Hobart
This Week In Tasmania
Tasmanian Government Tourism
Introduction
Tasmania is an island located 240 km off the south-east corner of mainland Australia. Next stop south is Antarctica, 2,000 km away.
Encircled
by the Southern Ocean, Tasman Sea and Bass Strait, Tasmanian's breathe the
world’s cleanest air and rejoice in pure water and fertile soils – their wine
and food are acclaimed around the world.
Tasmania is a natural island – a land of dramatic coastlines, rugged mountains, tall forests and sparkling highland lakes. Over a third of the state is reserved in a network of National Parks and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, a refuge and habitat for rare plants and animals, including survivors of the ancient southern super continent, Gondwana.
Tasmania's European heritage dates back to the early 1800s, while Tasmanian Aboriginals first reached there 40,000 years ago.
Tasmania also has a vibrant cultural life, boasting one of the best small orchestras in the world and literary authors such as Richard Flanagan, winner of the 2002 Commonwealth Writer's Prize.
Wilderness, heritage, art & culture, wine & food – they’re waiting for you in Tasmania.
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), the world’s best little town (Strahan) and is rated as ’the best island in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific’ and ‘the world’s best temperate island’.
More than anywhere else in Australia, Tasmania enjoys four distinctly different seasons, each with its own special pleasures.
Tasmanians and visitors alike enjoy the State’s temperate maritime climate.
Summer is the season of fun and festivities at the Launceston Festivale, the Hobart Summer Festival, where the Taste of Tasmania is a must, and the North-West’s athletic carnivals.
Autumn is a mellow season with calm, sunny days. It’s the time when the native deciduous beech blazes with colour. Not to be outdone, the European trees are also a riot of red, orange and gold.
Winter is a dusting of snow on highland peaks and toasting your toes by an open fire. Winter days are often crisp, clear and bracing.
Spring is cool and fresh. Gardens around the State come to life and Tasmania celebrates with the Blooming Tasmania festival.
Rainfall varies dramatically across the State. Hobart, with an average of 626mm (24 inches) is Australia’s second-driest capital city (after Adelaide). While on the West Coast an annual average of 2400 mm (95 inches) ensures the rainforest thrives.
Those who live in the farthest south of the eight states and territories revel in 15.2 hours of daylight at the summer solstice on 22 December. That’s two-and-a-half more hours of daylight than Darwin receives in summer and an hour more than Sydney enjoys.
The minimal artificial light in Tasmania’s night sky means it is an exceptional location for viewing one of the wonders of the cosmos, the magnificent Aurora Australis.