Tasmania Australia
Don't
be fooled by its comparatively small size, Tasmania has as much,
if not more diversity packed into it than any other state. Great
things come in small packages!
Large
areas of eucalyptus forest dominate the landscape of the the
North-West, Central and North-East sections of the island, whilst
the South West to central features a vast area made up of adjoining
National Parks and World Heritage Area. Rivers form a
complex network of waterways all across the island. The Central
Plateau has jagged peaks, which can be snow covered in winter
and fresh water lakes, even a crater lake. 1200 meter
cliffs mark the drop from the plateau down to the fertile plains.
To the East enjoy the coastal beauty of Freycinet National
Park.
The
Tasmanian Museum in Hobart and the Queen Victoria
Museum in Launceston can provide insight into Aboriginal
history on the island. There are significant historical and
cultural sites throughout Tasmania.
Tasmania also has an interesting history
of European settlement resulting in
Victorian
and Georgian buildings and streetscapes, and historic sandstone
cottages and attractive bridges, being a feature in many of
the towns, villages and ports. Tasmania’s hosting of a penal
colony is dramatically showcased at the
Port Arthur Historic Site.
Hobart
Tasmania’s
capital lies in the south-east of the state, near the mouth
of the Derwent River at the foot of Mount Wellington. The picturesque
19th century waterfront warehouses for which the city is famous
once bustled with whalers, soldiers, petty bureaucrats and opportunist
businessmen, now they house cafes, restaurants and studios.
Hobart
is a great base from which to visit the Forester & Tasman Peninsulas
and Port Arthur. The Port Arthur Historic Site on the Tasman
Peninsula is Australia’s most intact and evocative convict site..
The Historic Site has over 30 buildings, ruins and restored
period homes set in 40 hectares of landscaped grounds. Allow
plenty of time to fully experience all that Port Arthur has
to offer.
Natural features of the Tasman Peninsula include the
Devil’s Kitchen, Tasman Arch and the Tessellated Pavement.
In the Tasman National Park, the Tasman Coastal Track follows
the rim of 300-metre-high sea crags, climbs through forests
and heath lands and drops down to remote beaches. The Candlestick,
the Totem Pole, Cathedral Rock, Cape Pillar, Hippolyte Rock,
the Lanterns and Tasman Island are just some of the features.
Launceston
Launceston,
Tasmania’s second-largest city, is situated at the confluence
of the North and South Esk Rivers, where the Tamar River begins
its journey to Bass Strait. Often described as the State’s
northern capital, it’s a city of graceful streets adorned by
elegant Victorian and Edwardian facades and surrounded by beautiful
countryside.
In the city of Launceston visit the Waverley Woolen
Mills, established in 1874 and still weaving fabrics from fine
Tasmanian merino wool. Admire the skill and subtlety of
some of Tasmania’s best wood craftspeople in the Wood Design
Collection at the Design Centre of Tasmania, or visit the Queen
Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, which holds a fine collection
of colonial art at its Inveresk site and incorporates
the Launceston Railway Workshops, while the Royal Park site
features a Chinese temple and a planetarium.
Take a walk in the Victorian Park at Cataract
Gorge and picture yourself in the 19th century, peacocks
still mew here, bands still come and play in the bandstand,
and on a more contemporary note thrill-seekers abseil the steep
rock faces.
Bay of
Fires
At the edge of Mt. William National Park, the magnificent
wilderness coastline known as the Bay of Fires invites you
to experience a Tasmanian trekking tour with dramatic
landscape, ecology and wildlife.
Bay of Fires
guided walk is led by well-informed, young Tasmanian
guides, small groups can explore both the fascinating beach
environment and the rich diversity of the nearby woodlands.
And at the Bay of Fires Lodge, offering superb accommodation
in this near-uninhabited wilderness paradise, both solitude
and comfort are guaranteed.
Freycinet
National Park
The
Freycinet Peninsula has formed over 400 million years to produce
dramatic peaks of granite surrounded by white sandy beaches
and stunningly blue waters.
