Helpful Travel Information - Tasmania

If seeing one spectacular landscape after another is your thing - then a visit to Tasmania is a must...and that's without mentioning the fantastic food, warm and cosy pubs (with acclaimed local wines and beers!) and friendly welcoming people.

Australia's most southern state is often a forgotten destination for backpackers, but is a definite hot spot for those in the know. Tasmania has an intrepid edge and is one of those rare breathtakingly beautiful places that has managed to avoid the clutches of mass tourism.

This amazing island has it all - world heritage wilderness areas, beautiful cities and towns, surprisingly small distances (for Australian standards) and of course, the snarl of the infamous Tasmanian devil. It's the ultimate destination for the adventure backpacker, or for those who just want to breathe in some pure clean air and admire jaw-dropping views.

SAFARI PETE'S 'DON'T MISS' LIST

Tassie Beer:

Is it Tasmania's clear air, the pure water or simply the Aussie dream of creating the ultimate beer? Whatever it is, Tasmania has two award winning breweries - Cascade in Hobart and James Boag in Launceston. They're on tap at any decent pub, or even better, you can do a tour of the breweries.

Tasmanian Devil:

No visit to Tassie could be complete without seeing some of the native wildlife, in particular the repulsively endearing Tassie devil.

Wilderness Areas:

One of the best things about Tasmania is the beautiful world heritage areas and native parks. The best way to experience the wilderness is to go on one of Tassie's fantastic walking trails. They range from the world famous 6 day Cradle Mountain/St Clair Overland track to plenty of day and half day walks in national parks around the state.

Festivals:

If you happen to be in Tasmania over the summer/autumn months don't miss attending some of the fabulous festivals. In particular Hobart's Summer Festival, Launceston's Festival of the Senses and the world class international arts festival Ten Days on the Island are all must sees.

SAFARI PETE'S QUICK FACTS

Size:

68 332 sq km (roughly the same size as the Republic of Ireland).

Telephone Area Code:

Time:

GMT plus 10 hours. Tasmania operates on Eastern Standard Time (EST) and has Daylight Savings from October to March (when clocks go forward an hour).

Population:

472 000

Capital City:

Hobart is Tasmania's capital and has a population of 180 000.

Climate:

Tasmania has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Summer is mild with a 21 degree celsius average which drops to 12 degrees in winter. Despite its reputation, Tasmania isn't always cold and wet - in fact, Hobart is the second driest city in Australia.

GETTING ABOUT

Getting to Tasmania:

Qantas and Virgin Blue fly to Launceston and Hobart from most other capitals in Australia (often via Melbourne). Rex (Regional Express) also flies into Burnie and Devonport on the North West Coast. TTLine run the Spirit of Tasmania 1 and 2 ferry service from Melbourne to Devonport daily.

Getting Around Tasmania:

There are numerous options for getting around Tasmania ranging from driving yourself, taking a coach or joining an organised tour for backpackers. The two main coach services are TWT Tassie Link (which covers the western, eastern and southern centres) and Tasmanian Redline Coaches (which covers the east coast, central areas and north west). City areas are serviced by Metro buses.

Contact your nearest YHA Travel shop for more information and bookings.

EVENTS

Autumn and Summer are Tasmania's festival months. The Hobart Summer Festival takes place in late December and January every year and hosts the Taste of Tasmania when the docks come alive with hundreds of gourmet Tasmanian food stalls and greet the yachts from famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Visit Launceston's Festival of the Senses in February and be sure not to miss a performance in Ten Days on the Island - Tasmania's biennial international arts festival held in April. The Suncoast Jazz Festival is held in June and motor racing enthusiasts will love Targa Tasmania held around the state in April/May.