Top places: Hobart, Lake St Clair, Cradle Mountain, Freycinet Peninsula, Port Arthur, Maria Island.
The Island State of Tasmania is separated from
mainland by a 240 km stretch across Bass Strait, so it is the only Australian
state that isn't located on the mainland. The state is famous for it's spectacular
views and world renowned wilderness areas. Tasmania is a place of fresh unpolluted
air, cool fresh water, rich soil, and gourmet produce.
Tasmania is one of the worlds last temperate wildernesses and over one quarter of the state is protected with National Park status. The Island state is mountainous
and on the western coastline you will find rugged coastlines, lush temperate
rainforest, and steep mountains side by side.
Arguably the most scenic area in Tasmania, Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park is the jewel of Tasmania's wilderness. This park has many bush walks and some of these walks (treks) are similar and even rival the walks you find Southwest New Zealand.
The east coast of Tasmania is less mountainous
but the climate is warmer and the best beaches in Tasmania can be found here.
One particularly beautiful area on the east coast is the Freycenet National
Park. Wineglass Bay one of the beaches here, has been voted as one of the top 10
best beaches in the world by travellers, according to US-based Outside magazine.
Australia's southernmost capital city is Hobart and is the country's second oldest city after Sydney. It is a riverside city with a busy harbour with a mountainous backdrop offering fine views over the compact suburbs below. Hobart has a thriving arts-and-crafts scene, a real sense of history, and is unlike anywhere else in Australia.
When Abel Janszoon Tasman, the Dutch explorer who discovered Australia sailed passed the west coast of Tasmania, he named it Van Diemen's Land after the governor of Batavia. In 1856 the name was changed to Tasmania. Evidence of Tasmania's notorious past due to it's status as a penal colony of Britain (for the worst criminals), can be seen around the Port Arthur area near Hobart, so there is some interesting history and places to visit.
Tasmania has unique wildlife, the
most famous is the Tasmanian Devil which is a small and ferocious cat like
animal. The now extinct Tasmanian Tiger is reportedly seen by some people
who have trekked through very remote areas, but to date these sightings have
not been confirmed. Tasmania also has its fair share of other Australian animals
such as Kangaroos and Possums but are often unique due to the differing environment this mountainous temperate island offers.
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