Tasmania General Information Area: 68,400 sq km (26,409 sq miles). Population: 470,100 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 6.9 per sq km. Capital: Hobart. Population: 194,200 (official estimate 1999). GEOGRAPHY: A separate island located 240km (149 miles) south of Melbourne across Bass Strait. Roughly heart-shaped, Tasmania is 296km (184 miles) long, ranging from 315km (196 miles) wide in the north to 70km (44 miles) in the south. The island has a diverse landscape comprising rugged mountains (snowcapped in winter), dense bushland (including the Horizontal Forest, so-called because the tree trunks are bent over parallel to the ground), tranquil countryside and farmland. Approximately 40 per cent of Tasmania is taken up by national parks, half of this being the UNESCO-listed temperate wilderness in the west of the island. Located midway between Victoria and the northwest of Tasmania in Bass Strait lies King Island. This rich and fertile island, famous for its beef and dairy products, is regularly serviced by air carriers and is a popular tourist destination. To the northeast of Tasmania, also in Bass Strait, can be found Flinders Island, part of the Furneaux group of islands. Flinders Island is also popular with visitors and is particularly noted for its excellent coastal fishing and pristine beaches. Bruny Island, south of Hobart across the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, has superb beaches. The two parts of the island are joined by a narrow isthmus of sand-dunes, the home of Fairy Penguins from August to April. Time: GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 from first Sunday in October to last Saturday in March). Public Holidays Tasmania observes all the public holidays observed nationwide (see the main Australia section) and, in addition, the following are also observed: Feb 11 2003* Royal Hobart Regatta (south only). Feb 26* Launceston Cup. Mar 3 Eight Hours Day. Apr 14 Bank Holiday. Jun 9 Queen’s Birthday Celebrations. Oct 3* Burnie Show. Oct 9* Royal Launceston Show. Oct 17* Flinders Island Show. Oct 23* Hobart Show Day. Nov 2* Recreation Day. Nov 28* Devonport Show. Feb 10 2004* Royal Hobart Regatta. Feb 25* Launceston Cup. Mar 1 Eight Hours Day. Apr 14 Bank Holiday. Jun 14 Queen’s Birthday Celebrations. Oct 1* Burnie Show. Oct 7* Royal Launceston Show. Oct 15* Flinders Island Show. Oct 21* Hobart Show Day. Nov 2* Recreation Day. Nov 26* Devonport Show. Note: *Regional observance only. Travel - International AIR: Most flights come from the Australian mainland. Direct flights to Hobart arrive from Sydney and Melbourne, with quick connections available from Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin and Cairns. Launceston, Devonport and Burnie also receive flights from the mainland. Airlines serving Tasmania include Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Regional Express and Virgin Blue. The airport is 22km (14 miles) from Hobart city centre, a drive of about 35 minutes. Island Airlines Tasmania flies to Flinders Island. TasAir and King Island Airlines fly to King Island. Both islands are directly accessible from the Australian mainland, as well as from Tasmania. International airports: Hobart (HBA) lies 16km (10 miles) east of Hobart (travel time – 15-20 minutes by taxi). Airport facilities include banks/ATMs, bars, left luggage and car hire (Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty). SEA: There is an overnight ferry, the Spirit of Tasmania, which runs daily from Melbourne to Devonport on the northwest coast of the island (travel time – 10 hours), with additional day sailings during peak periods. This service is operated by TT Line (website: www.tt-line.com.au). RAIL: There are no passenger services. However, the Abt Railway, on the west coast between Queenstown and Strahan, has been reconstructed as a tourist attraction and named the West Coast Wilderness Railway. The railway’s steam locomotives use a rack-rail system to climb the steep gradients of the rainforest wilderness it passes through. It runs for 22 miles (35km) crossing around 40 rivers and passing through restored stations. In the northwest, the Don River Railway also runs regular excursions using both steam and diesel locomotives. For further information, contact Tourism Tasmania (see Contact Addresses section). ROAD: All settlements on the island are linked by a road system running for 22,000km (13,670 miles) over which there are bus services connecting the main cities and towns. The main routes are: the Lyell Highway from Hobart to Queenstown, the Huon Highway from Hobart to Southport, the Heritage Highway from Hobart to Launceston, the Tasman Highway from Hobart along the east coast and the Bass Highway linking the ports of the north and northwest coast. Coach: Tasmania has its own coach services; Tasmanian Redline Coaches, which offers a Super Tassie Bus Pass to out-of-state visitors, and Tasmania Wilderness Transport, which serves the needs of bushwalkers. Bicycle: Helmets must be worn at all times. URBAN: Local bus networks are operated in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie. Accommodation Tourism Tasmania publishes a booklet giving details of accommodation rates which is available from the Australian Tourist Commission (for address details, see the main Australia section). Information can also be obtained from the Australian Hotels Association, 176 New Town Road, New Town, Tasmania 7008 (tel: (3) 6278 