Tasmania is the small island state located south of Victoria. The state’s small population, vast national parks, and modest cities are a major attraction to travellers looking for a laid-back but memorable experience. Tasmania has World Heritage wilderness, dense ancient forests, beautiful beaches and lush, green rolling pastures. Tasmania also has rich Aboriginal and European history.
REGIONS OF TASMANIA:
Hobart Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is the second oldest city in Australia. Situated between the towering Mt. Wellington and the beautiful Derwent River, Hobart holds a reputation as one of the most picturesque cities in Australia. Even though Hobart is small, with a population of only 160,000 people, the city has a thriving harbour, beautiful natural surrounds, a cutting-edge art industry, and true sense of history.
Launceston and Tamar Valley Launceston and Tamar Valley are located on the northern coast of Tasmania. The area is a blend of history, beautiful scenery, adventure, creativity, entertainment, and the wonderful flavour of food and wine.
Launceston is Tasmania’s second major city as well as the oldest city in all of Australia. The city is filled with graceful streets adorned with Victorian and Edwardian buildings and surrounded by beautiful countryside. Visitors are attracted to Launceston because of its wonderful parks and gardens, interesting shops, art galleries, museums, and restaurants.
Tamar Valley stretches north from Launceston to the Bass Strait. The Valley is made up of tiny villages, vineyards and farms along the Tamar River. The region has excellent bushwalking, beautiful beaches to explore, and wildlife to observe. Tamar Valley also produces excellent chardonnay, which you can sample at one of the many wineries.
Northern Islands Many people visiting Tasmania don’t have time to see the northern islands, but they are definitely worth visiting! On the north side of Tasmania are two groups of islands: the Hunter group of Islands and the Furneaux group of islands. The Hunter group includes King Island, Hunter Island, Robbins Island and Three Hummock Island. The Furneaux group to the east is made up of 52 islands including Cape Barren Island, Clarke Island, and Flinders Island.
King Island is located above the north-west tip of Tasmania. The island is made up of long, empty beaches, offshore reef, rocky coasts, and lighthouses and shipwrecks. King Island used to be the preferred breeding spot for sea elephants and seals, but unfortunately most were killed by sealers who settled there in the 1800’s. Now the island is used mainly for dairy farming.
Flinders Island is the main island situated above the north-east tip of Tasmania. Visitors are attracted to Flinders Island because of its pink and grey granite cliffs, green farmland, and picturesque beaches. Like King Island, Flinders Island used to be a major sealing area, but now most of the sea elephants and seals have diminished from the island. However, there is still an abundance of birds and other wildlife on the island. Flinders Island is also popular for its bushwalking, scuba diving, and relaxing beaches.
Devonport and Cradle Mountain Devonport is the first port of call for those travelling on the Spirit of Tasmania. Located on the northern coast, Devonport is a town of coastal history, museums, art galleries, and Aboriginal history. From Devonport, you can explore the surrounding bushland and rainforest. Cradle Mountain is a nearby region with charming towns, beaches, forests, fertile farmland, and friendly people.
East Coast The East Coast of Tasmania is a region of diversity with white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, rugged crags, and plenty of wildlife. People visit the East Coast for its sense of history, unprecedented beauty, good bushwalking, and excellent food and wine.
Swansea is a coastal town located on the East Coast of Tasmania that has historical buildings, beautiful scenery, and quaint accommodation. Interesting buildings in Swansea include the Council Chambers, Morris’ General Store and the Swansea Bark and East Coast Museum.
The Freycinet Peninsula is mostly made up of the Freycinet National Park which offers fantastic beaches, beautiful wildflowers, and plentiful wildlife. There are many adventure tours that take you through the Freycinet National Park that allow you to abseil, kayak, and rock climb.
Bicheno is a small fishing town with great beaches and popular scuba diving sites. Nearby, the Douglas-Aspley National Park and the beautiful Aspley Gorge offers excellent bushwalking and look-out spots. The parks also have breath-taking waterfalls, abundant wildlife and an amazing eucalypt forest.
