Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

14
Tasmania
by Marc Llewellyn
The name “Tasmania” suggests an
unspoiled place, with vast stretches of
wilderness roamed by strange creatures
like the Tasmanian devil. Many
mainland residents still half-jokingly
refer to their “country cousins” on this
island as rednecks. In truth, most Tasmanians
are hospitable and friendly
people, lacking the harsh edge that big
cities can foster. Most also care passionately
for the environment, decrying
the belief that anything that moves
deserves a bullet and anything that
stands still needs chopping down.
Visitors to Tasmania are surprised by
its size, though compared to the rest of
Australia the distances are certainly
more manageable. Dense rainforests,
mountain peaks, alpine meadows, great
lakes, eucalyptus stands, and fertile
stretches of farmland are all easily accessible,
but you should be prepared for
several hours of concentrated driving to
get you between the main attractions.
Among Tasmania’s chief attractions is its
natural environment. More than 20%
of the island has been declared a World
Heritage area, and nearly a third of the
island is protected within its 14 national
parks.
Tasmania’s other main draw is its
history. Remains of the Aboriginal
people that lived here for tens of thousands
of years are evident in isolated
rock paintings, engraving, stories, and
the aura of spirituality that still holds
tight in places where modern civilization
has not yet reached.
Europeans discovered Tasmania (or
Van Diemen’s Land, as it was once
known) in 1642, when the seafarer
Abel Tasman set anchor off its southwest
coast, although it wasn’t identified
as an island until 1798. Tasmania made
its mark as a dumping ground for convicts,
who were more often than not
transported for petty crimes in their
homeland. The brutal system of control,
still evident in the ruins at Port
Arthur and elsewhere, spilled over into
persecution of the native population.
The last full-blooded Tasmanian Aborigine
died in 1876, 15 years after the
last convict transportation. Most had
already died of disease and maltreatment
at the hands of the settlers.
EXPLORING TASMANIA
VISITOR INFORMATION The Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre
at 80 Elizabeth St. (corner of Davey St.), Hobart, TAS 7000 (& 1300/655 145
in Australia) operates visitor centers located in more than 30 towns throughout the
state. It can arrange travel passes, ferry and bus tickets, car rental, cruises, and
accommodations. For more information also check Tourism Tasmania’s website:
www.discovertasmania.com.au.
Pick up a copy of Travelways, Tourism Tasmania’s tourist tabloid, for details on
transportation, accommodations, restaurants, and attractions around Tasmania.
WHEN TO GO The best time to visit Tasmania is between October and
April, when the weather is at its best. By May nights are getting cold, the days