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.
Hobart Surrounds
Located on the mouth of the Derwent River, Hobart boasts an abundance of historical, cultural and culinary delights. Beyond the city centre, there is much to see and do, from walks alongside the River Derwent, climbing Mt Wellington or visiting the many museums and galleries in suburban Hobart, to going further afield and discovering the many historic villages dotted throughout the countryside. You can walk across Australia's oldest bridge and stand in the cell of its oldest jail in picturesque Richmond, a 30-minute drive north-east from Hobart. Explore the cobblestone streets by the lantern light of a ghost tour or picnic on the banks of the Coal River.
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.
North West
The North West Tasmania region covers a large area including the coastal towns of Devonport, Burnie and Stanley; Cradle Mountain National Park and the rugged peaks of the Great Western Tiers form an imposing backdrop to this coastal farmland region. The narrow strip of coastal plain between the island's central mountains and Bass Strait is one of the richest regions agriculturally in the state and the most densely populated. Travellers often remark that the countryside reminds them of rural England, but that resemblance is mainly due to the fact that the early settlers introduced English trees and hedges.
North East
The north east corner of Tasmania, and the coastline which extends south from it is a region of magnificent coastal vistas, good surf beaches and fishing grounds. The numerous small seaside villages, nestled mainly around sheltered inlets, increase dramatically in size during the summer holidays and are fairly quiet at other times. The clear water of the rivers, bays and miles of beaches abound with sea life including lobster, abalone and many varieties of scale fish. In stark contrast is the hinterland, a mountainous area where once miners extracted tin and gold from the ground, but today farmers plough patchwork quilts of rich dark soil, where bountiful crops grow alongside verdant pasture.
Central Highlands and Midlands
Tasmania's midlands are famed for both their agricultural and and architectural heritage. The major towns - Oatlands, Campbell Town, Ross and Bothwell - are among Australia's prettiest villages. Collectively the are renowned as the finest examples of Georgian era villages in the world today. Tasmania's nearby Central Highlands, consisting of a series of mountains and lakes in the Great Western Tiers range, are largely contained in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park. The spectacular scenery and easy bushwalks make it one of Tasmania's most popular destinations. The Lakes region is a trout fishing paradise, with Great Lake and Arthurs Lake being particularly popular.
East Coast
The East coast of Tasmania, which begins at the north-east corner of the state, Cape Portland, features wide sweeping beaches punctuated by headlands of granite, much of which is covered in orange lichen. The crystal clear waters, the ribbons of clear white sandy beaches and the brightly painted rocks that punctuate them, have led to these beaches being ranked internationally among the best in the world. But the untamed natural majesty of Tasmania's rugged mountainous terrain is never far away, encircling the farmlands are deeply wooded rainforests where the "Whtie Knights", the world's largest eucalypts, grow in abundance, rivers flow over waterfalls and wildlife abounds.
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.
West Coast
The western portion area of Tasmania is made up of rugged coast, serene natural harbours, densely forested mountain ranges, fast flowing rivers, steep gorges, rainforest wilderness and ghost towns. Inland are a number of historic mining towns, including Queenstown, with it eerie, infamous "lunar landscape", the result of a lethal combination of bushfires, rainfall, along with tree-felling and sulphur from mining activity around a century ago. The region has some of the most pristine and beautiful wilderness in the world, encapsulated in the World Heritage listed Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
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.
