Holiday in Tasmania

About Tasmania

Tasmania is Australia's forgotten island — and that's exactly what makes it so special. The southernmost state, just a short ferry ride or domestic flight from Melbourne, preserves one of the last temperate wilderness areas on Earth: Almost half of the island is national park or protected area, and UNESCO has designated large parts as World Heritage. The Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park is the iconic centerpiece: The jagged peak of Cradle Mountain reflects in the tranquil Dove Lake, surrounded by button grass plains and ancient rainforests. The Overland Track, which runs 65 kilometers through this park, is considered one of the best multi-day hikes in the world — six days through constantly changing landscapes of moorlands, mountain forests, glacial lakes, and alpine plateaus. The west coast is the wild side: Centuries-old Huon pines (the oldest living trees in the Southern Hemisphere) grow in rainforests that have remained virtually unchanged since the last Ice Age. The Tarkine, the largest remaining temperate rainforest in Australia, is a place of mystical silence and ecological significance. At the coast, the "Roaring Forties" wind lashes the surf against cliffs of ancient quartzite. Tasmania has also experienced a culinary renaissance: The island produces some of the best oysters, salmon, and truffles in Australia, and the craft beer scene is more vibrant than in some mainland states. In Hobart, David Walsh's eccentric MONA Museum (Museum of Old and New Art) — an underground private museum in a sandstone cliff — has revolutionized the island's cultural landscape. And the wildlife? Tasmanian devils, wombats, platypuses, and quolls roam through a landscape that simultaneously reminds one of New Zealand and Patagonia.