Tasmania - Van Diemen's Unspoiled Land
from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide

	River And Pine

It is easy to forget that Tasmania is an Australian state. An island off the southeast tip of mainland Australia, it is only 240 km away, but the rough Bass Straight between them makes it feel countries away. In fact, Tasmania often feels more like worlds away with animals and vegetation found nowhere else on earth: Tasmanian Devils, Mountain Shrimp, Quolls, ancient Huon Pines and the elusive Tasmanian Tiger (now extinct) are part of the Tasmanian mystique. But its otherworldliness is also in part due to its fascinating landscape. Rough mountain ranges, pristine waters, untainted air, and lush forests gives the effect of a land before time. And they intend on keeping it that way. Many National Parks and Reserves exist in Tasmania with one-fifth of its land conserved as a World Heritage Area.

The island's natural state may also be in part due to its small populace. Tasmania, about the size of Ireland, only has a population of 471,900 with 40 percent of its people living in the state's capital Hobart. That is not to say that Tasmania is not a popular place. With thousands of visitors each year, tourism is part of the state's main economy. Agriculture also brings in fair trade. The state is responsible for the export of fruit, wine, cheese, and lavender—all known for their extraordinary quality. Mining, on the other hand, has always had an important and contradictory past in Tasmania. Gold was discovered in the 1870s and so excavations began. Today, mining for copper and magnesite, mainly in the Queenstown region, as well as logging, are important industries that employ thousands.

However, a region celebrated for its pristine wilderness, the concern to conserve its most valuable resource—the environment—became eminent. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, environmentalists had their voices heard and established what is believed to be the first Green Party. And despite what some may consider as horrendous anti-environment industry activity, Tasmania remains to be world-renowned for its pristine air and water, thought of as the purest in the world. It is even rumoured that Tasmanian rainwater is shipped to Australian athletes training abroad.

But while environmental action was successful in preventing dams and other actions considered to be damaging to the environment, jobs have suffered in the interim. Today, unemployment is possibly Tasmania's largest concern.

Tasmania isn't all rough and rugged, though. Its many museums and cultural events illustrate a more refined past as do Georgian stately and gentleman's homes remaining from the English colonial era—a contrast also to the state's convict past. With the majority of past immigrants from England, Tasmania retains a British quality complete with B&Bs, cream teas, and stone-built villages.

History

Tasmania’s history is one of discovery, intrigue, crime, disaster, and recovery—and it’s by no means dead. With historical sights aplenty on this small island—dotted with stately homes, prisons, batteries, museums—it is not difficult to find a link to the past.

Tasmania was first discovered in 1642 by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman who originally named the isle after his employer: Van Diemen’s Land. The land wasn’t largely settled until 1788 when Sydney Cove was settled with the island’s first shipment of convicts. In 1822, with the overcrowding of prisons in

Lavender

England, Tasmania officially became a penal colony, one with a harsh reputation. The main jails became Port Arthur and Richmond. Convicts who committed crimes once in Tasmania were sent to Macquarie Harbour, a prison with conditions so harsh that many of its inhabitants would commit murder so that they themselves would be executed. Convict shipment wasn’t restricted to men. Many women and children were sent to the Women’s Factory, many for petty crime such as stealing clothes and food.By 1845, the convict population reached 30,000—47 percent of the overall population. It wasn’t until 1853, when free settlers protested the continued shipment of convicts, that shipment ceased. The last penal settlement at Port Arthur closed in 1877.

Van Diemen’s Land changed its name to Tasmania in 1856 in an attempt to revamp its reputation. Around this time, many of the convicts were released and free to settle. Many settlers also arrived from Britain, accounting for the strong English tradition in Tasmania.

Of course Europeans weren’t the first to come to Tasmania. Aborigines have a 40,000-year history. It was thought that they crossed over before Tasmania and mainland Australia had drifted too far apart. Sadly, their end coincided with European settlement when they were systematically eliminated. The last full-blooded Aborigine, Truganini, died in 1876.

