Come home to Tassie

Fall in tune with Tasmania’s wilderness and gentle pace, that teaches you to wait for nature’s surprises

When convicts were shipped from England to Australia to serve a sentence of eternal banishment and estrangement, the worst of the offenders, went to Tasmania — an island of the island continent, thus twice isolated. Today, visitors come here looking for this very isolation and the wilderness it has helped preserve.
The Franklin-Gordon Rivers gush through the World Heritage protected national park in wild abandon, making for an excellent multi-day rafting experience. And for those who like to discover the adventure on their feet, the Overland Track and the Bay of Fires walk offer arduous, but unprecedented experiences.

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Hobart
I began my introduction to Tassie, as the Aussies call it, in the coastal city of Hobart, which is protected from the icy winds of the Roaring ’40s by the towering Mount Wellington. Just a short 10-minute drive out of the city centre is a trail leading to beautiful springs in Mount Wellington Park, and the views from its peak are gorgeous. Meanwhile, a stroll through the carefully preserved Georgian cottages of Battery Point and the original cemetery in the historic St David’s Park will reveal the city’s historic significance. By the waterfront, the row of tastefully restored Georgian warehouses form the famous Salamanca Place which houses restaurants,cafés, shops and an excellent arts centre. Hobart is home to the Cascade brewery and wine trails abound in the surrounding areas. There are several other day trips starting from Hobart — including the popular convict sites of Port Arthur.

Bruny Island
The half-hour ferry from Kettering to Bruny Island seems like a journey to another time-space continuum as the waves crash in undeterred and you seem to be floating in the ocean, in the middle of nowhere. A narrow isthmus called the Neck, links North and South Bruny. The Neck Lookout offers breathtaking views of the isthmus, the wild ocean and the South Bruny National Park. At the base of the lookout is a spot to view fairy penguins return home to the beach at dusk. A must visit is the Cape Bruny Lighthouse, the second-oldest manned-lighthouse in Australia, built using convict labour. Looking south, is the unending Southern Ocean that stretches down to Antarctica. Turn north and the rugged edges of Bruny Island will beckon.

Lake St Claire
The grand Lake St Claire is on the heart of the high country. The lake is at the southern end of the six-day walk on the famous Overland Track. However, you don’t need to walk too far to see the region’s natural beauty. A short walk to Watersmeet, takes me to the cascading rivers that feed the lake. Further into the national park, the boardwalk disappears into a narrow mud path.

West Coast
In the twilight, I journey further towards the west coast. Approaching the mining town of Queenstown, the trees disappear suddenly. You can journey underground in a mine tour to see its thunderous crusher reduce gigantic rocks to football size in seconds. The West Coast Wilderness Railway traverses this pristine wilderness between Queenstown and Strahan. Near Strahan is the impressive 33-km stretch of Ocean Beach. Just behind the beach, the sand stretches into the 30-metre high Henty Dunes.

Cradle Mountains
Once you are in Cradle Mountain, you don’t really need to travel further or take any tours — nature’s gifts lie waiting to be explored all around you.
There is no itinerary of highlights for you to tick off; only soothing moments for soul searching. Tasmania is not the holiday of instant gratification — but rather a journey into yourself.