(This is a guest post by Frank Wall, who writes about bushwalking, hiking, backpacking and the environment in Australia on Our Hiking Blog. If you are heading his way, he suggests you take a week or more to visit and explore its natural wonders and pristine wilderness.)
Tasmania is that tiny island State, right at the bottom of Australia. It is one of the greenest places on earth. There are wild rivers, soaring mountains and wilderness. Lots of wilderness.
Wilderness we love to explore.
Fast Tassie Facts:
> Area- 62,409 sq km (24,096 sq mi)
> Length – 364 km (226 mi) long and 306 km (190 mi) wide from west to east.
> Population – 500,000 (1998)
> Climate – cool & temperate with four distinct seasons
> Wilderness (the important bit) – 37% of the State is reserves, National Parks and World Heritage Sites.
For more information, head across to Wikipedia.
So, what is so great about Tasmania (aka “Tassie” by most Australians)?
The Wilderness
Tasmania is a wild place. Just a short journey from the main population centres can have you exploring some fantastic wilderness areas. Throw on a pair of hiking boots, grab a day pack, and you can be exploring beautiful rivers, wonderful forests and hidden treasures. Just be careful though, Tasmania can have four seasons in one day, and always head off with rain jacket, water, map and some snacks.
There are many multi-day backpacking trips with grades suitable for a beginner to expert. These bushwalks (as we call hiking and backpacking in Oz) range from a gentle 30 km (18.6 mile) overnighter on the beautiful Freycinet Peninsula Circuit to a 150 km (93 mile) traipse on the Port Davey and South Coast Track. Many people travel from mainland Australia and overseas to enjoy these areas. Other than a couple of tracks in high season, they are usually uncrowded and isolated. For example, we have been on 7 day adventures and met 2-3 people along the trail; it’s our definition of heaven!
The Mountains
Much of the island is composed of dolerite rock that has formed spectacular mountains and cliffs. Probably the iconic Tasmanian delorite peak is Cradle Mountain. This gnarly peak of 1,545 m (5,069 ft) can be scaled as part of a day hike and will reward you with extensive views of this wild and rugged area. Day hiking in the area is spectacular with Dove Lake in the foreground of the mountain and special spots like Wombats Pool and Twisted Lakes are terrific to explore.
The Overland Track
This is probably the iconic Tasmanian bushwalk. It is a 65km (40ml) trek from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area. It is wild country with limited infrastructure. There are huts dotted along the way but no roads, power, telephone service or much else. In summer, permits and a fee are required as the Overland Track is popular with hikers from across the world.
I have walked it about eight times with my wife Sue. We enjoy every trip because of the different seasons or people we meet along the way. A couple of years ago we wrote a guide on how to plan, organise and walk the Overland Track which we sell as an eBook via Our Hiking Blog. It is really helpful for people coming to Australia who want to experience this unique environment.
The People
“Tassie” as many Australians call Tasmania, has an interesting background. The island was home to the Tasmanian Aboriginals for an estimated 35,000 years before European settlement commenced in the late 1700′s. It became a British penal colony and from 1803 to 1853 around 75,000 convicts were transported there. You can still see much of this history in buildings and historic relics. A visit to Port Arthur, one of the most brutal prisons, is a “must see”. Unfortunately as European settlement increased, the indigenous population was treated atrociously and the last of the full blood Tasmanian Aboriginals died in 1876.
Whether you are traveling around sampling some fantastic local produce, checking out beautiful hand crafted objects or wandering along the many walking trails, Tasmanians are always welcoming and interesting people to have a chat with. They are proud of their State and fiercely independent and many are strong environmental advocates. This year the Tasmanian State election saw a swing to “The Greens” political party and they now hold the balance of power in the Government.
Dennis Harding, a Tasmanian Photographer.)
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Interesting stuff mate.
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