Tasmania is a natural conservation area, providing habitats for several species unique to it alone. The poorly-behaved Tasmanian Devil is one famous example, and the lesser-known eastern quoll, pademelon and bettong are also native to the island. More than 40 per cent of Australia's total number of convicts populated Tasmania in its early years of European occupation, making prisons a routine sight and a major industry. The island's remotely beautiful landscape belies its turbulent past that, at one point, saw it cut off from the rest of Australia because of marauding, recently released convicts let loose on the mainland.

The capital city of Hobart's busy harbour trades its wares, and Sullivans Cove is lined with shops, restaurants and services. Port Arthur's huge prison was usually the first stop for convicts, and historic Launceston's estates interpret its settler's British pasts. King Island's climate supports prosperous farms, and Flinders Island's parks, along with the myriad that pepper the rest of the state, are fascinating for their varied topography, and Tasmania's beaches rank among the best in the world.