HOLIDAY IN TASMANIA   >   AUSTRALIA


Separated from mainland Australia by the 240 km stretch of Bass Strait, Tasmania is a land apart – a place of wild and beautiful landscapes; friendly, welcoming people; a pleasant, temperate climate; wonderful wine and food; a rich history; and a relaxed island lifestyle.
According to experienced travellers who've criss-crossed the globe in search of excellence, Tasmania has one of the world's ten best beaches (Wineglass Bay, US-based Outside magazine), the world's best little town (Strahan, Chicago Tribune) and is rated as 'the best island in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific' (Travel + Leisure magazine) and 'the world's best temperate island' (Condé Nast Traveler magazine).
Now, discover why...

Located south of mainland Australia is Tasmania, one of the world's most picturesque islands.

Regions in Tasmania : North West Tasmania, North East Tasmania and South Tasmania

Capital City of Tasmania : Hobart


car hire, hotels, housing, lodges & resorts, tour operators - tasmania tours, travel guides, travel  tasmania

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Car Rental Tasmania

  Holiday Autos   -    
Holiday Autos offers the best fully inclusive car hire prices. Get cheap car hire quickly and securely online with holidayautos.co.uk, the experts in online car rental.

Holiday Rentals

  Holiday-rentals.com

 
Hostelbookers.com is one of the worlds largest online booking services for hostels. All hostels you see here are offering realtime prices and availability.

Hotels & Motels in Tasmania

 

 
Centrally located hotels ranging from small family run budget accommodation to world-class five star hotels.

   

  Budget Motel Chain
  Flag Choice Motels

National Parks

  Freycinet National Park
  Mount William National Park
From its long, lonely beaches to its teeming wildlife; from its unique history to its abundant plant life, Mt William National Park is a place of constant fascination. Nestled in the far north-east corner of the State, the park is an important area for the conservation of Tasmania's coastal heathlands and dry sclerophyll plants.
Whether you fish or swim; watch birds or wander by the sea, there's always something more to see in this beautiful national park
  Wellington Park
Wellington Park is a natural reserve covering an area of 18 250 hectares - an area larger than any of Tasmania's National Parks outside of the World Heritage Area.
Extending over thirty kilometres from east to west, with a perimeter length of 139 km, the Park features some of the State's most recognisable landmarks such as Sleeping Beauty, Collins Cap and Collins Bonnet, and of course, Hobart's backdrop, Mount Wellington. The Park features a diversity of vegetation types ranging from wet sclerophyll forest to sub-alpine heathlands

  Australia National Parks

Travel Agents / Tour Operators

 Responsibletravel.com

Kuoni Holidays  -   Tasmania highlights
**  Hobart, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, sandwiched between mountains and sea, with forests, rivers and beaches on its doorstep.
**  Sampling the exceptional local food, especially the seafood, fruit, dairy products and the wines.
**  The unforgettable walks - the Overland Track (a 40-mile trek through glorious glacial, Alpine landscapes), the Bay of Fires Walk (for secluded beaches, unspoilt woods, charming wildlife and an awesome night sky) and the Maria Island Walk (for fascinating history, coastal and mountain scenery and gourmet delights).
**  The Freycinet Peninsula, home to the breathtaking sweep of Wineglass Bay, frequently voted one of the world's best beaches.

Thomas Cook

 
Create your perfect trip to Tasmania -  Flight, Hotel and Car

  Oz Talk Travel   -   Australia Holiday Specialists
Tasmania is a state unlike any other throughout Australia. With lush green scenery throughout, Tasmania has often been compared to the English countryside. With a strong European heritage, dramatic coastlines and the world's cleanest air, it's easy to see why Tasmania is such a popular holiday destination.
  Vacations OZ
For that holiday of a lifetime in Australia visit vacation-oz.co.uk. From simple flight bookings to car hire, tours, accommodation and insurance we will make your holiday.



  Highland Trails   -   located at Staverton, North West Coast of Tasmania
Special packages and itineraries for overseas visitors. Willing horses, bred for the area will be matched to your riding style and abilities. The area surrounding Staverton is ideal for horse riding. There are bush tracks, quiet roads, horse trails and uncharted private property and crown lands.
  Travellers Autobarn Australia
Backpackers selfdrive companyCamperverhuur, autoverhuur
  Underdownunder
With Under Down Under, travellers have witnessed the Southern Aurora, viewed dozens of platypus, cuddled orphaned baby wombats, come face to face with the devil (Tasmanian that is), swam with dolphins, been inspired by eagles, had snowball fights, lost their minds, found their souls, experienced supernatural phenomena, hugged trees, drank from rivers, drank beer with pigs and got sand in places they didn't even know existed.

