the convicts were put to work in quarries and shipyards, working in chains. The British were sending convicts to Van Diemen’s Land (as it was called then) as early as 1804. For the next 30 years convict stations were established all over Tasmania. These stations are now historic sites, where you can see the buildings, artifacts, and learn what it was like to be a convict during that era.
Of course, many convicts tried to escape, only to be recaptured, die out in the bush, or become outlaws (bushrangers) such as Matthew Brady and Martin Cash.
Food & Spirits
Tasmanian ales and lagers regularly win international awards You can take a guided tour of the two major breweries, which are Cascade, in Hobart and Boag’s in Launceston.
Not only do I love good food, but I like a glass of nice wine with my meal – Tasmania more than surpassed my expectations in both areas. There are several "wine routes" you can follow, sampling excellent wines that, unfortunately, we’ll never see in the U.S because the smaller, boutique wineries don’t produce enough to export it here, so you’ll just have to enjoy it while you’re there, and maybe bring home a few bottles to remind you of your trip!
The food is wonderful — from the "lowly" fish & chips place along the wharf to 5-star dining (at great prices). The seafood (my personal favorite) is extensive, prepared perfectly; lamb and venison are specialties and the local produce and cheeses are excellent.
Activities
Besides the walking tracks and the historical areas to explore, you’ve also got a number of beautiful cruises along local waterways; rafting, horseback riding, sea kayaking, diving, rock climbing, gorgeous English-style gardens, cycling and mountain biking as well as two of Tasmania’s best known activities – fishing and golfing. Nearly every freshwater stream, river and lake in Tasmania have fighting trout, and they’re all yours for the small price of a fishing license.
As for golf, the Scottish settlers brought that to Tasmania back in the 1830’s and there are over 80 courses, with green fees from a $8 – $15. Fees for someplace like the more upscale Tasmania Golf Club will cost in the range of a measly $40. (Those are Aussie dollars, not US, so factor in the exchange rate as well).
Wildlife
The Tasmanian bush is alive with animals, but it’s not always easy to find them, as many are nocturnal, but it’s easy to take a flashlight (or "torch" as the Aussie’s would say) and head out into the bush to see who’s around!
However, some will find *you* – here’s a picture of a possum who came up to say Hi at a cottage I stayed at – isn’t he cute?
As well as doing your own wildlife spotting, you can visit a wildlife park and meet someone like Chris –
Here’s a guy truly dedicated to his job and the preservation of Tasmanian wildlife. He commutes one hour each way to work a day, and on top of that, he takes these 3 baby wombats home with him at night and gets up every four hours to feed them!
Of course no mention of wildlife would be complete without a picture of the famous Tasmanian Devil (and you thought it was just a cartoon)!
In summary, you have beautiful scenery,
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unspoiled beaches, |
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natural areas for walking & hiking
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places with historical interest, |
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and great food and wine…
Visit Tasmania on your next vacation and enjoy all that it has to offer – you won’t be disappointed!