1930; fax: (3) 6278 1971; e-mail: aha@australianhotels.asn.au; website: www.australianhotels.asn.au). HOTELS, MOTELS AND GUEST-HOUSES: There are international hotels in Hobart and Launceston and a wide range of tourist hotels, motels and guest-houses in all the major centres. Hotels tend to be slightly more expensive in Hobart and Launceston, and in the main tourist areas. CAMPING/CARAVANNING: A number of companies can arrange campervan or motorhome rentals, with a range of fully equipped vehicles. Full details can be obtained from Tourism Tasmania. There are numerous camping and caravan sites in Tasmania. It should be noted that camping is not permitted in any roadside picnic or rest areas. SELF-CATERING/FARM- AND HOMESTAYS: These are also widely available. More detailed information on the range of accommodation available in Australia may be found by consulting Accommodation in the main Australia section. HOSTELS: There is an extensive network of backpacker hostels all over the island. WILDERNESS LODGES: These are located in wilderness areas, and are designed to blend in with their surroundings. Some offer a high standard of comfort, while others are more humble in style. They also organise activities such as horseriding, wildlife viewing and guided walks. Introduction HOBART: Tasmania’s capital is Australia’s second-oldest city after Sydney and is situated on the south side of the island. The city has strong links with the sea, typified by the wharves, jetties and warehouses – some dating back to the 19th century – which cluster around the waterfront. Examples of the island’s history can be seen in the Maritime Museum of Tasmania, the convict-era buildings of Battery Point and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. The sweet-toothed will enjoy touring the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. Mount Wellington, towering 1270m (4170ft) to the west of the city, provides the backdrop to Hobart. From the lookout at the top (about 20km/12 miles by road) the clear air offers a spectacular view of Hobart, its suburbs, the Derwent Estuary and Storm Bay. Apart from the view, the area has picnic facilities and walking trails. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens offer a long walk through beautiful scenery. BEYOND HOBART: The popular Tahune AirWalk is a one and a half hour’s drive from Hobart, offering a suspended 45m walkway above spectacular forest canopies. It is part of the Huon Trail which includes the Hastings thermal pool, caves and sheltered bays of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. AirWalk admission fees are A$8 for adults and A5.50 for children. Launceston, Tasmania’s second city on the north of the island, retains much of its colonial Georgian/Edwardian flavour. It is the natural gateway for the rural beauty of the island, including the Cataract Gorge and the Launceston Lake Wildlife Sanctuary. City Park is frequented for its Botanical Conservatory and Monkey Island featuring Japanese mecaque monkeys. The new Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Inveresk near Launceston features original Tasmanian and Aboriginal art as well as various temporary exhibitions; entry fee is A$10. Port Arthur, 100km (82 miles) east of Hobart, is the site of a penal colony built in the early 19th century. Guided tours are available including the popular Ghost Tour. There is a new one-and-a-half hour trail along the cliffs and beaches. Not far away is Eaglehawk Neck, noted for its bizarre rock formations and the highest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere. National Parks Tasmania is an island of wilderness; there are 17 national parks, including the world’s last temperate-climate rainforest, and its wildlife includes the unique and fearsome little marsupial the Tasmanian Devil. Some of the more notable national parks include Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair, famous for the Overland Track walk; Mole Creek Karst, known for the colourful flowstone formations of King Solomon’s Cave; Freycinet on Tasmania’s east coast, which contains Wineglass Bay (one of the world’s best beaches); Aspestos Range in northern Tasmania, renowned for its wildlife; Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers, with walks, camping grounds and incredible views; Ben Lomond, Tasmania’s main ski resort; Southwest and Walls of Jerusalem. Sport & Activities Watersports: Boat or sailing cruises are popular ways to explore the port cities of Launceston and Hobart, as well as the outlying islands. River cruises can easily be arranged on Tasmania’s the Huon River, with its orchards and salmon farms; the Pieman and Arthur rivers in the northwest of the island; or the mighty Gordon River which flows through the rainforest in the World Heritage Area. Options for more active visitors are sea kayaking (kayaks and equipment can be hired and guided voyages arranged) or rafting on the Franklin, Derwent, Arthur, Picton, South Esk, Mersey and Meander rivers. Trips last one or several days. Jet boating, on flat water or on the rapids, is available on the Derwent, Huon or King rivers. Speeds average 70kph (43mph). Diving is a fantastic way to explore the shipwrecks and kelp forests near King and Flinders Islands. Professional dive operators around the islands and the east coast all offer equipment for hire. Outdoor activities: Tasmania’s air is reckoned to be the cleanest in the inhabited world. Its pristine scenery and balmy