Tasmania is Australia’s island state, a rugged jewel set south of the mainland across the Bass Strait. Known for its wild beauty, nearly half the island is protected as national parks or World Heritage wilderness, including the sweeping forests and mountains of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
The capital, Hobart, sits beneath the towering presence of Mount Wellington, where changing weather paints the landscape in shifting moods. Tasmania’s history is rich and complex, shaped by its Aboriginal peoples, particularly the Palawa people, and later by British colonisation, including its time as a penal settlement.
The island is famed for its unique wildlife, with species like the Tasmanian devil, a small but fierce carnivorous marsupial found nowhere else. Clean air, pristine rivers, and fertile soils support agriculture, fishing, and a growing reputation for fine food and wine.
Tourism thrives on Tasmania’s dramatic coastlines, historic towns, and cultural sites such as MONA, a bold and unconventional museum. Blending natural wonder with deep history, Tasmania offers a landscape that feels both ancient and alive.