Welcome to Tasmania

Tasmania is an island and the tiniest state in Australia. The island lies 240km south of the most south-eastern part of the mainland of Australia and is separated from it by Bass Strait – a shallow sea. Tasmania is surrounded by other islands, smaller in size, the most widely-known of which are King, Flinders and Bruny. Combined with these islands, the state has a total territory of 68 331 sq km.

The landscape of Tasmania is very different from the one of the mainland. There are no desert areas on the island. The landscape varies from rugged mountains with lakes and waterfalls to hills, sandy beaches and unspoilt national parks and world heritage areas. The island is the most mountainous state of Australia. Its mountains are not pretty high (1500m), but the area they occupy is very wide. In the centre of the island there is a plateau (1000m high) which slopes south-east. Parallel to the west coast runs a range of mountains with rivers, rapids and ravines. There are also many mining areas still remaining. The Midlands – on the north-eastern corner – are the agricultural richness of Tasmania.
In the state there are also left-overs from the convict days. One of the main attractions of the island is Port Arthur – a penal establishment, built in 1830 where convicts and bushrangers were held. The island has kept much of its original architecture combined with modern buildings. The capital of the state is Hobart – situated near the mouth of Derwent River and was built in 1803. The population of Tasmania is over 470 000 people and is nearly evenly divided between the south and north part of the state. Many of these people live in the capital city – 195 000.

Tasmania - The Island of Inspiration

The unspoiled island of Tasmania is separated by the Bass Strait from the main continent of Australia. Still, it displays the same flavors of nature with its collection of exotic fauna, from the twelve bird species unique only to its territory to the famous Tasmanian devil that inspired the monstrous yet adorable Looney Tunes character. If you're a nature lover, you'll surely find a home in Tasmania. Who wouldn't with 39% of its territory reserves, World Heritage Sites and National Parks? Add to these some of the most indigenous animals you can find in Australia and you have a place that overflows with visual treats.

A Taste of Tasmania's Culture

Like the rest of Australia, Tasmania nurtures a fusion of home-grown and adopted cultures. Take its cuisine as an example. Instead of offering a typical English cuisine that it adopted in its colonial days, Tasmania displays a mixture of cuisines brought by immigrants to its shores. The result is vineyards dotting its lands, beer brands conceived within its borders and boutique cheese and dairy products sold as signature products on the nearby King Island. If you are looking for an adventure with Tasmanian food and beverages, it's best that you visit this island during summer. This is the time for the Taste of Tasmania, a festival offering you a feast of Tasmania's best wine and food. Other festivals display the Tasmanian fiery spirit. From the Road Rally Targa Tasmania that brings together world-class drivers from different countries, to the Agfest that highlights the fertile earth and produce of this state to the 10 Days on the Island that displays the artsy side of Tasmanians, there is something for everyone!