“A world apart. Just a day away,” is how the official tourism website describes the heart-shaped island of Tasmania. It’s certainly a world apart, but it’s a hell of a way from Blighty – hitch a flight to Melbourne and then a further short hop onto Tassie’s buzzing little capital, Hobart.
Tasmania divides opinion in the same way as Marmite. To some, the island is one of the best kept secrets of the southern hemisphere, a true ecological treasure. To others, it’s a cultural backwater and has even been left off maps of Australia in the past, angering its proud locals.
Separated from the southern tip of the Australian mainland by the 240-km stretch of Bass Strait, Tasmania is the size of Ireland, with more than a third of the state designated as a World Heritage Area, a refuge for rare plants and animals.
Whereas it was once laughed at for its isolation, Tasmania is having the last laugh, attracting hordes of tourists desperate to sample its outdoorsy vibe, stunning scenery and delicious food and wine. The elegant little capital, Hobart, which lies in the shadow of Mount Wellington alongside the Derwent River, certainly has its pockets of great restaurants and bars, but a shopping and nightlife metropolis it is not. Still, that’s not usually what visitors to Tassie are seeking.
Instead, they are drawn to Hobart’s setting in one of the finest natural harbours in the world, along with its Georgian sandstone architecture and art galleries. Down on the waterfront, the popular Salamanca Market sells locally grown lavender, Huon pine carvings, didgeridoos and freshly-caught lobster.
‘‘If I was obliged to emigrate, I should certainly prefer this place,” said Charles Darwin of Tasmania’s capital Hobart in 1836. He wasn’t alone – Tasmania is becoming a hotspot for Brits looking to escape the rat race of modern day living and get back to nature. The island’s former obscurity is what draws them, along with its unspoiled beaches, 18 national parks and rare wildlife.
Tassie upgraded its ferry service to both Sydney and Melbourne in 2004, and it also offers frequent domestic flights, making it easier and cheaper for visitors to get in on the action.
Tasmania has also blossomed in recent years as a destination for foodies. It boasts organic farms, the world’s cleanest air and some of the finest local produce on the planet. The annual Taste Of Tasmania festival features some of the best wines from the lush Tamar Valley, the country’s premier wine-growing region.
Over on the east coast lies the incredible Freycinet National Park and its piece de resistance – the crescent-shaped Wineglass Bay (pictured). Voted one of the world’s top ten beaches, the bay is accessed only by a gruelling hike over the saddle of the pink granite Hazard Mountains, but the end result is more than worth it. Honest.
Check out www.discovertasmania.com.au to read more about Tassie.
