destination – Tasmania

TASMANIA
Be captivated by Tasmania

A long time ago, Tasmania wasn’t regarded as the ideal destination by visitors. A cold and lonely island, it had corners so remote and forbidding that it proved the perfect place to accommodate the worst criminals. The brutal stone prisons built there and feared by all were virtually escape proof.

The shells of those mournful buildings remain, but now, of course, you’d be hard-pressed to imagine a more hospitable place for visitors than Tasmania. Its raw, rugged natural beauty and pristine wilderness still inspire awe, which is now tempered with creature comforts; excellent accommodation and facilities, beautiful food made with incomparable locally-grown produce, world-class wineries and breweries, gentle, beguiling cities that wear their fascinating history on their sleeves.

>> Destination Tasmania, Weekends For Two

Tasmania is a traveller’s destination for all seasons, but there’s no doubt that the warmer months are particularly inviting. As the heat descends on mainland Australia, Tasmania has the antidote to the summer madness. It stays cooler here, with its shady green interior and high granite outcrops.

It also has beaches to enjoy – long, breathtaking beaches on which the only footprints you’ll see all day will be your own. Surfers can find their own private break and divers will relish the clean, clear water and abundant sea life.

Freycinet, on the east coast, is the perfect summer escape. Granite peaks tower over tranquil bushland, which descends to the edge of sandy beaches and dazzling blue water, ideal for a cool off or to explore by canoe.

The West Coast beaches, on the other hand, are unforgettable – wild and woolly, with huge waves rolling in off the southern ocean. A brisk walk along the waterline here completely redefines invigorating.

The centre for exploring the west is the small town of Strahan, gateway to the World Heritage wilderness area in the south-western corner of the state. Settlers built Strahan to support the fledgling industry in Huon pine, and even now it has the unmistakable feel of a frontier town –’ close to the rugged bush and the sea, steeped in history, with a feeling of cosy isolation. From here you can explore the ruins of the Sarah Island prison or the waterways leading into the wilderness, travel further afield to the mining towns nearby and ride the famed West Coast Railway.

It’s the wilderness that beckons many mainlanders to Tasmania. Some of Australia’s iconic bushwalks can be found amid the dense bushland and along the razor-sharp spurs. Nothing captures the imagination quite like the Cradle Mountain walk

But contact with the wilderness doesn’t necessarily require thermal underwear, polar sleeping bags and a tracking beacon. Organised tours can take you deep into the Tasmanian wilderness in relative comfort. A cruise down the Gordon River from Strahan or a heart-stopping flight over the Wild Rivers National Park provides a glimpse of the stoic character and mystical heart of this World Heritage-listed region.

And while there is no shortage of fresh air, exercise and the great outdoors to appreciate in Tasmania, the cities, too, have a gentle charm. Hobart has long been a magnet for creative people, and their work is on display at galleries and in the much-loved Salamanca Market on Saturdays. Stroll along the lanes of Battery Point, one of the most unspoilt historic precincts in the country, eat fish and chips at Constitution Dock, survey the peaceful city from high atop Mount Wellington, lounge around at the cafes, tea shops and seafood restaurants. Using Hobart as a comfortable base, explore the cool orchards of the nearby Huon Valley or the impossibly rugged coastline of the Tasman Peninsula. The last thing you’ll want to do is escape.

Michelle Fincke