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| DESTINATIONS
LIBRARY: No. 1 TASMANIA REVISITED Pictures © Robert Fisher |
| Guildford
Travel Club’s ex-Chairman, Robert Fisher, spent much of his childhood
growing up in Tasmania. In January 2001 he returned with his wife, Carol,
to re-explore his old haunts. Here are some of his impressions……. Just off the Southern tip of mainland Australia lies the island state of Tasmania, one of the continent’s best-kept secrets and a region of extraordinary natural beauty and colonial history. Blessed with a warm temperate climate and strict conservation and pollution controls, the unspoilt landscape is reminiscent of Western Scotland or the South-West of England, which is reflected in the many Scottish and Cornish place names. |
 Port Arthur |
The bustling
state capital of Hobart has the air of an affluent market town where
merchants’ cottages and haunting epitaphs in nearby graveyards tell
of the harsh lives early settlers endured. On the harbour front, beautifully
restored warehouses surround the cobbled wharves where wool, grain and
timber were once shipped home to the Motherland; but this now hosts
the hugely popular Salamanca Market every weekend, and Tasmanians come
from as far away as Launceston on the north coast to buy the fresh organic
produce and high-quality crafts on sale. |
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| Besides these two large towns, the rest of Tasmania is sparsely populated, with historic villages boasting beautifully preserved houses, pubs and the obligatory village gaol scattered across the central and eastern plains. The western side of the island is virtually uninhabited, being preserved as a National Park with pristine lakes, forested mountain ranges and some of the most remote and unexplored areas of wilderness left on Earth. Much of Tasmania’s unusual flora and fauna is unique to the island, such as the infamous Tasmanian Devil and the Tasmanian Tiger (long thought extinct but recent sightings suggest a small population still survives in the remote West). Other Australian species, including the duck-billed platypus, possum and echidna can still be seen (in the wild if you’re lucky – if not in captivity or dead on the side of the road) and large numbers of falcons and hawks suggest that Tasmania’s mammalian species are thriving. | ||
| Visitors to Tasmania are made to feel very welcome in the diverse range of accommodation options throughout the state. Campsites, motels and B & Bs offer the best value for money, but those seeking a more historic experience should consider staying in one of the many restored colonial mansions, such as Prospect House in Richmond, just a short drive from Hobart. |  Devonport House |
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 Cradle Mountain  |
A huge variety of outdoor activities are catered for (not skiing!) and it is an ideal place for wilderness hiking - spend one or two weeks following established trails through temperate forests. By far the easiest way to see the island is to hire a car and the roads are mainly very good but some are ‘unsealed’ (gravel) including some main roads through the centre of the island. Cars drive on the left as in the UK, but traffic is very light and signposts clearly mark places of interest. Public transport is a popular joke among the locals, so don’t rely on public buses to get you around the island - join one of the tours that operate on a fixed itinerary if you would like to see the island’s highlights in a group. |
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 Hounville |
 Great Western Tiers |
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 River Forth |
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| For the more energetic, mountain bike is a good way to see the sights. There are show caves to visit, beautiful river gorges and wide sandy beaches (if you can brave the chill of the Tasman Sea). And when you want a change from the great outdoors there are plenty of historic sites and settlements to explore, museums and galleries and Aboriginal rock art. Don’t miss Port Arthur’s old prison, known as ‘Hell on Earth’ – a reminder of Australia’s violent colonial origins in the mid 1800s. |  Tea Tree Lane, Devonport |
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| Finally: Tasmania rivals New Zealand in the preservation of it’s splendid natural heritage, and is an absolute must-do for conscientious eco-tourists who wish to support Australia’s decision to retain the state as an organic-only, GM-free agricultural region. One mouthful of a freshly poached Tasmanian Salmon and you will understand why… |
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few useful notes: Tasmania has a temperate climate, dry on the east, wet on the west coast (144ins per annum!). Away from the main towns it is scarcely populated, there are no crowds, so don’t expect to find much in the way of nightlife, but Tasmanians pride themselves on the quality of their locally grown produce and eating out is a gastronomic delight even in the most modest of pubs and cafes. Basic items are around one half to three quarters of UK prices and many things are a similar price in dollars as in pounds - £1 = A$2.5 approx. Visa cards are widely accepted and small denomination AMEX Travellers Cheques in Australian dollars can be spent as cash. The crime rate is low (observe usual precautions when travelling) and the greatest nuisance is likely to be the very strong sunlight which catches even mainlanders unawares, being much further south and closer to the ozone hole, so high-protection sunscreen is a must! Vaccinations: for direct flights, none required at present. Customs: do not attempt to take in any form of foodstuffs or drugs – dogs sniff everybody and their baggage on entry. For more information: Lonely Planet and Rough Guides. |