Hobart
The southern-most and second oldest state capital, Hobart has
retained its links with its maritime past by retaining its Georgian
colonial stone buildings and fishermen's wharves that are lined with
sandstone warehouses.
The Central Business District is located on the western shore, adjacent
to Sullivans Cove, with the inner suburbs spread out along the shores
of the Derwent and climbing up the hills at the foot of Mount
Wellington (1270 metres). The Port of Hobart occupies the whole of the
original Sullivans Cove.
Port Arthur
Of all the convict related historic sites around Australia, none so graphically tell the story of Australia’s convict past that the ruins of the convict settlement at Port Arthur. The place is a window into modern Australia’s beginnings, and paints a vivid picture of the lives and times of those poor wretches who were transported to Australia from Britain to start a new life on the other side of the world.
Launceston and Tamar Valley
The wide Tamar estuary, flanked by two first-class highways, serves the heavy industrial districts and port of Bell Bay at the mouth of the Tamar River. The valley is picturesque and full of interest; it is the second most important fruit growing district in the state. Many orchards offer door sales of their produce. There are also more than 20 vineyards lining the shores of the valley and tourists are guided by the Tamar Valley Wine Route. The East Tamar Highway, linking Gorgetown with Launceston, is one of Tasmania's oldest roads. Alongside it are numerous heritage buildings, the remains of three convict built semaphore stations at Mount Direction and an historic lighthouse and signal station at Low Head.
Cradle Mountain
A short drive from Tasmania’s northern regional cities, the Great Western Tiers are the front door to Tasmania’s most well known peak – Cradle Mountain – and form part of the rugged highlands that dominate central Tasmania. Mountains, caves, waterfalls and lakes are among the spectacular natural wonders which conjure up mystical moods. It is a spiritual place and a region of rare and diverse beauty.
Freycinet Peninsula
There are few places in Australia where you can you find pink granite mountains rising straight from the sea to form a magnificent sheltered waterway like those at this stunning location. The village of Coles Bay sits at the foot of the granite mountains known as the Hazards and on the edge of the world-renowned Freycinet National Park. Within the park is Wineglass Bay, one of Tasmania’s most photographed localities that has been acclaimed as being one of the top ten beaches in the world.
Macquarie Harbour
Situated right in the heart of Tasmania’s Heritage Listed South West Wilderness region, Macquarie Harbour’s tranquil waters are surrounded by a rugged coastline, mountain ranges, fast flowing rivers, steep gorges, rainforest wilderness and ghost towns. The town of Strahan, situated on Macquarie Harbour, is the starting point for Gordon River cruises and air tours over the South West Wilderness.
Tasman Peninsula
An extremely scenic part of Tasmania that is dominated by rolling pastures and heavily timbered hills and surrounded by dramatic coastline of sheer cliffs, towering rocky outcrops, sheltered bays and sea caves. Walking tracks and kayaks give access to the area's more isolated corners. And if that isn't enough to entice you to jump on a plane to Tassie and go see it for yourself, there's the added bonus of the peninsula being steeped in Australia's convict history; it contains some of the country's most important convict heritage sites, the jewel in the crown being the Port Athur settlement.
Huon Valley and Bruny Island
No trip to Hobart and Southern Tasmania is complete without a drive through the Huon Valley along The Huon Trail. Taking in the the fruit growing district of the Huon River valley, Port Huon, Bruny Island and the vast expanse of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, the Huon Trail incorporates busy towns and sleepy villages, serene boutique farms and World Heritage Wilderness areas accessed by roads that wind through a world of extensive and beautiful valleys and waterways.
Flinders Island
Surrounded by over 50 mostly uninhabited islands, more than 65 shipwrecks and with over 120 pristine beaches, Flinders Island is a great place for a relaxing, rejuvenating holiday, being set amid the tranquillity of one of Australia's idyllic natural settings. Not many people live there, and not many people go there, so this is the place to be if you don't want to share your holiday destination with the rest of Australia. Around 900 people live on the island, with farming and fishing being important industries. The farmers producing quality beef and lamb as well as clean fine wool and the fishermen harvesting crayfish, abalone, scallops and giant crabs.
King Island
Australia's seventh largest island, King Island is best known for its superb dairy produce, seafood and its beef being among the best in the world. The pace of life is far slower than just about anywhere else in Australia and the locals - there are only around 2,000 of them - boast that the only traffic delays they encounter are wallabies, turkeys, possums and pheasants, to name a few. Situated between Victoria and mainland Tasmania at the western entrance to Bass Strait, King Island is only a 50 dminute flight away from Melbourne, but it might just as well be 1,000 kms away, given the stark contrast between the laid back way of life here and the hustle and bustle of the Australia's second largest city across the waters of Bass Strait.
