Tasmania

Australia's biggest island

Categories: Tasmania

Tasmania is located about 240 kilometres south of the mainland of Australia. The capital of the state of the same name is Hobart. Tasmania has 515,200 inhabitants. They live to a large extent in and around Hobart and call their island affectionately Tassie. Tasmania is a fantastic holiday destination in Oceania because of the unique landscapes, the diverse flora and fauna and of course the friendly inhabitants.
© Steve / Fotolia

Climate and vegetation
Climate on Tasmania is oceanic. This means that the winters are rather mild, but the summers are often a bit cooler. Furthermore, there is more rainfall on the west coast than in the interior or in the east, where the sun shines more often. Typical for Tasmania are rain forest landscapes as well as button grass landscapes. Mountains and plateaus characterize the island. The highest mountain of Tasmania is Mount Ossa, which is 1.617 meters high.

An extraordinary animal world
Similar to Australia, Tasmania is home to numerous marsupials, such as various species of kangaroos and the wombat. Only in Tasmania lives the Tasmanian Devil, a predator with black fur. Seabirds and many migratory birds like geese, swans, ducks or cormorants nest on the coasts. The sea around Tasmania, which is rich in fish, is home to a variety of marine mammals such as dolphins, whales, seals, elephant seals and seals.

The history of Tasmania
Tasmania was settled from Australia about 35,000 years ago, before the Bass Strait cut the country off from the Australian continent. The first European to discover the country was Dutchman Abel Tasman in 1642, and it was later named Van Diemens Land, after the Governor General of Dutch India. In 1803 the British established the first permanent settlement by Europeans. The first settlers were initially convicts. In 1825 Van Diemens-Land became an independent colony. In 1856 it was renamed Tasmania.

Places of interest
Tasmania is a fascinating island that attracts more and more visitors from all over the world. The most popular destinations include Cradle Mountain in the west of the island, the beautiful Wineglass Bay on the east coast and Hobart as the capital. Don't miss a visit to Salamanca Markets or Port Arthur and its many museums. Not far away is Mount Wellington, which offers breathtaking views. For example to great nature reserves, magnificent wineries or the Derwent River.

Especially on the east coast, picturesque bays and fantastic sandy beaches, such as Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park, offer the perfect holiday atmosphere. Further highlights are the Oyster Bay or the Bay of Fires. Wineries are increasingly located in the north of the island. There is also Launceston, Tasmania's second largest city. The northwest of Tasmania scores with its unique temperate rainforests, the Tarkine. There are villages like Devonport, Latrobe, Bernie or Deloraine.
© Kevin / Fotolia

For nature lovers the clear lakes and raging rivers as well as the rainforests are fantastic destinations. The highlight in the west of the island is the Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park. The area is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Further on in the west you can see the high growing eucalyptus trees and the moor-covered grasslands. By the way, the best time to travel is in summer, which in Tasmania lasts from December to February.