Travel Guides Tasmania / Destination Guide

Travel Guides Tasmania 

Tasmania (Lonely Planet Country & Regional Guides)
Charles Rawlings-Way (Author), Meg Worby (Author), Gabi Mocatta (Author)
Paperback: 372 pages; Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 5th Revised edition edition (1 Oct 2008); ISBN-10: 1741046912;
ISBN-13: 978-1741046915.

Transport / How do I travel to Tasmania

For those travelling by air, Qantaslink, Virgin, Jetstar and Regional Express operate frequent services to Tasmania, with direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Launceston and Hobart, from Brisbane to Hobart and from Melbourne to Devonport, Burnie and King Island.

  Airport of Hobart   -   located just 17 kilometres from Australia's southern most capital city
  Devonport Airport
  Burnie Airport
  King Island Airport   -   see King Island Council

  
Book cheap flights to Australia at ebookers and benefit from discounted airfares. View their latest offers and book your flights, accommodation, car hire and insurance online

  Airline Tickets /  Bargain Flights   -   Flights Tasmania / Price comparison possible

  Airservices Australia
  Tasair [ Tasmanian Airline ]
  Virgin Blue

Bass Strait is the seaway to Tasmania. In this area three superfast ferries operate : the Spirit of Tasmania I, II en III. These vessels offer an overnight service in both directions between Melbourne and Devonport seven days a week.

  Spirit of Tasmania
Operates a passenger, vehicle and freight service between Victoria and Tasmania with two vessels the Spirit of Tasmania and Devil Cat [high-speed catamaran service].

  Bruny Island Ferry
The car ferry to Bruny Island departs many times a day from the wharf near the Bruny D'Entrecasteaux Visitor Information Centre in Ferry Road, Kettering.
  Maria Island Ferry
The passenger ferry to Maria Island runs at least once a day Monday to Friday and twice a day at weekends.

  Redline Coaches   -   Tasmania's Own - Timetable

  Weather Office Australia   -   weather in Tasmania


Links 

  Travel Insurance   -   online travel and holiday insurance for UK and Irish residents

  Discover tasmania  -  Tourist Board
Travel eastwards to an area of perfect beaches and turquoise sea to marvel at Wineglass Bay and the Bay of Fires. And visit Cradle Mountain , which rises dramatically above pristine Dove Lake. Take the challenge of the five-day Overland Track, or do it the easy way with a scenic flight into the south-west World Heritage Area, the Tasmanian Wilderness, to see a landscape untouched by time.

  Government  -  Tasmania  -  Tourist Board  -  Discover Tasmania

  Hobart   -   Hobart City   -   Capital City of Tasmania
The City of Hobart nestles between majestic Mt Wellington and the Derwent Estuary on one of the world's great deepwater ports around Sullivans Cove, and destination for one of the world's toughest blue water classics, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
The Hobart waterfront is an exciting environment, a working port, top class accommodation and restaurants, world famous Salamanca Place with its Georgian architecture, and the southernmost port of call for many overseas cruise liners.
Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Hobart annually; many take day tours to such sought after areas as Wine Glass Bay at Freycinet on Tasmania's East Coast, Port Arthur and the world's best wild brown trout fishery in the Central Highlands.
A rich maritime history, Hobart is also the Gateway to Antarctica and homeport for Australia's only icebreaker, Aurora Australis.
  Hobart Ports 
International vessels that call at the Port of Hobart provide a network of rapid transit services between Australia and Asia - an international freight vessel capable of carrying either breakbulk or containerised cargo calls at Hobart every nine days.
Through these services Hobart Ports provides Tasmanian importers and exporters with unparallelled access to markets interstate and overseas.

  North East Tasmania
  North West Tasmania
  South Tasmania   -   Tasmania's South   -   Tasmania's South heritage and wilderness
Convict Trail, Freycinet Corst, Heritage Highway, Hobart, Huon Trail, Rivers Run

