Tasmania is paradise, the lakes of which are teeming with trout, and in the forests the mighty waterfalls, replenished with crystal clear melt and rain water, amaze with their beauty.
The flora and fauna of Tasmania are the original representatives of the flora and fauna of Australia, most of which thoroughly guarded by island authorities and are endemic.
More than 20% of the island is the territory of national parks, and almost 50% of Tasmania is covered with relict rain forests. This ratio found in nature very rarely.
As for the animal world, it is here that you can meet both typical representatives of the Australian fauna in their natural habitat, and rare species Animals found only in Tasmania. This is the Dingo dog, the koala, the platypus, and the opossum, as well as the symbol of the island, which is the Tasmanian devil.
Interestingly, the island of Tasmania significantly different from Australia. Here, not only tourists and immigrants, but Australians themselves feel as if they have been transported to an unfamiliar country.
After all, there are not only mountains, lakes and waterfalls, but also giant eucalyptus groves, ocean bays with clear water, grape valleys, dense impenetrable forests, as well as endless emerald valleys and karst caves, which 40 million years.
Protecting flora and fauna in Tasmania
Amazing virgin nature of this island suffered greatly during the colonization of Tasmania by the British.
The bare lifeless desert of the mining city of Queenstown very clearly reminds of this.
To protect unique flora and fauna Island environmentalists in Tasmania constantly organize protests against those who are trying to destroy the unique natural ecosystems of this territory.
These include hydroelectric power station builders, miners, and paper manufacturers. Conservationists Tasmanians are being warned of the consequences of wasting natural resources thoughtlessly and cruelly to the area's plants and animals.
Protecting the environment in Tasmania today is truly is important issue, because the island fauna suffers greatly from human activity. For example, the marsupial Tasmanian wolf, or thylacine, whose color resembles a tiger, which previously lived on the island, is now an extinct animal.
It is important to know! The thing is that at the beginning of the 20th century this animal began to actively attack the livestock of Tasmanians. The island's government decided that this problem could be solved by assigning a decent reward for killing a marsupial wolf. So in the first half of the 20th century, this became the reason for the complete disappearance of the thylacine.
Very worries defenders of flora and fauna Tasmania and the possible extinction of the marsupial Tasmanian devil. The reason for this is a unique oncological disease that is widespread today - facial tumor.
Australian scientists and biologists conduct intensive research, which will help prevent the spread of this disease among Tasmanian devils.
It is important to know! All arrivals at Tasmania airport are carefully screened. These environmental controls are similar to those that passengers undergo at mainland Australian airports.
Forests
Half the island is covered relict rain forests, the vegetation in which is incredibly diverse.
IN forests of Tasmania grows:
- atrotaxis spinous;
- southern beech;
- Anthrotaxy cypress;
- eucalyptus;
- rare species of lichens and mosses;
- spurge;
- eucryphia lucidum;
- thirukalli;
- sassafras;
- black acacia;
- Franklin's dacrydium;
- phyllocladus asplenifolia;
- Dicksonia antarcticus.
They also amaze with their splendor unusual underwater forests Tasmania. The algae thickets that can be observed in the rivers and lakes of the island show how prolific and multifaceted the flora of this territory is.
Reservoirs
The state's mountainous terrain is the reason a large number of rivers on the island.
Many of them are blocked by hydroelectric dams, which provide electricity to Tasmania.
A number of rivers start from the center of the island, going down to the coast.
Tasmania's largest rivers are the Derwent in the south and the Northern River Taymar-Macquarie. But the center of the island is a concentration of lakes of glacial origin.
Great Lake is a lake located in the northern part of the Central Highlands of the island of Tasmania. The area of the lake is 170 square kilometers. Several small rivers and streams flow into Great Lake, but only one river flows out, the Shannon, which then flows south to join the River Ouse. There is a dam at the southernmost tip of the lake.
In addition, Great Lake is connected by a canal to neighboring Lake Arthurs, which is located on the southeast side. Great Lake is one of the most popular places for fishing in Tasmania.
