Australia > Tasmania

Is a large Island haven off the South East Coast of Mainland Australia and it is the smallest of the Australian states in terms of geographic size and population. The major industries are agriculture, forestry and tourism.

Tasmania is seen by some mainland Australians (especially politicians) as a "back water state" and many industries have re-located to the mainland. However it is a very popular destination for Australian holiday makers with frequent flights from major mainland cities, including Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and ferry services from Sydney and Melbourne. Hobart is the state capital and Launceston is the next largest city.

The Heritage State
Heritage sites abound that exude the history of convicts, settlers and unfortunately the extermination of the indigenous population. Port Arthur is an old penal settlement and an iconic asset on the Tasman Peninsula about 100 km south-east of Hobart. Created with convict labour, the impressive architecture, delightful gardens and chilling prison facilities survive today for you to explore. To drive there, take hwy A3 North from Hobart to Sorell and hwy A9 to Copping - Murdunna - and Port Arthur. There is also a ferry from Hobart to Port Arthur. For more info please visit the Port Arthur Website.

Nature:
Tasmania has a great natural heritage with pristine national parks and one fifth of the state designated as World Heritage areas. The largest national parks with heritage listings are; Cradle Mountain,  Lake St Clair, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers, and South-West National Park.

Here you will find challenging outdoor adventures. The most renowned is the World Heritage listed Cradle Mountain/Lake St. Clair National Park in north west Tasmania. Cradle Mountain at 1545 metres is the second highest point in Tasmania with Mt. Ossa at 1617 metres the highest. Here you find rugged mountains, ancient rain forests, glaciers and of course Lake St Clair. Cradle is the starting point for the world-famous Overland Track, a magnificent 5 day+ walk that will take you through the heart of some of the finest mountain terrain. The most popular walk is the Overland Track which attracts around 9000 walkers annually.

Park entry fees are from $10.00 per person or $20.00 per car. The fee to walk The Overland Track from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair costs $100.00, and money raised by fees goes toward the maintenance and protection of Tasmania's national parks.

Being separated from the mainland, the absence of introduced predators and a mild temperate climate with relatively low rainfall, has resulted in many species of plant and animal species being found only in Tasmania, and it is reputed to have one of the largest number of marsupials within Australia with many birds and animals endemic to the state.  This amazing variety of native bird and animals is attributed to the fact that the island state takes conservation and resource preservation very seriously. 

The Regions:

The North-West Coastal Region is primarily an agricultural and is a very popular tourist destination. The major towns of Burnie and Devonport have many natural attractions including the popular surfing beach of Boat Harbour. You will also find many wildlife parks and wilderness areas.

Conservation is a hot political topic as Tasmanians are passionate about preserving the wilderness and eco systems while the state and federal governments seem determined to exploit nature. Learn more at The Wilderness Society website.

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