  Burnie   -   Burnie City Council
With sand and surf almost lapping at the door, Burnie's central business and shopping district provides a thoroughfare to the beachside boardwalk and to a 17-kilometre walking trail that skirts the city. In about the time it takes to enjoy a cappuccino you can be working it off along the beautiful pathways of Burnie Park through native rainforest to a dramatic waterfall.
Or (if you're lucky) you can catch a glimpse of platypus just a few minutes drive east of the city at Fernglade, a tranquil retreat for picnicking or simply meandering along the banks of the Emu River.
  Colesbay   -   On the north edge of the Freycinet National Park
A sheltered inlet with fishing boats moored in the deep blue water, all set against the striking backdrop of The Hazards, three pink granite peaks – Amos, Dove and Mayson – rising straight from the sea.
  Derwent Valley and Central Highlands   -   see Tasmania South [ Rivers Run ]
  Devonport   -   City Council
  Devonport, Cradle Mountain & Great Western Tiers
This is a creative region  -  Deloraine holds the southern hemisphere's largest working craft fair. In Westbury, Deloraine and Latrobe there are well-preserved reminders of earlier days. In the antique shops you can search out treasures - the glow of cedar, the patterning of birds-eye Huon pine or the shine of silver. Latrobe's Axeman's Hall of Fame and Timberworks, celebrates the timber industry heritage, while on the land, farms harvest the bounty of rich soils. This is a land of milk and honey .and of sweet berries and fresh vegetables, grass-fed beef and superb farm cheeses.
  Flinders Island   -   Flinders Island Online
Flinders Island is the main island of the Furneaux Islands, a group of 52 islands that stretch across Bass Strait between Tasmania and Australia. These remarkable "mountains in the sea" offer you the holiday experience of a lifetime. Here you can get away from it all in an inspiring world of sparkling beaches, rugged ranges, abundant wildlife and flora, and clear sapphire waters. With a pleasant climate throughout the year and activities from boating to climbing to exploring our historic sites, Flinders Island has much to offer.
  Freycinet & the east coast
Place names tell the story of the region's heritage. Dutch navigator Abel Tasman mapped Schouten and Maria; Frenchman Nicolas Baudin charted Freycinet; nostalgic Welsh settlers named the town of Swansea; Triabunna and Wielangta remember thousands of years of Aboriginal presence. Islands float on the horizon - across Mercury Passage, Maria beckons - it 's an island rich in history, with beaches, cliffs and mountains to explore.
  Georgetown   -   City of Georgetown   -   oldest town of Australia
Situated at the mouth of the Tamar River and bordering Bass Strait, George Town offers residents and visitors the opportunity to combine the best of gourmet food , the best living examples of European settlement, the best scenery, culture and unique Australian wildlife all within 50 minutes drive of a major airport.
Heritage Highway
  Hobart Region
South of Hobart is picturesque channel, orchard and island country. The D'Entrecasteaux Channel region and the Huon Valley form Tasmania's premier fruit-growing district, which once exported millions of apples to England; since the UK joined the European Community, however, two-thirds of the apple orchards have been abandoned. The region is also heavily forested, and around Geeveston magnificent forests are still logged. Hartz Mountains National Park and the Picton River are easily accessible to the west of Geeveston.
As you head down the coast, caves, thermal springs and an operational railway are all accessible en route to Cocle Creek, the southernmost point you can drive to in Australia, with foot access along a track into the South West National Park. Offshore, across the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Bruny Island – Truganini's birthplace – has deserted beaches and coastal bushwalks. To the north, you can head inland to New Norfolk and on to Mount Field National Park, while to the east lies historic Richmond, and, on the Tasman Peninsula, the old penal settlement at Port Arthur.
  Huon, Channel, Bruny Island
The Huon Trail begins south of Hobart, then leads you through the Huon Valley, D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island
  King island   -   King Island Council   -   Tourism   -   King Island Tourism
At the Western Entrance to Bass Strait lies a idyllic place known as King Island. An island both rich in history, with shipwrecks, lighthouses and jagged reefs, bountiful with long stretching sandy white beaches and lush green pasture.
  Lounceston   -   Launceston City Council   -   Port of Lounceston
Launceston is a city of elegant architecture and award-winning restaurants, while the lush Tamar Valley [ Valley of the Senses ] is Tasmania's premier wine-growing region.
The Tamar has a rich heritage - the historic buildings of Beaconsfield recall the boom days of gold mining, while just beyond George Town, at Low Head, Australia's oldest continuously operating pilot station still guides ships into the river. Today, perhaps the Tamar Valley's brightest gold is a swirl of delicious chardonnay, while some of tomorrow's rich heritage rests in cellars, as precious bottles of pinot and cabernet age gracefully.
  Scottsdale
  St Helens  -  largest town east coast of Tasmania, centred around the fishing industry.
Good beaches are located near to St. Helens, and there are several surf beaches along the coast. East of the town on the southern short of Georges Bay is the St. Helens Point State Reserve, where short walks are rewarded by spectacular coastal scenery. The Bay of Fires Coastal Reserve to the north of the town has similar natural beauty. North of St. Helens is Mount William National Park, featuring a 'Forester Kangaroo drive'
  St Helens & the north east
  Stanley & the north west
  Strahan & the west coast
Travel to Strahan in the far west of Tasmania where trees that were saplings hundreds of years ago still grow strong and tall.
  Tasman Peninsula & the south east   -   where past and present mingle
Here and beyond are protected anchorages and a spectacular coastline of towering sea cliffs, turquoise ocean and white sand. These images, captured in coverage of past Sydney to Hobart races, have been the inspiration for countless Tasmanian cruises.
Along the Peninsula, you can discover fine heritage buildings and admire the bold swirls of glaze on contemporary pottery. You'll sample the region's superb cool-climate wines, and savour some of the local specialties - octopus, oysters, quail and venison. You may also encounter some of the local inhabitants - playful dolphins; our unique Tasmanian devil; or a majestic sea eagle, soaring from cliffs in the Tasman National Park.