Animals of Tasmania
Of course, when the island was settled by Europeans, the fauna of Tasmania suffered significantly.
But even despite the arrival of civilization in these picturesque places, the fauna of modern Tasmania still remains one of the most unique in the world.
It's incredible, but the animals of Tasmania that live in this territory found nowhere else in the world.
That is why the territory of Tasmania is so carefully protected both by the authorities of the state itself and by the state.
On the island there is 17 national parks, as well as the huge Bonorong Nature Reserve in Australia, which is home to many wild animals in natural conditions. This is where you can see echidna, wombat, koala and kangaroo.
Tasmania is the territory inhabited by more than one hundred fifty species rare exotic birds. A special highlight of Tasmania is the brightly colored orange-bellied parakeet, which is very rare in Australia.
Also the bird that undoubtedly makes the fauna of the island unique is slender-billed petrel.
From year to year he makes his flight, which begins in the Tasman Sea, and then continues with a circular flight around the Pacific Ocean and returns back to Tasmania to hatch his chicks.
Not far from the nesting sites of slender-billed petrels, another representative of Tasmania’s fauna lives - little penguin. Clumsy on land, the miniature inhabitant of this amazing island happily swims in the oceanic waters of this territory, as if flying underwater.
In this relatively small area of land there is indeed a greater variety of rare plants and representatives of unique fauna. Our smaller brothers, who have chosen Tasmania as their home, find on this island a cozy place of residence with clean air and water, as well as favorable climate, which allowed different species of animals to peacefully coexist and reproduce here.
Thanks to environmental control and environmental protection, the fauna and flora of Tasmania are getting better every year, but anyone who is going to visit this place on vacation or move to the island to live, must remember, which is responsible for the preservation of rare nature and its inhabitants.
We invite you to watch video about the Tasmanian marsupial wolf(extinct marsupial mammal, the only representative of the marsupial wolf family):
We also invite you to look interesting video about the Australian nature reserve with the largest collection of reptiles:
Australia and Oceania represents the tiniest part of the world. It consists of the mainland of the same name and about ten thousand small islands scattered throughout the western and central parts of the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the region exceeds 8.5 million square kilometers. Its territory is home to about 34 million inhabitants.
General description of Australia
Australia is an island that is also the smallest continent on the planet. Due to the very dry climate, deserts and dry savannas predominate here. The length of the coastline, including Tasmania and other coastal islands, is almost 60 thousand kilometers. In the north, the continent is washed by the Arafura Ocean and in the south and west by the Indian Ocean, and in the east by the Tasman Ocean and Since the continent began to be actively populated only in the twentieth century, its territory has been little developed. here is just over two people per square kilometer. Australia is the only continent in the world that is occupied by only one state. It was formed at the beginning of the twentieth century, separating from Britain, and is now one of the most developed and richest on the planet.
The country is divided into two territories and six states. The first administrative unit is the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territories. The states of Australia are Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South and Western Australia, and Tasmania. The last of them will be discussed in more detail below.
Geographical position
The state includes not only the island of the same name, but also several other small sushi islands - Macquarie, Flinders and King. Its capital is the second largest city in the state, which is called Hobart. Speaking about where Tasmania is located, it should be noted that the island is located at a distance of 240 kilometers from the mainland (to the south), from which it is separated by the Bass Strait. Its eastern part is washed by the Indian Ocean and its southern and western parts. It should be noted that the island is a structural continuation of the Great Australian Dividing Range, and a large number of bays have formed on its shores.
Opening
Tasmania was discovered long before Australia was colonized. The island was visited back in 1642 by an expedition led by a Dutch navigator. These were the first Europeans to visit here. Then this land was named after the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies Colony - Van Diemen. According to some historical information, it was he who sent this expedition to search for new territories.