Little is known about the Aborigine culture here, but there has been an attempt to recover this lost piece of the past. The Tiagarra is a comprehensive interpretative centre that was established to showcase Tasmanian Aborigine history.

Climate

Tasmania’s climate reputation has become entangled with the Roaring Forties, which refers to the latitude that is associated with abominable winds and weather patterns that create a band of extremely volatile weather. The southwest of Tasmania in particular is laden with heavy rains and winds as the Southern Ocean—the ocean that separates Australia from Antarctica—borders its coast. Nonetheless, the island generally enjoys the same warmth and sunshine as mainland Australia and has four distinct seasons: summer is warm rather than hot; autumn has warm days with cooler evenings; winter is blustery and cool with mountains often receiving enough snowfall for two ski hills to operate sporadically; and spring has the cold winds of winter that interrupt an otherwise warm sun. However, Tasmania has been known to go through all these seasons in the space of one day, from highs of 27 degrees (80 F) in the morning to snow in the afternoon.

Because of Tasmania's fickle climate, preparation before embarking on any outdoor pursuit is essential. It is suggested that weather forecasts be checked beforehand and that a recognized guide accompany inexperienced outdoor enthusiasts. While on any expedition, whether it be a day or a week, wearing multi-layered, rainproof clothing that will allow for extreme changes in climate is needed. And as with anywhere in the southern hemisphere, sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended.

Transportation

While Hobart and Launceston have airports, they are not international thus all flights to Tasmania must originate in mainland Australia with most main airlines offering daily flights. Or visitors may take the popular Spirit of Tasmania, an overnight ferry service between Melbourne in mainland Australia to Devonport on the northern coast in Tasmania.

Once in Tasmania, getting around is easy. The island is small with most areas accessible by car. Car rentals are also easy to come by in any major centre. Public transportation is also fairly accessible, convenient, and economic for the budget conscious traveller.

Orientation

Including its islands, Tasmania is only 68,049 sq km (42,190 sq mi) making its varied landscape extraordinary. The west coast receiving 3m (10 ft) of rain a year, compounded by treacherous winds, is wildly rugged with most of the area made of mountains, cliffs, and rainforests. This area, while considered largely uninhabitable, is the reason so many tourists visit the isle. In contract, the island’s interior was flattened by a massive ice sheet in the last ice age leaving behind the Central Plateau. This area, unsuitable for farming due to glacial deposits and erratics, is home to Tasmania’s largest settlements: Hobart in the south and Launceston to the north. The east coast features gentle and stunning beaches, coves, and bays, while just off the north coast is the Tamar Valley. The area surrounding the banks of the Tamar River provides the perfect climate and soil for many vineyards to thrive in the region. Tasmania has several islands, its two largest are King Island to the northwest, and Flinders Island to the northeast.

Featured Attractions

With a great variety of attractions, Tasmania seems like the ideal vacation spot and its small size allows visitors to see it all.

National Parks and Reserves

Rainforest

With over 17 National Parks and Reserves, nature is Tasmania’s main attraction. Cradle Mountain is the island’s most visited park. With lakes of icy crystalline water, gushing pristine rivers, and towering ancient rain forests it is easy to see why. Lake St. Clair, Australia’s deepest lake, is found here with a depth of over 200 m (700 ft). On the east coast, visit the peninsula Freycinet Park. Dazzling like a rare gem, Wine Glass Bay, with its jewelled white sand, makes this park famous. Cataract Gorge Reserve near Launceston has some of Tasmania’s best recreational pursuits featuring abseiling, cable hang gliding, and a chairlift that spans 308 m (924 ft).

Recreation and nature go hand-in-hand in Tasmania. Fishing is a state favourite and, with an abundance of lakes and rivers, there is no shortage of choice or convenience. Yacht charters are also available for those not that into ruffing it. Bushwalking is popular with many routes leading in and around national parks. The Tasmanian Trail is the island’s longest at 480 km (298 mi) and is also suitable for mountain biking.