  Bruny Island   -   Bruny Island Charters
Bruny Island is an island of surprises - gentle countryside and wild coastlines, quiet beaches and roaring surf, lighthouses, farmhouses, and a rich heritage of sealers, whalers and explorers.
  CSIRO Marine Centre   -   Remote Sensing Project
Water temperature, bush fires etc.

  Tasmania's South   -   rich in history & heritage, famed wine & food
The Rivers Run | Heritage Highway | Freycinet Coast | Convict Trail | The Huon Trail | Hobart | FAQ | Calendar | Travellers' Info

  PBS   -   Living Edens   -   Tasmania, Land of the Devils
Off the southeast coast of Australia lies the island refuge of Tasmania. Safe from the forces that have changed much of the Australian continent, Tasmania is an Eden of majestic forests, snow-capped mountain ranges, giant waterfalls, wild rivers and pristine coastlines.
  Sydney Hobart Race 
Over the past 60 years, the Rolex Sydney Hobart has become an icon of Australia's summer sport, ranking in public interest with such national events as the Melbourne Cup horse race, the Davis Cup tennis and the cricket tests between Australia and England. No yachting event in the world attracts such huge media coverage – except, of course, the America's Cup and the Whitbread Round the World Race – than does the start on Sydney Harbour.  And the others only happen every four or five years.

Cuisine  -  Tasmanian Foods / recipes

Sample fine wines, seafood, berries, ice cream, walnuts, olives, cheeses produced in the fertile region of South Tasmania. See the brochure Taste Tasmania: Farm Gate & Cellar Door Guide to uncover these gems of local produce.

History of Tasmania

Tasmania has the oldest live theatre (Theatre Royal in Hobart), the oldest continually licensed pub (The Bush Inn at New Norfolk), the longest established brewery (Cascade in Hobart) and the greatest complement of historic buildings in Australia

  Tasmanian History   -   Wikipedia
The first reported sighting of Tasmania by a European was on November 24th 1642 by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman who named the island Anthoonij van Diemenslandt, after his sponsor, the Govenor of the Dutch East Indies. The name was later shortened to Van Diemens Land by the British. Captain James Cook also sighted the island in 1777, and numerous other European seafarers made landfalls, adding a colourful array to the names of topographical features.
  Tasmanian_Aborigines [ Wikipedia ]
Pre-Settlement History, Post-Settlement History, Who is an Aborigine?, Some prominent Tasmanian Aborigines

  Australian Museum Online
The Australian Museum has an international reputation in the fields of natural history and indigenous studies research, community programs and exhibitions. The Museum was established in 1827 and is Australia's first museum, with unique and extensive collections of natural science and cultural artefacts. The Australian Museum is open every day of the year except December 25.
Thylacine: The Tragic Tale of the Tasmanian Tiger  -  by David Owen
Is the Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger, still out there? Thousands of Australians, including dedicated and serious scientists, claim to have seen it. The world's largest marsupial predator was deliberately hunted to extinction through fear, ignorance and greed. But was it a savage sheep killer or a shy, fussy, nocturnal feeder? And did it really drink its victims' blood? Once reviled, feared and slaughtered by government decree, the myth of the Tasmanian Tiger continues to grow. So treasured now, the Tasmanian Tiger has become the official logo of the place that wiped it out and a symbol of the conservation movement world-wide. A number of Australian species have miraculously reappeared after having been presumed extinct. There continue to be reports of sightings and large areas of Tasmania, associated with its last-known habitats, are permanently inaccessible to man. Perhaps the Tiger is still with us. And if it's not, can it be brought back by cloning?
Hardcover 240 pages (June 1, 2003); Publisher: Allen & Unwin


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