It
is on of the states most scenic coastal areas and much of the
area is protected within the Freycinet National Park.
Walking the trails lead to various vantage points to admire
the natural beauty of the area. Take the opportunity to stay
at Freycinet National Park to appreciate the flora and fauna
that includes coastal heaths, orchids and other wildflowers.
Birdlife includes the raucous yellow tailed black cockatoo,
and the mammal population includes Bennett’s wallaby.
Cradle Mountain
A cluster of accommodation providers including the
Cradle Mountain Lodge, tourism operators, tearooms and
the National Park Office make this more of a settlement than
a village. A hub for those wanting to take short trips into
the National Park to access the mountains and lakes, also a
terminus for the
80 km
multi-day overland track. A number of short walk are
available from Cradle Mountain Lodge with the opportunity to
see Wombats, Echidna, Pandemelon (wallabies), Tasmanian
Devil and watch for platypus in the nearby creek.
Trips up to Cradle Lake are by regular shuttle bus and the
fare is included in the National Park Pass fee payable by
all visitors into the National Park. The shuttle travels
uphill to the lake where most passengers disembark to walk
the lake circuit track. There are several ‘bus stops’ along
the route for those who want to walk part of the way, either
up or down, along the extensive boardwalk. We recommend you
travel all the way up by shuttle, walk the circuit track 5km
(allow 2 hours) and then if you want to a walk further 3km,
then take the walking track past Lake Lilla down to the
first bus stop at the Ronny Creek car park. The boardwalk
descends all the way back down to the National Park office
(a further 5.5km), but the first section is indicative of
the full 8.5km trail.
The Wilderness Gallery, located at
Cradle Mountain Chateau. An extensive display of
captivating photographs taken by some of Tasmania’s and the
world’s finest photographers.
The Devils @ Cradle Tasmanian devil Sanctuary, is unique in
that it focuses on Tasmania's three carnivorous marsupials,
concentrating primarily on the Tasmanian devil but including
both the Eastern and Spotted - tail Quoll. Visitors to view
these animals from the comfort of the Visitors Centre or
wander through the sanctuary on a personalised guided tour
ensuring a close up encounter with a Tasmanian devil.
Strahan
Strahan is and attractive sheltered harbourside village, the
gateway to the beautiful Franklin - Gordon Wild Rivers
National Park. Cruise operators ‘Gordon River Cruises’ and
‘World Heritage Cruises’ both cross Macquarie Harbour to
Hells Gates, where the harbour and Indian Ocean literally
collide, creating a particularly treacherous stretch of
water. On an optional visit to the ruins of the fascinating
penal settlement of Sarah Island, you can see where the
worst convicts from Port Arthur were sent. Later, when your
vessel docks at Heritage Landing on the thickly forested
shores of the Gordon, you can view rare Huon pines. Some of
the specimens in this forest are more than 2,000 years old.
The West Coast Wilderness Railway: The 35km section of rail
from Queenstown to Strahan (or in reverse) is serviced by a
fully restored 100-year-old steam locomotive that ran the
original rail line. It winds its way through one of the
world’s last pristine wilderness areas, crossing 40 bridges
and wild rivers and climbing 200 metres on its journey. This
is a truly fascinating trip that reconstructs some of the
early miner and pioneer experiences through the massive
dense undergrowth and steeply cut rail tracks.
Travel aboard Tasmania's
West Coast Wilderness Railway from Strahan and
experience what is considered to be one of the engineering
marvels of Australia. Enjoy spectacular views as you pass
over bridges towering above the rivers below, through
massive hand-hewed rock cuttings, under the protective
canopies of ancient rainforests and along the edge of
plunging gorges.
Enjoy a
Gordon
River Cruise across Macquarie Harbour on the beautifully
appointed Lady Jane Franklin II then journey up the mighty
Gordon River, with its ancient Huon pines and perfect
reflections. Explore a World Heritage rainforest with trees
thousands of years old and the convict settlement of Sarah
Island.
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