Little Island with a Big Heart (Tasmania)

Member Name: avalon_au

Product:	Tasmania
Date:	13/07/01 (89 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: clean, green, serene

Disadvantages: isolated

I'm new here, but when I noticed there were no opinions on Tasmania, I just had to jump in!
We had our honeymoon there a few years ago and it is just gorgeous. It has everything -snow-topped mountains and lovely waterfalls to lush rainforests, wild rivers and secluded beaches! Everything there is worth a photograph. It is just the friendliest, most *relaxed* place I've ever been to (and I have travelled to every Australian city except Darwin.)
We went in February on the advice of an ex-Taswegian and it was beautiful weather, cool nights and sunny days (18-25C) for the most part. We actually wished our car had air-conditioning!
Ah yes - we hired a car, a very *small* car! This was probably our only regret - Tasmania is very hilly! There are lots of little bendy and/or steep roads and the poor little car struggled! Don't be fooled by the map either...the towns look really close together but it can take a lot longer than you might have thought! Plus the scenery on the way is so stunning, you don't want to hurry!
There are lots of romantic bed and breakfasts in Tassie, or you can go four or five star in the main centres. Hobart is the capital, but we liked Launceston the best (pronounce it Lon-ceston...if you say Lawn-ceston they will KNOW you are a tourist!) The little towns are full of treasures and charm, don't leave them out. I loved Cradle Mountain, Strahan and Port Arthur to name only a few.
One of the loveliest things is so many of Tasmania's historical sites have been left intact or restored. And about a third of Tasmania's land is World Heritage listed or national park, so it's natural beauty is, thankfully, largely protected.
There is somthing very special about Tasmania that is hard to put into words. It's so unlike every other place I've visited...as a whole it is fresher, sweeter, yet more intense. The air is sharp, the colours are clear, the coast is wild in one place and sere
ne the next. It is a place of extraordinary beauty and diversity and I would recommend it as a holiday destination in an instant (could you guess?)
If you come to Australia, PLEASE make the effort to go over to Tassie - you'll never regret it!

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