Australia_Tasmania

Tasmania is a whole different chapture. Such pure nature and famous about it's wildlife that can be found nowhere else in the world. The Tasmanian Tiger is, although extinct, the regions symbol still but the Tasmanian Devil maybe the most used icon for this island.
The only big city is capital Hobart and for the rest there are Launceston and Devonport in the North. The total population is around the same as Amsterdam but Tasmania is twice the size of the Netherlands. Not surprising to know that more than 40% of Tasmania is National Parks under the World Heritage Agreement. An unique place!

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Wineglass Bay - Freycinet National Park - Tasmania



	With a 35 passengers plane and special backpackers discount I flew into Launceston, one of the only three major cities on Tasmania. The first week the plan was to rent a bike and drive it through the hilly north east and coastal east towards Hobart. I must say it's tiring but defenitely worthwhile. For 100 dollars you are set and if you travel Tasmania you can put your tent up almost anywhere (either in the wild or on numerous cheap campsites). The people are very friendly and open and some of the views are amazing. The north east is very rough terrain, hills, mountains even, but very lush green vegetation. The coastal scenery at the east coast (the sunny area of Tassie) is breath taking. Places like St.Helens, Bicheno, Coles Bay (Wineglass Bay), Swansea, Orford, Maria Island have beautiful beaches and although the water is a lot colder than in mainland Australia but worth a swim. The surf in some places can be fearse. Hobart has a nice historic centre (although Launceston is more authentic) it's main feature being the Salamanca market on saturday and of course the scenic view from Mount Wellington. You can take trips to Port Arthur and learn about the histcory of (convict) settlement on Tasmania. The city is big enough to give you the urban feeling but small enough to see most of it by foot or bus. In the south you have Lune River with the Mystery Creek Cave system, the biggest cave system in Australia (55 km) and one of the biggest and most spectacular int he world. Nearby in Hastings there are more touristic lime stone caves open for the public. While there check out the South East Cape (the most southern point of Australia), beautiful cliffs. Bruny Island has this same dramatic cliffs. For the rest the south of Tasmania is mostly National Park as is the West and the Centre. The South West National park, Gordon-Franklin river national park, Mount Field national park and Cradle Mountain and teh Walls of Jeruzalem are all worth a visit, each having a distinct own character. Mountain cliffs, rainforest, waterfalls, tall trees, wildlife you name it. The hikes around here are well signed (with a map) and divers (each track demand different levels of fitness) and the Tasmanian WildLife Parks Organization is well orgainzed. You get a lot oif freedom though and you have to be careful about that. Wheater conditions throughout Tasmania vary quickly. In cradle mountain national park you can do the famous Overland track walk (6 days fully packed through one of the last remaining wildernis areas in the world and you have the best views of the Island from the summit of Cradle Mountain or Mount Ossa (the highest mountain on the Island). The climat up here is Alpine and there can be snow at every season. I could go on and on about Tasmania. I was planning to do a 10 day trip and ended up taking 18 days biking and hitching this place. All I can say is go check it out!!

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