Development
Like other states of Australia, the island began to be developed by British colonialists in the early nineteenth century. The first British landed here in 1802. The very next year it was proclaimed the second British colony in Australia. Then it was decided to turn this area into an island of convicts. The first famous settlement on its territory was Port Arthur, built in 1830 by prisoners. Its territory was divided into sectors and carefully guarded, since people who committed serious crimes lived here. A hospital, a temple and a post office were equipped for them. The prison was closed only in the seventies of the nineteenth century. In 1856, the island of Tasmania received its current name. The British government made a corresponding decision. It was formed into a separate state in 1901.
Population
The state is home to about half a million people. Most of them are considered Anglo-Australian, in other words - descendants of British immigrants. Only one percent of local residents are indigenous. According to historical data, local aborigines have lived here for about 40 thousand years. There are also Indians, Chinese and some other nationalities on the island. English is considered the official language here. At the same time, it should be noted that it has a peculiar local accent. Local residents, including aborigines, mainly profess Christianity. The vast majority of them are Catholics, followed by parishioners of the English Church, Protestants and Orthodox. Almost 4% of the population professes Buddhism and Islam.
Climate
Australia and Oceania is considered one of the driest regions on the planet. Their territory receives very little rainfall. Despite this, Tasmanians are able to enjoy all seasons. This is due to the fact that most of its territory is characterized by a temperate climate. It was formed under the influence of the ocean and seas washing the island. Thus, there is neither severe cold nor scorching heat here. It should also be noted that the state receives the most rainfall in Australia. In the western part of Tasmania, their average annual number is 1000 mm, and in the eastern part - 600 mm.
Spring on the island occurs from September to November. The weather at this time is mostly cold and windy. in the summer season it is 23 degrees Celsius. There are periods when the thermometer rises to 30 degrees. However, this is typical only for areas remote from the coastline. Autumn in Tasmania is a relatively quiet season, characterized by cool nights and fairly warm, sunny days. It should be noted that this time is considered optimal for tourists to visit the state. In winter the weather is usually frosty and clear. Snow falls quite often. Be that as it may, at this time the air here is considered one of the cleanest on Earth.
Nature
The main feature that distinguishes the nature of Tasmania is that it was formed several million years ago and has remained in this form to this day. In many ways, scientists attribute this to the peculiarities of the formation of the island. About 250 million years ago, along with Australia, it formed part of the vast continent known as Gondwana. Then it occupied about half of the planet's surface, mostly covered with rain forests. As of today, the situation has not changed much. Now the island's territory consists of numerous highlands and plateaus. Almost half of its area is covered with impenetrable forests, most of which still remain unexplored. It should be noted that this is one of the last such places on Earth.
On the island, rare representatives of flora and fauna have survived to this day, which have long since become extinct in all other regions of the planet. Among the vegetation in the local jungle you can see eucalyptus, cypress and spinosa anthrotaxis, southern beech and other trees. In addition, one cannot fail to note the presence of quite rare species of lichens and mosses. The local forests have become a habitat for many fauna representatives found nowhere else. The most famous and exotic animals of Tasmania are koalas, dingoes, little penguins, opossums, echidnas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, marsupial wolves and others. In addition to them, there are about 150 species of birds on the island. The rarest among them is the orange-bellied parakeet, which is protected by law in Australia. Local rivers and lakes are teeming with trout.
Economy
The island's economy is based on mining and agriculture. In particular, the region is rich in minerals such as zinc, tin, iron and copper. In addition, the forestry sector is at a high level of development here. Since the state has a temperate climate, as mentioned above, favorable conditions have been created here for the development of vineyards and orchards, as well as for the cultivation of many crops. Approximately twenty percent of the available land is classified as national parks and reserves, so farming cannot be done on it. Like the rest of Australia, Tasmania boasts a well-developed tourism sector. Its formation from 2001 to the present day has been facilitated by favorable economic conditions in the country, including cheap plane tickets and new ferries that provide transportation between the island and the mainland. Many local residents work in government organizations. Another major employer here is The Federal Group, which owns several hotels and casinos and is also involved in wood processing.