Many tour companies operate in Tasmania supplying everything from guided tours to recreational supplies. Rafting, bushwalking, fishing, scuba diving, mountain biking, all terrain, rock climbing, cruises, kayaking—Tasmania is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.

Special Sites of Interest

When in Tasmania, there are sites of interest that should not be missed due to their uniqueness. Tasmania, with its close proximity to the Antarctic, has Antarctic Adventure—an interpretive centre that has a recreated field camp among other attractions.

	Fishing

Tasmania is also known for its wine production. Visit the regions north of Launceston for wine tours in the Tamar Valley, such as the Hillwood Strawberry Farm, and south of Hobart, such as the Hartzview Vineyard, to enjoy vineyard tours and wine tasting.

Hobart’s docks should be visited for historical interest and scenic strolls, stopping at shops or watching boats. Starting annually on Boxing Day, visitors can wait to see yachts involved in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race cross the finish line.

King Island, with a small population of 1762, and small 1560 sq km (967 mi) area is a surprisingly large producer of world-class cheese, particularly Brie. It also features many of the same outdoor attractions as mainland Tasmania such as lovely walks around lakes, forests, and beaches. Flinders Island has an interesting and portentous history that is worth exploring. The small island also offers beautiful beaches and great fishing. With many shipwrecks all along the coast, some of which still visible above water, scuba diving is a popular attraction.

Historical Attractions

Finding a link to Tasmania’s rich past is easy with a plethora of historical attractions around almost every bend. The Port Arthur prison ruins, the Women’s Factory, and the historic town of Richmond are ideal for gaining insight into Tasmania’s chilling convict past. In contrast, the National Trust of Australia keeps many stately properties. The remains of a bygone era include Entally House, with Regency décor intact, and Clarendon Homestead¸ a Georgian jewel. Among many museums, visitors may find their sea legs at the Maritime Museum of Tasmania, or discover their inner wild child at the National Automobile Museum.

Culture

Over recent years, Tasmania has made arduous attempts to revamp their backwoods, convict image. They’ve been very successful. An arts and culture community thrives that may be explored through a variety of galleries, museums, and special events. The Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery in Hobart, the Victoria Museum & Art Gallery in Launceston, and the Gallery & Arts Centre in Devonport display a large collection of pieces ranging from early colonial to contemporary works. A rich and unique tradition in fine craft is established in Tasmania as well. The island known for its Huon pines, is also known for its construction of furniture from them. The Tasmanian Wood Design Collection at the Design Centre in Launceston displays unconventional, contemporary, and internationally recognized furniture. Other wood works from the famous pine may be found at Artisan Gallery and Wine Centre, a short drive from Launceston, which displays a variety of handcrafted pieces from Tasmanian artisans.

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, a world-class ensemble, is worth seeing. For edgier entertainment, watch out for TasDance, a contemporary dance troupe, and IHOS Opera, an experimental theatre and music company. And the new festival Ten Days on the Island, which features a variety of entertainment of island cultures from around the world, is quickly gaining a solid reputation.

Flora and Fauna

	Vineyard

Many of Tasmania’s indigenous vegetation and animals differ from that found anywhere else on earth. The most celebrated of all flora is the Huon Pine—a slow growing pine revered by boat makers and craftspeople alike for its water repellent quality. Most of the island’s peculiar creatures are nocturnal, such as the Tasmanian Devil, and are thus not likely to be seen except at wildlife parks. Tasmania is also the home to the Eastern Quoll, a brown cat-like marsupial with white spots that is extinct elsewhere. And while considered extinct, some 400 people have claimed in recent years to have seen the Tasmanian Tiger. In a few years, this claim may not be so outrageous. Scientists reportedly have extracted the DNA from Tasmanian Tiger remains and are preparing to clone it. And Tasmania was recently in the news with a new species discovery when a giant squid—weighing 248 kg (550 lbs) with 15 m (50 ft) long tentacles—was found beached near Hobart.