Australie | TS | Tasmaanse duivel
Tasmania has fewer than half a million inhabitants, 40 percent of who live in the capital, Hobart. The island has 19 national parks, including Lake St Clair National Park, to which Cradle Mountain belongs, and 420 reserves, including Bay of Fires. The lovely fishing town of Strahan is on Tasmania's rugged west coast. Launceston is evidently proud of its colonial past and old buildings. Freycinet is renowned for its beautiful beaches, which include the famous Wineglass Bay.
You'll get the impression now and then than you're in Scotland while you're in Hobart. Its well preserved 19th-century buildings, bridges, parks, gardens and trees make Hobart look strikingly British. Salamanca Place is a real art street, with galleries, shops restaurants - all housed in old sandstone warehouses. It's a particularly vibrant place to be on Saturday mornings, while the Salamanca market is in full swing. The Derwent River is literally and figuratively a lifeline, and the harbour-side dock areas Victoria Dock and especially Constitution Dock form the bustling centre of the city.
Hobart's charm is a result of the combination of its maritime heritage and the mountainous backdrop of Mount Wellington (1270m). Mount Wellington towers up high above Hobart and it's a real climb to the top, but once you're at the top you can enjoy the phenomenal views across the city and the ocean. The Silver Falls are at the foot of the mountain.
Why not sail out to sea with the backdrop of Bruny Island's rolling hills, white beaches and turquoise bays and get up close to the dolphins and sea lions? A boat trip to Iron Pot - one of the oldest lighthouses in Australia - will offer super views of Derwent River that enable you to gain a good impression of its magnitude. It will also allow you to view the many coves in the region, some of which are inhabited.
The Bay of Fires Conservation Area covers the magnificent coastal area between Binalong Bay in the south of Tasmania and Eddystone Point in the north-east. The nature along this stretch continues into Mount William National Park in the north. The bay is named is after the many campfires held by the Aboriginals, which the Europeans could see from their ships. The Bay of Fires is distinguished by its incredible white beaches and unbelievably clear blue waters, from which bright orange rock formations protrude. Many different types of wild animals live in the bay, including the infamous Tasmanian Devil, which is the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial. Hundreds of different bird species have also been spotted here.
Lake St Clair National Park is the most famous nature reserve in Tasmania, and Cradle Mountain forms part of this park. Unsurprisingly, it is a stunning area with an impressive primeval forest. Dead gum trees stand like white skeletons between their green congeners and are very appropriately called ‘ghost trees'. Cradle Mountain lends itself perfectly to long walks and Crater Lake is an absolute must. After 5½ kilometres you will reach an altitude of 1000 metres, where the views are incredible: a creek, a waterfall, and then... you reach the magnificent Crater Lake.
Strahan is on the rugged west coast of Tasmania and is a lovely fishing town at the northern end of Macquerie Harbour. You can take boat trips on Gordon River in the unspoilt Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, which is a World Heritage area. A train journey on the West Coast Wilderness Railway through the world's primeval forests is simply unforgettable.
Launceston is located among gently rolling hills, just under two hundred kilometres north of Hobart. Like Hobart, Launceston also has a very British appearance, with parks, gardens and Victorian-style streets. The city's pride in its colonial past and buildings is very evident. A nice place to visit is the area around the restored Seaport Dock. This former shipyard is now a great social hub with shops, street cafés and restaurants. A walk through the so-called Caratat Gorge in the immediate vicinity is also highly recommendable, or you might like to visit one of various vineyards in the Tamar Valley.
Freycinet is renowned for its beautiful bays, such as the famous Wineglass Bay, which is ranked among the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world. You will find dramatic cliffs in Freycinet National Park, unspoilt white beaches, crystal clear waters, eucalyptus forests and dune landscape.