Capital
The state and island of Tasmania have their own capital. It is the oldest city in Australia after Sydney, Hobart. It was founded in 1804. As of today, its population is just over 210 thousand inhabitants. The city is not only the administrative, but also the financial center of Tasmania, in which centuries-old traditions are harmoniously intertwined with a modern, energetic lifestyle. Hobart is located in the south-eastern part of the island at the mouth of the Derwent River. It is from here that Australian and French expeditions set off for Antarctica.
Attractions
Due to the presence of the so-called convict page in the history of the island of Tasmania, attractions of this origin are of great interest to tourists. It's no wonder that every year thousands of travelers visit the former walled city and prison - Port Arthur Historic Site. Many popular tours involve local natural areas and parks. On the territory of the Southwestern Nature Reserve, you can take an aerial excursion, during which tourists have the opportunity to admire the untouched tropical forests, waterfalls and gorges. The island also has its own winemaking region with its own large factories.
One of the main attractions of the capital is the Salamanca Arts Center, which houses numerous organizations, including art studios, galleries and concert halls. Quite popular in Hobart is the Museum of Monuments of the Ancient World, located surrounded by vineyards at a distance of 12 kilometers from the city limits. Local buildings are also of great cultural significance. It should be noted that more than ninety of them are protected by the National Society for the Preservation of Monuments.
Tourist attraction
The island of Tasmania boasts a well-developed tourism infrastructure. In its most visited cities and regions, you can easily find a hotel room, and students have a good selection of hostels. It should be noted that there are a large number of car rental stations. In local souvenir shops, tourists can purchase any national amulets and souvenirs. In general, on the island you can find entertainment for almost every taste - from regular excursions to diving. The main thing to remember is that restaurants and shops here are closed on weekends.
Conclusion
To summarize, it should be noted that the island of Tasmania is a very beautiful place, a significant part of which is occupied by national parks. All of them are under state protection. There is almost everything that might interest a modern traveler - primeval hills, plains, waterfalls and clear sea water.
Tasmania cannot be missed even on a small-scale map. It looks like a medallion - a heart suspended on an invisible chain under the Australian mainland. Europeans learned about the existence of this island in 1642. Then it was not yet called Tasmania, but bore the name Van Diemen's Land, given to it in honor of the Dutch Governor-General of the East Indies, who sent Abel Tasman to discover new lands in the southern Indian and Pacific oceans. At that time, sea travel in these waters was extremely dangerous. Legend has it that Van Diemen sent Tasman to his death to prevent the sailor from marrying his daughter Maria. However, the brave sailor managed not only not to die, but also to perpetuate his own name by discovering New Earth. And the name of the governor’s daughter was preserved in the name of one of the northern capes of Tasmania.
It is interesting that during the voyage the navigator bypassed, that is, did not actually notice, Australia and landed on the west coast of Tasmania. Abel Tasman, on behalf of Holland, took possession of the new land, but it was even less useful than (as they thought at that time) Australia: cold climate, wild nature. gloomy rocks and no treasures. Local residents did not react in any way to the silver or gold that the sailors generously showed to the natives. These strange, in the eyes of savages, objects had no value. From which it followed that there was nothing like this here, and could not be, and the local tribes were in a blissful primitive state, not having the slightest concept of property, much less money.
After a short time, Abel Tasman moved on. Surprisingly, Tasman was lucky again. He has the honor of discovering another land, which he apparently stumbled upon quite by accident, once again without noticing Australia! From the ship he saw the western shores of the South Island of New Zealand. This land was still unknown to anyone. But the Dutchman did not engage in detailed research: the indigenous Polynesian population of the island, the Maori, were openly hostile to the newcomers. Four crew members were killed. Tasman did not start a military campaign against a numerically superior enemy and went to Batavia, as Jakarta was then called, the Dutch starting point for exploring the southern lands. Having made stops along the way on the islands of Fiji and Tonga, Abel Tasman safely reached his base in East India. 
