As Australia's only island state, Tasmania has always been slightly cut off from the mainland. But this isn't a bad thing - it means that Tasmania's massive swathes of natural wilderness and colonial legacy have been superbly well preserved.
Although small, Tasmania has an astonishingly diverse geography as the alpine waterfalls, dense rainforests and sparkling glacial lakes of Cradle Mountain stand in sharp contrast to the white sand beaches and gigantic granite peaks of the Freycinet Peninsula. A fifth of the island is officially designated as a World Heritage Site, protecting the native habitats of the indigenous echidnas, kangaroos, wallabies - and of course Tasmanian Devils.
Tasmania highlights
With the many national parks and the breathtaking scenery around every corner, Tasmania holidays are perfect for self-driving. Take the 200km scenic coastal drive from Narantawpu National Park to the remote northwest, see Tasmania’s heritage driving from north to south from Launceston to Hobart or wind through farmlands and rolling mountains from Devonport on the north coast to Cradle Mountain.
The capital of Tasmania, Hobart, is a superb place for foodies — there are many local beers produced here that warrant a few days’ stay themselves. This fashionable city’s old sandstone warehouse art galleries and bustling riverside communities are best seen from Mount Wellington, which towers over the city, keeping a watchful eye on proceedings. The drive to the summit of Mount Wellington is scenic and exciting, and once there you can spend many hours exploring the bushwalk trails.
Freycinet National Park is arguably Tasmania’s most famous; quite probably because it sums up everything the State has to offer. The dramatic pink granite peaks of the Hazards Range give way to hidden bays with white sandy beaches, such as Wineglass Bay. Tasmania’s east coast is beautiful and this spot of the peninsula is particularly picturesque with birds occupying lagoons and breathtaking views of the Hazards at sunset.
Holidays to Tasmania are certain to be full of unique wildlife. Most famous of all is the Tasmanian Devil, a carnivorous marsupial, most usually only found in the wild in Tasmania. Other animals you might catch sight of in Tasmania are platypuses, the little penguin, wombats and pademelon, plus plenty of indigenous flora.
