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Congratulations Tasmania! Voted Best Island in the South Pacific by Travel + Leisure magazine 2006

Roughly the size of West Virginia, Tasmania is a perfect example of good things coming in small packages.  Known as the “Apple Isle,” Tasmania is small enough to traverse in a few days, but to truly appreciate the island’s abundant natural beauty it is best to do as the locals do and go at a relaxed pace.  Replete with gorgeous coastline, pristine alpine wilderness, and quaint historic villages, it is no wonder why Charles Darwin observed “If I was obliged to emigrate, I certainly should prefer this place.”

View a selection of Excursions in Tasmania.

Hobart

Hobart is a pleasant potpourri of history and harbor front living.  Colonial cottages line narrow lanes in Battery Point while convict-built sandstone warehouses serve cocktails and creative cuisine at Constitution Dock. 

Dockside decadence quickly gives way to serene slopes as you approach Mount Wellington, which towers 4,000 feet above the city.  Walking trails and rugged roads wind their way to the summit, where you can visit Cascade Brewery, the oldest in Australia.  Welcome the weekend with a trip to the colorful Salamanca morning markets, or for a sweet Sunday, visit the Cadbury-Schweppes Chocolate Factory.

Cradle Mountain

Carved by glacial ice more than 20,000 years ago, Cradle Mountain National Park is Tasmania’s most beloved wilderness area.  Its deep gorges, wild moorlands and glacial lakes are enjoyed by hikers of all ability.  Day walks to Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest freshwater lake, are popular, but it is the spectacular trek from there to Cradle Mountain that has earned its reputation as a bushwalker’s mecca.

Freycinet

Cozy Coles Bay is the gateway to some of Australia’s blazing beaches, pink granite cliffs, and breathtaking bushwalks in the Freycinet National Park.  The steep 30-minute climb to the lookout above tranquil Wineglass Bay is rewarded with spectacular views of lush eucalypt forests kissing the crescent-shaped cove.

Strahan

This languid Australian fishing village, with a population of less than 750 people, is the largest town on Tasmania’s wild west coast and testifies to the frontier feel of the area.  Once a port for sailors searching for fragrant Huon pine, Strahan is now the departure point for cruises along the gentle Gordon River. 

Not to be missed is the Strahan Visitor Centre where an unflinching look at local conservation battles and the fate of Tasmania’s Aborigines is provided.  Adventurous travelers can take a rainforest trek along the Bird River Track to overgrown ruins on the shores of Macquire Harbour, while the more timid can still have a rainforest experience by taking the short walk to amazing Hogarth Falls.