Huon Valley & D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island The Huon Trail begins south of Hobart and leads through the Huon Valley, D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island. Made up of pine-fringed rivers, dark forests and sparkling seas, this region is one of the prettiest spots in Tasmania. It's an easy and rewarding drive from Hobart, or you can fly from Cambridge Airport to land at Melaleuca in the Southwest wilderness.
Huonville is the place where the first huon pine was discovered. The town is also a big apple growing area, so you can visit the Apple Museum or sample the produce at one of the many orchards. Huonville is also the gateway to many activities along the Huon River.
Dover is a small fishing port with great beaches and a small selection of accommodation. Dover is a great place to stop for a rest or to stock up on supplies.
Bruny Island is made up of two parts—North Bruny Island and South Bruny Island, which are connected by a narrow isthmus. Although both islands have beautiful landscapes, the north island has more to offer with gentle farmland, quiet beaches, lighthouses, farmhouses, and a rich history of sealers, whalers and explorers.
North East The North East region of Tasmania explodes with colour! As you travel through this region you will find green valleys, fields of poppies, slopes of grey gravel, white sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, and lichen-splashed granite. The North East region is the perfect place for a summer holiday of swimming and bushwalking. The region is also very popular in the wintertime because of its ski resorts.
Scottsdale is one of Tasmania’s greenest and most fertile valleys. In this region you will find pine forests, rich pastures, fields of poppies and lavender farms.
Derby is a small mining town in the North East region of Tasmania with mountains, rainforests, and lakes. The town has an interesting museum about tin mining and offers many water sports like kayaking and canoeing.
North West The North West is mostly made up small farming communities and national parks. The Bass Highway follows the coast westward, whisking past rocky capes and bluffs, rolling fields of colourful flowers, and delightful small towns.
Stanley is an historic fishing port with colonial cottages and other heritage buildings. The main industry of Stanley is dairy farming, so the community feels very welcoming to the passing traveller.
Burnie is a small city on Highway 1. The town has some interesting buildings, historical sites, and pretty gardens and parks. Some of the sites include the Regional Art Gallery, Pioneer Village Museum, Lactos Cheese Tasting Centre.
Wynyard is a town focused on agriculture. You can drive down the beautiful country roads along the farmland, or ride a horse through the villages.
West Coast The West Coast of Tasmania has numerous national parks and areas of wilderness. The region has been the longest running environmental debate in Australia between environmentalists and the government. You’ll understand why when you experience the fragrant pine and dense rainforests, mighty rivers, spectacular waterfalls, beautiful coastlines, and reflective lakes and harbours.
Strahan lies on the shores of the Macquarie Harbour. The town is extremely pleasant with good-looking buildings, waterfalls, gorgeous beaches, lush rainforest, and vast stretches of sky where you can watch the sun set.
Queenstown is an interesting place to visit because of its gold and copper mining history. The landscape around Queensland has been distorted due to all the mining, but its gradually requiring its natural beauty. Queenstown has many interesting museums to visit and nice places to eat.
Southeast The Southeast is renowned for its scenery, wildlife, heritage, and adventure. Located just south of Hobart is the Tasman Peninsula where you’ll find the historical Port Arthur. The rest of the Southeast is made up of charming towns, wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks.
Port Arthur holds great historical significance in Tasmania. In 1930, Port Arthur began as a convict penal colony that used an isolation system. Most of the prisoners spent their whole lives in Port Arthur. When they died, their bodies were buried on the Isle of the Dead. Although some well-behaved prisoners were rewarded with easier jobs and education, most prisoners were treated with cruelty and harshness. When visiting Port Arthur, you can take a tour of the penitentiary, asylum, officers' headquarters, Commandment residence, medical officer's home, Smith O'Brien's Cottage and the notorious Model Prison. Nightly ghost tours are offered on the spooky Isle of the Dead.
Midlands The Midlands, also known as the Heritage Highway, is located between Lanceston and Hobart. The region is filled with delightful colonial towns and villages full of English trees, Georgian cottages, church spires and stone bridges.
Lake Country is situated on Tasmania’s Central Plateau. The area is a fantastic place to visit because of its beautiful lakes and streams offering good trout fishing, as well as some spectacular waterfalls.