Two years later, he made a second voyage along the northern coast of New Holland, but this time he was unable to discover anything significant. Interestingly, it was thanks to Abel Tasman’s expedition of 1642, when a European navigator first visited New Zealand’s South Island, that this land is still called New Zealand to this day. Tasman named her Staten Landt. It was this name that was transformed by Dutch cartographers into the Latin Nova Zee/andia in honor of one of the provinces of the Netherlands - Zealand (Zee/and). Later, British navigator James Cook used the English version of the name, New Zea/and, in his writings, and it became the official name of the country.
The island of Tasmania is located in the zone of incessant westerly winds of the Southern Hemisphere, the strength of which often reaches gale force. Once upon a time, in the “good old days of wooden ships and iron men”, the British dubbed these winds “good news”, and the area of their distribution - between 39 degrees and 43 degrees south latitude - the “roaring forties”. Tasmania is located in these latitudes, so that for one third of the year winds of force 7-9 prevail there, bringing heavy rains from the ocean. Their streams, mixing with myriads of splashes of the ocean surf, cover the rocky shores of the island with an impenetrable haze from the eyes of sailors for many days, and sometimes weeks. At times, “good news” brings fog: it envelops both the sea and the coast for many miles around in a thick gray-greenish veil. There are at least sixty such days a year when there is fog - locals call it “pea soup”. The shores of Tasmania, constantly washed over by furious waves with fragments of icebergs and fogs brought by “good news” from the ocean, have long been the scourge of sailors.
The island of Tasmania is separated from Australia by the Bass Strait. So it was named in honor of the English captain George Bass who discovered it. But for some reason this name did not catch on among the sailors, who still call it the Strait of Danger. Although its width is 130 miles and its depth is 500-600 meters, it is classified by navigators as a ship graveyard. The danger lies in numerous islands and rocks, underwater reefs and strong variable currents, not to mention fog and stormy winds. The islands of King, Hunter, Three Hammock and Robbins stand in the way of ships traveling through the strait from west to east. The shores of these islands and the passages between them are dotted with underwater reefs and the hulls of sunken ships. A study of shipwrecks on King Island showed. that on the coastal rocks of the island, which is about 50 miles long and about 15 wide, more than fifty ships were lost. During the course of this research, a number of valuable information was obtained about currents, straits, underwater reefs and shoals. This data was later used by hydrographers to produce detailed nautical charts of Tasmania.
But it turns out that it was not underwater rocks and strong currents that destroyed most of these ships. Maritime chronicles of Tasmania indicate that the cause of their death was most often pirates. They appeared in Bass Strait at the very end of the 18th century and began to rob the whalers and sea beaver and elephant seal hunters who hunted here (they say that these animals were once found here in great numbers). Having “smoked out” the hunters and whalers, they moved on to robbing merchant ships. And since the pirates did not have well-armed ships and they did not like boarding battles, they began to place false lighthouses on the Bass Strait islands. The deceived captains changed course, leading their ships onto sharp reefs. The robber islanders could only transport the cargo of the lost ship to the shore. 
The pirates Stalis Monroe and David Hope were particularly cruel to shipwrecked people. in the mid-19th century they were called "the uncrowned kings of Bass Strait". The first was the master of the eastern part of the strait and controlled the islands of Flinders, Cape Barren, Swan, Goose, Preservation and others. Monroe reigned in these waters for exactly thirty years. David Hope established his residence on Robbins Island, where he lived in plunder and violence until 1854. Both leaders wore a gold earring in their ear, kaftans made of kangaroo skins and hats made of fur seals. Each of the leaders had a huge wine cellar, where the stocks of rum and gin they captured were stored.
