Cradle Mountain

Tasmania
Pic: by Bjorn Christian Torrissen

Australia’s smallest and only island state covers an area of just 68 000 sq km and is home to over 477 100 people. Bass Strait separates ‘Tassie’ from the mainland (240 km north), with the Tasman Sea (east) and the vast Southern Ocean (south). Original inhabitants were the Palawa Aborigines dating back some 35 000 years with middens common around the coastline. Discovered and named Van Diemen’s Land by Abel Tasman in 1642, it was renamed by parliament in 1856. A penal colony was established around 1822 and Hobart became Tasmania’s capital in 1825, named after a British Lord, Robert Hobart. Southern Tasmania is famed for the Southwest NP (the state’s largest) and North and South Bruny Islands. Eastern Tasmania offers capital Hobart, historic Port Arthur, the Tasman and Freycinet Peninsulas, popular Bicheno (fishing and diving) and many gorgeous beaches. Northern Tasmania is home to Mt William NP, oldest city Launceston, Devonport and spectacular landscapes and coastlines. A truly scenic state with abundant national parks, walking trails and waterfalls. Today’s economy is based on tourism, mining, timber, manufacturing and aquaculture. Tasmania was the first Australian state to introduce permanent daylight saving (1970) and opened the country’s first legal casino at Wrest Point in Hobart (1973). The state’s floral emblem is the Tasmanian Blue Gum.

Visitor Information Centre: Cnr Davey & Elizabeth Sts, Hobart. Tel (03) 6230 8233.