Tasmania will enchant you

You can’t just visit Tasmania. You have to feel it. Breathe it. Taste it. Drink it in.

Australia’s smallest and most geographically diverse State, Tasmania is world renowned for it’s unique and stunning landscapes that range from dramatic coastal cliffs to alpine ranges and cool temperate rainforest wonderlands. Tasmania has many places still wild and untouched by man. With so much natural beauty, it is little wonder over 40% of the State is reserved as National Parks or World Heritage Wilderness.

Being a compact island, it's easy to experience the diversity of landscapes in a relatively short period of time. But be warned, Tasmania is so much bigger on the inside – it’s hidden secrets and treasures will draw you in and make you want to return again and again.

Tasmania’s natural beauty will exhilarate you, it’s relaxed pace and friendly locals will charm you, it’s pioneering and convict history will send shivers down your spine and the spectacular fresh local food and wine will satisfy your stomach and your soul.

You will enjoy four distinctive seasons in Tasmania. Winter is the perfect time to sample some local food and wine, relax in front of an open fire and enjoy the changing weather. Winter can be cold, but coastal areas have an average daily temperature of around 12 degrees, making these areas reasonably temperate. Autumn brings colourful leaves, magical fungi, crisp mornings and joyously sunny days. Spring is natures carnival - with newborn animals and flowering trees and crops everywhere you turn. Plentiful rain nourishes green pastures, and the rich red soils grow some of Tasmania’s finest produce. Summer is pleasantly warm (with average daily temperatures around 23 degrees Celsius) however the sun can be extremely harsh – so be prepared with sunscreen in the warmer months between December and March. There is usually very low humidity in the Tasmanian summer – making it the perfect place to get away from the oppressive summer heat common to mainland Australia.

Tasmania's national parks cover a diversity of unspoiled habitats and ecosystems with plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth, such as the iconic Tasmanian Devil. Native plant species are also as varied as its many environments. They include a huge range of eucalypts, ancient conifers such as the Huon pine, and Australia's only native deciduous plant, the Fagus, which can be seen in many of the National Parks

Many of Tasmania’s iconic places are located in or near its national parks, like Cradle Mountain in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park and the Franklin River in the Gordon-Franklin Wild Rivers National Park. The Tarkine Wilderness is located in the North-West corner of Tasmania, and is home to the largest cool temperate rainforest in the world, and some of the most diverse, unspoilt and untamed areas in Tasmania.

Hobart is Tasmania’s capital city – and Australia’s second oldest capital after Sydney, NSW. Located in the South of the State on the banks of the Derwent River and presided over by the imposing Mt Wellington, Hobart is both bustling and picturesque. With a population of approximately 200,000 people in the greater Hobart region, residents enjoy a cosmopolitan mix of restaurants, cafes and artisan culture. The Salamanca Markets are a must see attraction, as is the edgy Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). Described by Lonely Planet as one of the top ten places to visit in the world, Hobart has a charming combination of heritage and culture that is both romantic and captivating.

Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania – and one of the oldest in Australia. Settled in 1806, it has many historic buildings and natural attractions such as Cataract Gorge and City Park. Launceston is also renowned for the cellar doors that can be found along the Tamar Valley Wine Route. Located in the North of the State, 2.5hrs from Hobart and 1.5 hrs from Devonport, surrounded by country villages and host to AFL football in Tasmania, Launceston is a popular base for tourists.

Devonport and Burnie are the major population centres in the North West of the State. Both cities have populations around 20,000, however they service wider rural communities of around 100,000, therefore have excellent shopping, restaurants and facilities. Devonport is the port of the Spirit of Tasmania passenger ferry from Melbourne, and both Devonport and Burnie/Wynyard have airports with several flights a day to Melbourne. The towns along the North-West coast are dotted along Bass Straight, with the rolling hills of rich farmland producing much of the State’s world-class fresh, premium produce. Cradle Mountain and the Tarkine Wilderness provide unique and exceptional nature experiences and the dramatic coastline gives way to pristine beaches and private bays that will take your breath away.

It’s wild and it’s unspoilt – and it’s an experience that will stay with you after you leave. Tasmania does that – it gets under your skin. That’s why so many people return. Once is never enough to experience all that Tasmania has to offer.

For more information, visit the Discover Tasmania's Website