climate make it a delight for lovers of the outdoors. Furthermore, the island contains the largest expanse of temperate wilderness in the world, a unique landscape, rightly listed as a heritage site. On land, visitors can experience the spectacular countryside in a variety of ways. Horseriding trails are available in areas such as the Tasman Peninsular, the Central Highlands, Ben Lomond and Seven-Mile Beach near Hobart. Half-day rides or multi-day camping trips can be arranged. Cycling can be undertaken independently or on pre-arranged tours. A favourite route is from Devonport to Launceston via the dramatic Elephant Pass, and possibly all the way south to Hobart. Mountain bikers can opt for forest trails in the reserves, and those looking for strenuous activity can ride ‘The Wild Way’ through the World Heritage Area. All-terrain touring to more remote and wilder areas can be arranged through specialist operators. Transport is in four-wheel-drive vehicles or four-wheel motorcycles, well suited to the island’s extensive network of off-road trails. For aerial views, wilderness flights can be booked in Hobart; these travel over the mountains towards the southwestern wilderness. Wildlife: Tasmania’s 17 national parks are home to a rich variety of animals, many of them unique to the island. They include wombats, possums, platypus, wallabies, fairy penguins and the rare orange-bellied parrot. The Tasmanian Devil, a small, black, dog-like marsupial can be readily seen at night in the Narawntapu-, Mount William- and Cradle National Parks. Although it looks fierce, it is not usually harmful to humans. The hunt still continues for the so-called Tasmanian Tiger or thylacine, not sighted for 60 years and thought to be extinct. This creature, actually a marsupial wolf, is the state’s official mascot. Social Profile Food & Drink: Some of the best seafood in the world is available in Tasmania, including Angasi oysters, crayfish, scallops, Atlantic salmon and ocean trout. Freshwater wild brown trout is caught in the Tasmanian highlands. The island’s cheese is excellent and renowned among conoisseurs. Goat, quail and venison are the area’s speciality meats, and other specialities include apples, apricots, berry fruits and liqueur honey. Tasmanian wine, favoured by Sydney’s top restaurants, has won several international awards, and two popular beers are produced, Cascade and Boags. Nightlife: There are casinos in Hobart and Launceston. Hobart’s waterfront area, Salamanca Place, is the home of many night-time haunts in its old stone warehouses. Small, traditional-style pubs, open all day and into the small hours of the morning, are a special feature here. The Wrest Point Hotel casino, also on the waterfront, has recently been refurbished. Hobart boasts Australia’s oldest theatre, the Royal Theatre, and the city’s concert hall is the home of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, generally considered to be one of Australia’s best orchestras. Special Events: For a full list of special events contact Tourism Tasmania or the Australian Tourist Commission. The following is a selection of festivals and special events taking place in Tasmania in 2003: Dec 26-Jan Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Dec 28-Jan 3 Taste of Tasmania. Jan 1-12 Hobart Summer Festival. Feb Royal Hobart Regatta. Feb 1-4 Wildside 4 Day Mountain Bike Event, Cradle Mountain to Strahan. Feb 8-10 Royal Hobart Regatta. Feb 14-Mar 2 Tamar Valley Festival of the Senses (food and wine festival including the Launceston Cup), Launceston. Mar 1-Jun 30 Tasmanian Heritage Festival, statewide. Apr 18-22 Three Peaks Race (sailing and endurance running event). May 1-3 Agfest (agriculture trade fair), Carrick. May 13-18 Targa Tasmania Classic Car Race, statewide. Jun 1-2 Tastings @ the Top (nationally acclaimed food and wine weekend), Cradle Mountain Lodge. Jun 27-29 Suncoast Jazz Festival, St Helen’s. Nov 1-4 Tasmanian Craft Fair, Deloraine. Business Profile Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), Industry House, 30 Burnett Street, North Hobart, TAS 7000 (tel: (3) 6234 5933; fax: (3) 6231 1278; e-mail: admin@tcci.com.au; website: www.tcci.com.au). Conferences/Conventions: The major convention centres in Hobart are Wrest Point Federal Hotel, Casino and Convention Centre and Hobart Grand Chancellor Hotel. Launceston’s major convention centres are Launceston Convention Centre/Albert Hall, Federal Launceston Country Club and Casino and Launceston International Hotel. For more information on conferences and conventions in Tasmania, contact the Australian Tourist Commission (see main Australia section) or the Tasmanian Convention Bureau, Level 3, 18 Elizabeth Street, Hobart, TAS 7000 (tel: (3) 6224 6852; fax: (3) 6223 8321; e-mail: mail@tasmania-conventions.org.au; website: www.tasmaniaconventions.com). Climate Similar climate to southern Australia, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. However, climate on Tasmania is more variable and more changeable, with some areas (eg Hobart) receiving considerably less rainfall than others. Most of the rainfall is in the west of the island. There is often snow above 1000m (3280ft) in July and August. Required clothing: Cottons and linens in summer, warmer mediumweights in winter. Waterproofing is advisable throughout the year, particularly in highland areas. Jumpers are recommended for the evenings, all year round. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.