Due to the false lighthouses of Monroe and Hope, a huge number of ships were lost in the Bass Strait area. For example, in August 1845, the English corvette Catarac sailed to the false Hope lighthouse. The ship crashed on the reefs and sank, taking the lives of more than three hundred immigrants from England. In the same way, on the King's reefs, the corvette Seaguy of Melbourne was lost in 1853, the barque Waterung and the schooner Braten in 1854. How many ships were lost off the coast of Tasmania? Australian historian Harry O'May tried to answer this question. For ten years, he carefully studied archival files related to the accident rate of maritime transport in Australia and Tasmania. He managed to establish the names of the ships that died in the area of the island from 1797 to 1950 About two hundred ships on O'May's list remained unnamed, although he knew the places of their wrecks. An Australian historian believes that from its discovery to the present day, more than a thousand ships, not counting fishing boats, have been lost around Tasmania. Several dozen ships out of the ill-fated thousand took with them valuable cargo, in particular gold, to the seabed. Of particular interest to underwater gold miners is the American clipper Water Witch, which sank on the reefs of King Island on August 13, 1855. It is reliably known that on board at the time of death there was gold bullion, which is currently valued at more than $5 million.
The information about the lost ships published by O" May caused a real stir among adventurers in Tasmania and Australia. But it was not so easy to get to these underwater treasures! Sharp reefs, constantly rolled by the surf or ocean swell, reliably protect the ships lying off the coast. And that’s all - despite the dangers, scuba divers continue their search. The fauna and flora of Tasmania are very original - a large number of representatives are endemic - for example, the Tasmanian devil). which those arriving in Australia pass through. In Tasmania, 44% of the territory is covered by rainforests, and 21% of this area is occupied by national parks. Such ratios are rare. The Tasmanian rainforest is recognized as a natural heritage of mankind. It is one of the last areas of virgin nature of the temperate zone in the Southern Hemisphere. And, perhaps, Tasmania is one of the standards of wildlife on our planet. 
Trout-infested lakes, rivers and waterfalls, replenished by rain and melt water, feed forests where Euphoria tirucalli, Eucalyptus regal and Ganna, Myrtaceae, Nothophagus Cunningham, Acacia, Sassafras, Eucryphia splendensum, Phyllocladus asplenifolia, Dicksonia antarcticum and Dacridium franklinii grow. Environmentalists are constantly at war with miners, paper manufacturers and hydroelectric power plant builders. The barren desert of Queenstown, a mining town, is a grim reminder of the consequences of thoughtless waste of natural resources. Once upon a time, Tasmania, like Australia and New Zealand, together with Antarctica, South America, Africa and India, was part of the colossal southern continent of Gondwana, this was about 250 million years ago. The huge continent occupied more than half the globe, and a significant part of it was covered by temperate rain forest. A significant area of this forest has been preserved in the western part of Tasmania; in 1982, as a unique natural phenomenon, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The nature of Tasmania is exceptional, it has no analogues in the world. The heart of Tasmanian wilderness is the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Here you can see stunning mountain peaks, tropical forests, deep river valleys, and picturesque gorges. And among all this splendor, protected rivers meander. Almost a quarter of the territory of this island has not yet experienced human influence. Impenetrable forests and jungles, strange forest animals, a huge number of rare bird species, and a wide variety of fish in mountain lakes and rivers have been preserved here. One of the legendary inhabitants of the forests of Tasmania is the Tasmanian devil. Recently, the number of this exotic wild animal has decreased significantly. although he is not in any danger of disappearing. With its powerful jaws, this muscular, 6 to 8 kilogram carrion gatherer can eat a dead kangaroo whole, head and all. The cultural heritage of this region, which was the southernmost area of human habitation on our planet, is also of enormous interest. There are more than 40 Aboriginal sacred sites here, which are still of exceptional importance for the modern indigenous population of Australia. Archaeological finds from this region have made up invaluable exhibits stored in many museums not only in Australia, but throughout the world.
The island of Tasmania is small. Its length from north to south is only 266 km, and from west to east – 315 km. In a couple of days you can travel around it far and wide. Australians affectionately call him "Tassie". It is very different from the Australian continent.
The navigator, Dutchman Abel Tasman, was the first European to set foot on this island in 1642. Van Diemen's Land - he gave this name to the island, in honor of the governor of East India, also a Dutchman.
