Tasmania

Located about 150 miles south of Australia’s mainland, a little smaller than Switzerland, Tasmania is 189 miles from west to east. Regular direct flights to Hobart and Launceston make Tasmania easily accessible from Australia’s mainland – just an hour’s flight from Melbourne, or two hours from Sydney. Tasmania is a treasure trove of natural wonders and stunning landscapes and is easy to tour independently by car. They drive on the same side of the road as us and the roads are very quiet, distances between the main places of interest are around two hours’ drive, although it will probably take you a lot longer with all the Kodak moments along the way. We’d suggest around 10 days to fully explore the island, however you can try to condense it into a week by just picking a few highlights.

1.Cradle Mountain is one of Tasmania’s most visited natural attractions and is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area where visitors can trek amongst the glacial lakes and rugged mountains.

2.On the east coast, the stunning Freycinet National Park boats glorious white sand beaches, crystal clear sea, pink granite mountains and the world famous Wineglass Bay. This is also home to Saffire Lodge, one of Australia’s top luxury lodges.

3.Hobart, Tasmania’s waterfront capital city combines heritage charm with a modern lifestyle and is beautifully positioned with Mount Wellington as a backdrop. Launceston is one of Australia’s oldest cities and is the gateway to the Tamar Valley wine region – you’d be hard pushed to find a better Pinot Noir.

4.Remotely placed on the West Coast Strahan is a charming little town from where you can join a cruise into the Word Heritage Listed Franklin Gordon Rivers National Park and over to Sarah Island, an original penal colony and a fascinating insight into Tasmania’s convict past.

5.Take a cruise around the Tasman Peninsula and explore waterfalls, rock formations, archways and deep-sea caves before visiting the ruins of famous Port Arthur.

‘There are two things that make Tasmania very special for me, one is the abundance and variety of wildlife. Amongst the impressive scenery you’ll spot wallabies, wombats, echidnas, quolls and platypus, all in their native habitat, and if you are really lucky the elusive Tassie Devil. The second is the mouth-watering fresh food and wine on offer. Tasmania has some of the finest artisan cheeses in Australia and the best cool-climate boutique wines, many of which you’ll not find on sale overseas due to the low production. Visit the farmers markets and meet the growers, or stop at the farm gates of road side stalls.’ Rachel Gleave, Australia Product Manager