Separated from mainland Australia by the 240 km stretch of Bass Strait, Tasmania is a land apart - a place of wild and beautiful landscapes; friendly, welcoming people; a pleasant, temperate climate; wonderful wine and food; a rich history; and a relaxed island lifestyle.
South Southern Tasmania is made up of much more than beautiful Hobart. The region is dotted with historic villages, farmland, forests and national parks. Then there's the impressive penal colony remains at Port Arthur, and the picturesque Huon Valley. Hobart, Tasmania's capital and Australia's second-oldest state capital, after Sydney. Founded in 1804 on the mouth of the River Derwent against the striking backdrop of Mount Wellington, Hobart is a city of attractive Georgian sandstone and brick buildings, many convict-built. With its stunning harbour and historic architecture Hobart is one of the most attractive Australian cities. It's the perfect first step for an exploration of the south. Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula is one of Australia's prettiest harbours and the site of a former penal colony for reoffending convicts. The magnificent Southwest National Park covers over 600,000 hectares of wild, inspiring country. The park, the largest in Tasmania, epitomises the grandeur and spirit of wilderness.Beautiful Richmond, 20 minutes from Hobart on the Heritage Highway, is Tasmania's premier historic town. You'll find the oldest bridge and Catholic church in Tasmania, as well as the oldest post office in Australia.
North East Whether you're looking for a pleasant stroll through a historic city, for one of the best meals of your life, or for a trek through some of Australia's most dramatic national parks on the trail of abundant wildlife, then Tasmania's south coast will seem heaven-sent. Surrounded by farmland, Tasmania's second city, Launceston, is crammed with Victorian and Edwardian architecture, parks and gardens. A meandering river, a scenic gorge and historic hotels add to its charm. Explore Narawntapu National Park's coastal ranges, beaches, inlets, islands, wetlands, dunes and lagoons. An amazing variety of plants and animals inhabit the park, including wombats and Tasmanian devils, forester kangaroos and Bennetts wallabies, which come out in the evening to graze on the grasslands.
North West Northern and western Tasmania is about as unspoilt as you can get. Huge tracts of rainforest wilderness, wild rivers and craggy coastlines dominate. River cruises, self-drive expeditions and historic towns make for an adventure paradise. One of Tasmania's top attractions, Cradle Mountain offers bushwalks over grass plains, past lakes filled with trout, and majestic moss forests and stands of native pine. Craggy mountain ridges, pristine wilderness, hoards of scampering marsupials and delightful accommodation make for an essential stop-over. The north-west extremity of Tasmania is known as Cape Grim - the point where the Great Southern Ocean and Bass Strait collide. Expect spectacular lookouts, and dramatic coastal walks. In the wild and remote far north of Tasmania's west coast is the Arthur River, flowing through eucalypt forests and rainforests to the sea. Beyond the river is the western explorer route, an adventurous journey on gravel roads through wilderness to Corinna on the Pieman River, about 100 kilometres south.