The island of Tasmania is a very green island. Due to the fact that it was isolated for a long time, unique flora and fauna have been preserved here. Both endemic and European tree species grow on the island. Most of the territory is included in national parks (there are about twenty of them on the island), which are protected by law, and the water and air are surprisingly clean.
Off the coast of Tasmania. Photo of the island from the air.
The island is so beautiful that it fascinates tourists at first sight. It is almost impossible to imagine that in the middle of the 19th century this was an island for convicts and repeat offenders. The main prison, with harsh conditions of detention, was in Port Arthur. Today it is one of the attractions of Tasmania.
The main city of Tasmania is Hobart. Most of the island's population lives there. All residents of the capital of Tasmania cherish the nature of their island and the traditions of the past. Traveling through Old Hobart is like traveling back in time. Streets, signs, houses - everything resembles not a 21st century city, but the scenery of a historical movie set. For even more history, check out the Heritage Museum and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
Hobart is the capital of Tasmania.
For those looking for unique handmade souvenirs, the Salamanca Market awaits. Everyone will be happily greeted here by numerous galleries, restaurants and cafes.
And to end with a video from NG: “Tasmania is the country of devils.”
Jacques—Yves Cousteau: " Dawn on the island of Tasmania"
Tasmania is an island off the southern coast of Australia with a temperate climate. The island was discovered by the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman and until the mid-19th century it was a place of exile for especially guilty criminals.
The capital of Tasmania, Hobart, was founded in 1803. It was the second settlement in Australia after Sydney. In addition to ancient buildings of the last century, there are several wonderful natural parks, the first legal casino, as well as Port Arthur, which became notorious as the harshest colony in Australia.
Tasmania is famous for its untouched nature and excellent salmon fishing.
The outlines of Tasmania, an island within Australia located 240 km south of the mainland, resemble either a child’s bib or a heart drying on clothespins, which perfectly reflects the surrealism of life here: most representatives of the flora and fauna are not are found nowhere else in the world, and the bulk of the population of Tasmania for a long time consisted only of Aboriginal Bushmen and exiled British subjects. 'The Island of Inspiration', Tassie, as the Australians call it, offers a wealth of amazing activities, from overnight stays in the bush to encounters with the Tasmanian marsupial devil, and this otherworldly world is just over the horizon.
Tasmania Island: photos
Hobart is the capital of the Australian island of Tasmania
Tasmania Island: where is it located?
Tasmania's area is 68,401 km². The island is located in the “roaring forties” latitudes in the path of persistent stormy westerly winds. It is washed by the Indian and Pacific oceans and is separated from Australia by the Bass Strait.
The island is a structural continuation of the Great Dividing Range of Australia. The shores are formed by numerous bays (Macquarie, Storm, Great Oyster, etc.).
Tasmania island on the world map
Tasmania Island: how to get there
To get to Tasmania you must first arrive on mainland Australia as the island is only served by local airlines. From Russia to Australia there are at least 20 hours of flight time, not counting the time spent on connections (there are no non-stop flights).
Flights to Tasmanian airports (Hobart, Launceston and Devonport) operate from many mainland cities, such as Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Melbourne. From the nearest airport to the island in Australia - Melbourne - no more than 1 hour flight. The service is provided by Australian airlines Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar, Regional Express and Tiger Airways.
The hotel is easily accessible from Tasmania airports via shuttle buses. Given the short distances in cities, the bus will drop you off right at the hotel door. The fare ranges from 10 USD to 22 USD. To travel back from the hotel to the airport, you must pre-book a seat on the bus by phone and agree on the time of boarding and deployment.
Melbourne and Devonport are also connected by ferry service from the maritime transport company Spirit of Tasmania. Travel time is from 9 to 11 hours, fare is from 120 USD to 180 USD per seat, 170-280 USD per bed in a cabin, depending on the season. Car transportation - 65 USD. Please be aware that rental cars are often subject to travel bans between the mainland and the island, please check with your rental agency for this detail.